Beer We Go Steelers

The Steelers got off the deck down 14 at half to win a legendary playoff game Saturday and earn a shot for the record 15th time in the Conference Championship game!  

“Styles make fights,” said Tomlin during his press conference. “Those two teams are Hagler-Hearns right there. It was great for the game of football.” I would have said it was Creed-Balboa Super fight II with Rocky hanging in there and then gutting out the win, but hey I am not going to argue with the Coach! This was just an awesome football game for the Steelers.As predicted here on BWG my feeling was it would come down to Ben and it did and he delivered…AS USUAL. I think Hines Ward summed it up afterwards when he said “…when I see him in the huddle, I know we have a chance to win. He’s a proven winner. And history shows he’s a proven winner against Baltimore.” 

Ben had a phenomenal game despite playing behind a still very suspect line. He was sacked a whopping six times three by Terrell Suggs but he still managed to torch the Ravens secondary for 226 yards. None bigger than the 58 yarder to Antonio Brown. That was a play for the ages a “Tyree-Like” helmet catch. 

As a fan I honestly never panicked and felt the Steelers were not in any inescapable danger. The turnover for 7 was nonsense. I thought the refs made a mistake on the call. What I got a kick out of was how the Steelers were criticized by the announcing team for not picking up the ball. Everyone thought it was an incomplete pass. Heck Terrell Suggs who made the play stood and posed for a solid 30 seconds like he was Hulk Hogan! The play was the play and you have to give credit to Cory Redding who did what we all have been taught our whole lives, play through the whistle! 

The only blight on this game was the refs who were way too involved. If either or both teams complained about the officiating it would have been legitimate. I am not going to get into it here but I have to tell you Phil Triplette looked like me when Mr. Farrell used to ask me for my Calculus Homework in the 12th grade. They didn’t inspire any kind of confidence and they were way too over-officious. 

The Ravens are just prone to talk so much smack and what is amazing is watching the media buy into it. Ray Lewis had a pretty quiet day although they continued to pan to him nonstop as he was being pushed all over the field. I respect Lewis very much because of what he has accomplished but seriously how much trash can you talk when your team and their unstoppable defense gives up 24 second half points! Ed Reed also was fairly quiet, given his family situation I am sure he was distracted, he did get away with holding Hines Ward’s face mask when Ward drew the penalty. Honestly, I would pay 19.95 in PPV just to watch him and Hines Ward fight all game. The biggest two goats though had to be TJ Houmaniamajerkoff and Anquan Boldin the hired gun who dropped two very big passes. All and all though this is the best rivalry in the NFL and I love watching these games! The Ravens talk big but they play big!   

As to the Steelers what can you say? I committed heresy and said the Steelers receivers were the best unit on the Steelers and I still stand by it. Antonio Brown and Manny Sanders shredded the Baltimore secondary with again none bigger than Browns catch. Mike Wallace had a very professional game though he was held somewhat in check; Hines Ward and Heath Miller make the plays that need making. 

The Steelers defense also known as the UNDISPUTED BEST DEFENSE IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE held the Ravens to a paltry 126 yards of total offense. They kept the Steelers in the game and made the plays when they needed them most. Ryan “Crash” Clark played an awesome game with a huge game changing pick.  

James Harrison AKA “Silver Back”, AKA “our hero” played an outstanding game as he demolished Joe Flacco on several occasions. What I think I like best about Harrison is he played as good a game if not better then Suggs AKA “T Sizzle”(LAME) but doesn’t self promote and stand there like an asshole posing after every play. His bookend LaMarr Woodley chimed in with a sack and recovered the momentum changing fumble. 

The other player who had a monster game upfront was the Zig. Ziggy Hood who must feel Aaron Smith breathing down his neck played the best game of his career! He was a force up front and the Ravens could never get anything going on offense. 

I have never been prouder to be a Steeler fan than I was yesterday. Let the media over look us. At the end of the day the Steelers are heading to their 15th conference championship and fifth in the last ten seasons!  

Just a great game! BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO! 

My “GAME BEER” goes to: I am going with Antonio Brown. His catch was the biggest play of the game. My honorable mention is Big Ben, The Zig and of course Silver Back  

Where I watched the game: KGB’s where she put on a ridiculous spread of snacks and food for me and the LI BWG crew. Funny thing was I drank Cranberry juice the whole first half then had to switch to beer! I remembered why this group is called Beer We Go Steelers as the second half proved  

My thoughts on Next Week: I want to be beat both of these teams so either is fine with me. Part of me wants to see the Steelers march into Foxboro and take on the Patriots. Part of me wants to see my hometown Jets go back into the ‘Burgh and have Rex get his mouth shut! Either is fine with me. I am pulling for the Jets because then I know the Captain will be there!