Steelers 38, Atlanta 41 (OT)
So. If I told you that Steelers quarterbacks combined to throw for over 430 yards and five touchdowns, that Big Ben had a perfect passer rating, that Hines Ward caught 8 passes for 171 yards and 3 TDs, would you smile? If I told you that Mike Vick started off 1-6, would you say, "that's my defense"?If I told you that Pittsburgh didn't punt in the first half and that, at one point in the first half, the Steelers had outgained the Falcons 205-63, would you say, "they're back"?
But the Steeler team that's back isn't the one that rumbled through the playoffs last year; the team that's back is the team that lost a shootout last year to the Bengals, the team that shot its own foot off against the Bengals this year. This team flopped and fumbled its way to an improbable loss at Atlanta a team by all measures inferior to the one that gasped on the floor of the Georgia Dome as Morten Anderson kicked a game-winning field goal over their heads.
At one minute in, the game looked in hand. The Steelers D dominated the Falcons and forced a quick punt. But Santonio Holmes continued an auspicious trend by fumbling that punt (why are his hands so greasy? is he eating croissants on the sidelines?) back to Atlanta. The Falcons struck quickly to take a 7-0 lead.
Still, it was hard to doubt the Steelers as they marched unimpeded downfield to a field goal, followed by two touchdown drives. Polamalu intercepted Vick. Atlanta amassed measly offense. But another fumble (this one by another repeat offender, Willie Parker) led to another Vick TD pass, and the game was closer at halftime than it had any reason to be.
And then these things happened: Big Ben got knocked out (literally); the running game stopped; the defense stopped; and the Falcons gained confidence. Suddenly, a team that had no business competing with the Steelers looked like the Bill Walsh 49ers. And the Steelers defense looked like poopoo.
End result? On a day that once promised the leveling of the Steelers and the Bengals at 3-3, the Bengals pulled out a late victory against a superior opponent, while the Steelers gagged against an inferior one. It's getting harder and harder to be optimistic; five losses will still get you in the playoffs, but.....
But the Steeler team that's back isn't the one that rumbled through the playoffs last year; the team that's back is the team that lost a shootout last year to the Bengals, the team that shot its own foot off against the Bengals this year. This team flopped and fumbled its way to an improbable loss at Atlanta a team by all measures inferior to the one that gasped on the floor of the Georgia Dome as Morten Anderson kicked a game-winning field goal over their heads.
At one minute in, the game looked in hand. The Steelers D dominated the Falcons and forced a quick punt. But Santonio Holmes continued an auspicious trend by fumbling that punt (why are his hands so greasy? is he eating croissants on the sidelines?) back to Atlanta. The Falcons struck quickly to take a 7-0 lead.
Still, it was hard to doubt the Steelers as they marched unimpeded downfield to a field goal, followed by two touchdown drives. Polamalu intercepted Vick. Atlanta amassed measly offense. But another fumble (this one by another repeat offender, Willie Parker) led to another Vick TD pass, and the game was closer at halftime than it had any reason to be.
And then these things happened: Big Ben got knocked out (literally); the running game stopped; the defense stopped; and the Falcons gained confidence. Suddenly, a team that had no business competing with the Steelers looked like the Bill Walsh 49ers. And the Steelers defense looked like poopoo.
End result? On a day that once promised the leveling of the Steelers and the Bengals at 3-3, the Bengals pulled out a late victory against a superior opponent, while the Steelers gagged against an inferior one. It's getting harder and harder to be optimistic; five losses will still get you in the playoffs, but.....
posted by Shane at 11:17 AM
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