Steely Resolve: Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints Halloween Bash

They say it's going to be the largest Halloween party in history Sunday night in the Superdome.

If conventional wisdom holds to form, the surging Steelers will win easily over these walking-wounded New Orleans Saints.

Yet, it is New Orleans and it is Halloween and some strange things have been known to happen on all hallow's eve in a town where they bury the dead above-ground.

Those French Quarter preachers have been known to shout from the rooftops on cool, fall nights in the Big Easy that steel is strengthened in the fire...in the fire!

And, Lord knows that once proud organization known as the Pittsburgh Steelers have been through a crucible since winning the Super Bowl less than two years ago.

A Super Bowl hangover largely induced by their All-Pro quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who must feel right at home among those Houses of Ill Repute on Bourbon Street this Halloween weekend.

Roethlisberger's salacious off-the-field lifestyle has to have made ole' man Rooney turn over in his grave a time or two.

Alas, the Steelers have progressed through the four-game suspension of Big Ben quite well and roll into New Orleans as arguably the best team in the NFL these days.

With the Saints missing the likes of Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas, some observers feel this game will be kinda' like five foxes and three chickens voting on what to have for dinner.

Not exactly a fair fight, ya know?

It's February 2009 and Ben Roethlisberger, with the whole damned civilized world watching, fires a six-yard Super Bowl winning touchdown pass in dramatic fashion to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left in a come-from-behind victory over the Arizona Cardinals. 

It was Pittsburgh's record sixth Super Bowl ring.

They were the world champions for the second time in four years.

"Big Ben you just won the Super Bowl, what are you going to do next!?!?"  

Back in  January of '81, a Pittsburgh preacher consoled members of his flock as he preached from his Steel City pulpit at Smithfield United Church.

It's was frigid on that Sunday morning in Pittsburgh.

In a service titled, "None for the Thumb," Pastor Weaver warned of the inherent dangers of coveting thy neighbor's Super Bowl. Unlike recent years, Pittsburgh was an eerily silent place on that weekend in 1981.

After winning four Super Bowls in a six-year span from 1974-79, the Steelers finally snapped a 26-year championship drought in 2005, Roethlisberger's rookie year, and then won another one three years later against Seattle and, well, life was peachy until Ben just couldn't stay out of trouble

The boy seemed to have a career death wish or something.

"Off the field, Roethlisberger has been involved in high-profile incidents, including a nearly fatal motorcycle accident in 2006 and sexual assault allegations in Lake Tahoe in 2008 and in Milledgeville, Georgia, in 2010. Neither allegation resulted in charges being filed. However, the latter act resulted in Roethlisberger being suspended for six games (reduced to four) under the NFL's personal conduct policy for the start of the 2010 season..."(Wikipedia)

Questions abounded this offseason after the Steelers slumped to 9-7 last year.

How will Roethlisberger perform after the suspension? Who will replace Santonio Holmes? Can Rashard Mendenhall carry the running game without Willie Parker around? Can Troy Palamalu stay healthy long enough to carry the defense?

After six games, it appears the doubting Thomases in the Steel City had nothing to worry about after all.

Three of the Steelers' five wins this season came when Roethlisberger was serving his suspension and Big Ben has been exemplary since returning...no rust on this Steeler.

Steel is strengthened in the fire...in the fire!

"Roethlisberger has since returned from his forced exile and immediately performed at an elite level, making Pittsburgh an even stronger early candidate to represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLV. The standout signal-caller has averaged nearly 280 passing yards and thrown for five touchdowns with just one interception in helping the Steelers to their two most recent triumphs." (Sports Network)

By contrast, Drew Brees threw six interceptions last Week (4 officially—two were dropped) and some of those local smartass sports talk show hosts have wondered aloud if the Saints QB spent a little too much time autographing his book this offseason.

The Chaplain of Bourbon Street once told me that gratitude is the least heartfelt of emotions. It was before the good pastor himself succumbed to the temptations the street has to offer.

I nodded my head vigorously in agreement back then. Now, I truly know what he means.

Some Saints fans suggested benching Brees and playing Chase Daniel this week.

Now, that really is funny.

They tell us not to be fooled by the Saints anymore.

They say this year's version is now a shadow of their former selves.

They see that this Saints defense is not as opportunistic as it was one year ago.

They say the team has too many injuries it will have to play error-free football just to keep it close.

And, yet, it is Halloween weekend in New Orleans afterall.

The ghost of Marie Leveau has been seen lurking 'round Bourbon and Bienville.

Those Houses of Ill Repute in the French Quarter have reportedly expanded staff to accommodate Big Ben.

And, well, who the hell knows?

Stranger things have happened, ya know?