Beer we go Steelers, Beer we go, Pittsburgh’s going to the Super Bowl!!! I love that song!!!
We had a feeling all year and if I could post one thing here we are, in deference to the 49ers, the true FAITHFUL! No one in BWG nation gave up when the chips were stacked against us; from having Ben suspended for the first four weeks, to the ridiculous fines, to the doubters after the Patriots beat down, to the Ravens and the Jets talking smack. The Steeler nation stuck it out!
To clear up one thing for sure, the BEST DEFENSE in the NFL isn’t Baltimore and it isn’t the Jets, it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers. I am sick and tired of hearing about every defense but ours. The Steelers proved it by crushing two Super Bowl caliber teams.
As a wise man once predicted the Steelers; “…will hold off a late rally by the Jets!” They did that very thing! Let me say something about Rex Ryan and the Jets. Living in NY and being behind enemy lines all week; the guys had this town believing. He is a great coach and the Jets are a well coached team and they are tough. All this “play like a Jet” stuff is nonsense but I am glad to see someone breathe life into what was a dying franchise. You don’t beat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in consecutive weeks without a great coach!
The Steelers roughed the Jets up pretty good in the first half. It was like watching the opening round of a heavyweight title fight. No matter what training you have or who you have fought before, nothing prepares you to fight the champ, the first onslaught separates the contender from the pretender. The Steelers opening drive was a thing of beauty as they pulverized and pushed the Jets all over the field.
The opening drive was 15 plays almost 9 minutes and resulted in a rushing TD. The Steelers would continue to dominate the half and rack up three more scores. None bigger than Ike Taylor’s strip sack fumble for a TD.
The Jets however engineered a very sneaky drive to put three on the board at the half. That was a big play because it helped them get back into the game in the second half!
The Jets put together several nice drives in the second half and again you have to give credit to Brian Schottenheimer. With the Jets trailing by so much, this was the Steelers chance to tee off on Nose Picking Mark Sanchez (THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THE GAME AND HE WIPED IT ON MARK BRUNELL, THIS IS NOT A JOKE! (http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/15768) That was not the case however, the Steelers basically went to a pass defense and “Schotty” took that as a chance to run! They kept the Steelers off balance the rest of the night. They began to turn up the heat as they did all the scoring the rest of the way.
But, like all things when it comes to the Steelers defense they had an answer.
The Steelers stopped them on fourth and goal and pummeled the Jets up front. It was one of the most prolific goal line stands in Steelers history. For my money the Jets O-line is one of the best in football if not the best, Ladanian Tomlinson is a Hall of Famer. Watching the Steelers front seven stuff them including Casey Hampton punishing Nick Mangold several times, spoke volumes of the Steelers defense and their character. That is the best center in football so it was a great effort by Big Snack!
Of course stopping the visiting team on fourth and one and being up two (TD) scores easily seals the game. NOPE! The next play the Steelers freakin’ botched the snap and had a safety. Doug Legursky who was filling in for an injured Maurkice Pouncey and Roethlisberger fumbled which set off a mad scramble. Two safeties against the Jets this year, seriously? This would set off a furious ending that kept the game in doubt until after the two minute warning!
The Steelers played to win! Ben, whose numbers will look atrocious, made the plays that needed to be made! Antonio Brown and Heath Miller made big catches to exhaust the clock on the final drive!
Being a native New Yorker, I am going to end today with a Ulysses S. Grant quote: “I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a cause, … I do not question, … the sincerity of the great mass of those who were opposed to us.” Memoirs of US Grant
BWG is gracious as we lay on the field of battle in Victory!!
STEELERS 24, Jets 19
Now it is our time to win number 7!
My “GAME BEER” goes to: Rashard Mendenhall! Somehow, Rashard Mendenhall who at one point rushed for 100 against the Jets but then was downgraded to 99 did it with authority this time going for 121. Honorable Mention: Antonio Brown and Heath Miller for some big catches, Mr. Woodley who caved in the Jets line!
Where I watched the game: After flirting with going to the ‘Burgh all week, we settled on KGB’s! Where once again she put on a ridiculous spread of snacks for the LI BWG crew, including Knishes(it’s a NY thing), wings and ridiculous sandwiches! Saturday we took my Steeler kids and drove to Brooklyn to pick up Iron City Beer. It was a huge hit and I shared it with my BWG LI compatriots. I sent two six packs to my Steeler Padrone Walter Butler and one six pack to my neighbor who converted his garage to a Steelers bar!
The Captain and I maintained radio silence during the game! We of course were pumped afterwards and he is nursing a hangover right now that would make Dean Martin blush!
My thoughts on Next Week: I actually want a week to think about it! Early line is we are the dogs! wouldn’t have it any other way!