The Steelers continued their slide dropping another tough one to the previously 0-3 Vikings. The loss sends the Steelers into a further tailspin and virtually ends their season. For the first time since Bill Austin was coach the Steelers fell to 0-4. It was a great experience being at Wembley but the result was a huge disappointment.
Missed tackles was the theme of the day and the Steelers just didn’t execute on defense. Cortez Allen’s return the lineup was a tough one, he was downright awful and got beat for two touchdowns by Greg Jennings, including missing not one, but two tackles on a 70-yard catch-and-run score. The linebackers weren’t much better and they allowed their sixth rushing touchdown of the season, to put that into perspective they allowed five in all of 2010. Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley played mediocre games and Woodley had a costly mistake. Timmons was out of position on an eight yard touchdown and got stiff armed by Adrian Peterson on his 60 yard jaunt through the English country side. Every big play the Vikings had could be attributed to lousy tackling.
Big Ben continued his Jeckyl and Hyde season. He passed for another huge day putting up 383 yards and nearly pulling off a 17 point comeback. He continues to have costly turnovers and his 4th quarter fumbled sealed the Viking win. He was harassed all day long. The left side of the line couldn’t protect the blind side and Mike Adams at Left Tackle needs to be over and fast. While Marcus Gilbert and Dave DeCastro are starting to come around, Adams looks to be regressing. Jared Allen abused him for 2.5 sacks and Chad Greenway creamed him for a huge drive killing sack in the 3rd. Look for Kelvin Beachum or the newly acquired Levi Brown to take that spot.
The positives out of the game were Le’Veon Bell had a nice debut and he showed flashes of brilliance. The receivers are once again developing into one of the best units in the game, Jericho Cotchery, had a 100 yard game and made some tough catches, Antonio Brown was again excellent and had 12 catches the most by a Steelers receiver in 10 plus seasons, Manny Sanders and Heath both contributed.
Also in TERRIBLE NEWS, LC Greenwood passed, I got it in an email and don’t have any facts yet. Will post something when I get stateside about him.
BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!
My “GAME BEER” goes to: Jericho Cotchery, He had over 100 yards of tough receiving. I also owed him after I F-Bombed him two weeks ago. He did a great job. Also Considered: Antonio Brown
Where I watched the game: WEMBLEY BABY!!! London, England I also had a great pregame party with Beer We Go Steelers own Ben Harkins and the Andy from Steeler Nation UK. KGB and I drank a bunch of Carlsberg Beer! It was great experience and Wembley is an awesome stadium. The British people couldn’t have been better, Steelers Nation was there, to combat the Terrible Towels the NFL gave out Vikings flags. Fans waved them for no apparent reason.
My Stat of the week: AWFUL STAT: 393 Yards put up by Minnesota’s putrid offense with second stringer Matt Cassel at the helm, there is no formula for success with that line.
My thoughts on Next Week: WE HAVE A MERCIFUL BYE WEEK.