Steelers 45, Chiefs 7
Well, we all knew it would happen sooner or later, didn't we?
The Steelers put a mauling on the KC Chiefs unlike anything Dan Dierdorf and I have seen for a long, long time. I was reminded of the time my Intra-City Little League team, Chamber of Commerce, beat Rotary Club 51-7. They called the game early. Mercy Rule.
The Mercy Rule would not have been inappropriate on Sunday. The Steelers led 31-0 at the half, having scored on every possession and rolled up more yards than the Chiefs defense had allowed, on average, each of their first four games. The rest of the game got a little sloppy--four fumbles by the Steelers, though they lost only one--but it was also in hand. Kansas City managed 213 yards of offense, most of it in garbage time (by which I mean the second half), while the Steelers ended with 457. Larry Johnson ran 15 times for a total of 26 yards.
I'll say it again: you don't run on the Steelers.
Three who looked good:
Let's start with the most heartening statistics of the day: Big Ben was 16-19 for 238 yards and 2TDs. He looked like his old self, making sharp, strong throws and stepping assertively in the pocket. And the numbers bear it out.
The running game. Willie Parker went over 100 yards again, with 2 TDs, and Najeh Davenport (The Hamper Dumper!) chipped in for 78 and a TD. Willie is showing great toughness (testament to his time working with the Bus), and the Hamper Dumper showed impressive speed. He's a great complement.
Santonio Holmes. Ben wasn't the only one gaining confidence out there today. Holmes flashed his big-play ability all over the place, beginning with the third play from scrimmage.
Honorable mentions go to pretty much everyone else: the entire defense, the O-Line, Nate Washington, Hines Ward, Joey Porter on the sidelines, Cowher's serious face, etc.
Three who looked bad:
Two sets of hands: Santonio Holmes' and Willie Parkers'. Both fumbled twice. Let's hope it was a lack of concentration due to the lopsided score.
Ummm.... Only one sack for the defense? And that was Chad Brown (Chad Brown!) sacking Brody Croyle. But really: the Chiefs didn't give the Steelers a chance to sack; Damon Huard got rid of the ball fast every time. Not a strategy for success, though.
And, ummm, Jeff Reid missed a field goal.
To make a great day even better, this Steeler win came after losses by both the Ravens and the Bengals. Bruce Gradkowski, the rookie QB from Toledo whose hurt was public when the Steelers didn't draft him, earned his first win ever, against the Bengals.
Next week, the Steelers visit Atlanta. While Pittsburgh has never been a great dome team, Atlanta never really enjoys much of a home-field advantage. The Falcons lead the league in rushing, by a ton. But ask Larry Johnson, and he'll tell you: you don't run on the Steelers. Looks like a matchup that favors the good guys.
The Steelers put a mauling on the KC Chiefs unlike anything Dan Dierdorf and I have seen for a long, long time. I was reminded of the time my Intra-City Little League team, Chamber of Commerce, beat Rotary Club 51-7. They called the game early. Mercy Rule.
The Mercy Rule would not have been inappropriate on Sunday. The Steelers led 31-0 at the half, having scored on every possession and rolled up more yards than the Chiefs defense had allowed, on average, each of their first four games. The rest of the game got a little sloppy--four fumbles by the Steelers, though they lost only one--but it was also in hand. Kansas City managed 213 yards of offense, most of it in garbage time (by which I mean the second half), while the Steelers ended with 457. Larry Johnson ran 15 times for a total of 26 yards.
I'll say it again: you don't run on the Steelers.
Three who looked good:
Let's start with the most heartening statistics of the day: Big Ben was 16-19 for 238 yards and 2TDs. He looked like his old self, making sharp, strong throws and stepping assertively in the pocket. And the numbers bear it out.
The running game. Willie Parker went over 100 yards again, with 2 TDs, and Najeh Davenport (The Hamper Dumper!) chipped in for 78 and a TD. Willie is showing great toughness (testament to his time working with the Bus), and the Hamper Dumper showed impressive speed. He's a great complement.
Santonio Holmes. Ben wasn't the only one gaining confidence out there today. Holmes flashed his big-play ability all over the place, beginning with the third play from scrimmage.
Honorable mentions go to pretty much everyone else: the entire defense, the O-Line, Nate Washington, Hines Ward, Joey Porter on the sidelines, Cowher's serious face, etc.
Three who looked bad:
Two sets of hands: Santonio Holmes' and Willie Parkers'. Both fumbled twice. Let's hope it was a lack of concentration due to the lopsided score.
Ummm.... Only one sack for the defense? And that was Chad Brown (Chad Brown!) sacking Brody Croyle. But really: the Chiefs didn't give the Steelers a chance to sack; Damon Huard got rid of the ball fast every time. Not a strategy for success, though.
And, ummm, Jeff Reid missed a field goal.
To make a great day even better, this Steeler win came after losses by both the Ravens and the Bengals. Bruce Gradkowski, the rookie QB from Toledo whose hurt was public when the Steelers didn't draft him, earned his first win ever, against the Bengals.
Next week, the Steelers visit Atlanta. While Pittsburgh has never been a great dome team, Atlanta never really enjoys much of a home-field advantage. The Falcons lead the league in rushing, by a ton. But ask Larry Johnson, and he'll tell you: you don't run on the Steelers. Looks like a matchup that favors the good guys.
posted by Shane at 9:30 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home