As I sat in awe of the Pittsburgh Steelers horrible showing Sunday against the Giants, I realized how many things did not go in our favor throughout the whole game and week leading up to it.
First was the issue of Willie Parker still being out and Rashard Mendenhall losing his season a few weeks ago, leaving our third string RB to play; Even though Mewelde Moore has been doing outstanding since he took over the starting role.
Moore started playing well, capping off the Steelers first drive with a 32-yard touchdown run. He had a few big gains but did not do anything special against the Giants' tough defense.
If Parker had played, I have a feeling he would have used his quickness to get around the outside and make some big runs along the sidelines, which could have produced more scoring drives and probably helped us win.
Then it was Santonio Holmes and his weed. He was not high when the police pulled him over Thursday so he was let go at the time with a misdemeanor offense. The Steelers, with no action from the league, deactivated him for Sunday's game. This led to the Steelers running more which did not work out all that well.
I just did not understand the Steelers' play calling. They still have Hines Ward and Nate Washington, and even Heath Miller, so why run it so much against that tough Giants' D? Ben Roethlisbeger is a good quarterback, when he is able to actually throw it.
Next it was the Steelers' starting safety Ryan Clark injuring his arm while defending the Giants' Steve Smith. This made it more difficult for the Steelers' defense to defend the pass well.
He did miss the entire season last year after I believe a surgery, but I'm not sure. All I know is that we missed him a lot because Tyrone Carter makes quite a few mistakes sometimes. I have always liked Clark as a nice combination with Troy Polamalu.
And finally the most important reason the Steelers lost, Ben Roethlisberger's play. Normally I am the last to say Big Ben played bad, but he did. Maybe he didn't get enough pass plays during the game or wasn't used to not having Santonio Holmes as an option, who knows, but he played horribly in my opinion.
He couldn't convert on third and fourth downs, which eventually did the Steelers in at the end of the game.
And it kills me when Roethlisberger holds onto the ball for five or six seconds. There is no need for that kind of time to be holding the ball. He is really indecisive, especially after his horrible season with tons of interceptions two years ago. It seems like most of his throws come while being dragged down by defenders or chased by a huge linebacker, which is not how it should be.
But you cannot expect the Steelers' offensive line to hold their blocks for five to 10 seconds, so Ben really needs to get better at getting rid of the ball quickly. I have also noticed that he does not run the ball when he needs to as often as he used to. Yesterday was the first time I saw him running the ball since last season almost. His decision making needs to get so much better.
With all of these problems for the Steelers as a team, the defense has really had to step up and play well. And they have, but you can't win with just defense.
The Steelers really need to get their stuff together if they want to make it far in the playoffs. And with a tough schedule the next few weeks, these problems really need to get fixed and quick.
44 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jerry Desaulniers 8 months ago
Really critical of a good Steelers team dont ya think! I'm a Browns fan and hate the Steelers but they're playing pretty darn good! They are at least in the top 5 teams in the whole NFL! But if they want to take a few weeks off, I'm all for it!
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
oh don't get me wrong, i think the Steelers are doing phenomenal, i was just listing the problems they had this sunday against the giants that really need to be fixed
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James Williamson 8 months ago
Eddie. I have studied the Steelers, now I'm no expert on them like you are, but I feel the problem is the line. Isn't one of your guards out for the season? Alan Faneca is also with the New York Jets via free agency and he was one of the best.
The line should give him 5 seconds to find an open receiver. Not ten, but 5 should be adequate. Now, Moore is a great back from what I saw. True they should not have tried to fight the D-line that won the Super Bowl, but Moore was effective.
What I saw was a lot of luck on the Giants. I never saw the 4th interception, but three of them were lucky for sure. Knocking the ball out of Washington's hands, Kiehl, I think, made that weird catch on the first one. Then the third one looked like an acrobatic catch.
The Steelers D just didn't get a turnover that game. Now they did awesome, but still....... the team that wins the turnover battle more likely wins the game.
Ben does need some work, but that line's holding play nullified a touchdown pass to Nate Washington.
The Steelers will have to take all of this into consideration when facing the Redskins.
Nice Article.
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
i see your point. the line should give him five seconds, but they shouldn't have to every single play. Yes Kendall Simmons is out for the year and I actually think Ben has been sacked a lot less since Simmons has been out. I get scared sometimes when Ben drops back and just stand with the ball. Yes that holding play did nullify a TD. But a lot of the time when i watch James Harrison get in the backfield he has to deal with guys holdin him or taking him to the ground from behind, and it never gets called
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Dominos Yougotthirtymins 8 months ago
BIG BLUE B!TCHES hahahahahahaha yes
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
wow ur cool.
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Buddy Smith 8 months ago
You're right about one thing: Ben has to throw the friggin ball. I felt like I spent all day Sunday yelling "Throw the BALL!" at the TV. He didn't hear me.
They aren't the same offense without Santonio Holmes...I would have waited for the league to act, but I'm very 420 friendly. In my world weed would be safe, legal, and a source of tax revenue. Sort of like California. :)
I think Mewelde Moore is playing better than Mendenhall ever would have. That negative is probably a positive.
Nice piece! Keep up the good work.
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
thanks for the comment
the thing with Holmes is that I felt like Bruce Arians seemed uncomfortable throwing the ball with out him so he ran it a lot. I too was yelling that at my TV. I'm not sure if we got to see enough of Mendenhall though to say he wouldn't have done well. He could have been good, but i still think Mewelde Moore is doing great.
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Craig Garrison Sr 8 months ago
I'm checking on you guys Eddie. The Steelers lost a "bad luck" game to the Giants, they didn't help themselves as much as they could have, but the Giants got lucky with that win.
Ben has always held the ball too long, he even did it in college. Tomlin knows, and so does Ariens (I spell that right?), and they just try to game plan knowing what he'll do.
The Redskins DC Greg Blache will also know this too, and with the Skins' secondary has been playing, you guys probably need to find a way to run the ball first, force us into being afraid of it (not been easy to do by anybody else yet) so Blache gets more concerned about the running game.
What do you think?
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
I think that the Steelers need to focus on the run more in the coming week especially with corners like Carlos Rodgers and Shawn Springs playing in the Skins secondary.
And with Santonio Holmes coming back, we will be able to go deep more. But Roethlisberger should definitely throw it more to Heath Miller, he has been neglected in the passing game it seems this year.
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Edgar Antonio Nunez 8 months ago
I had the 'pleasure' of sitting at a NY Giants bar near a Steelers fan. Even before the game started, he rolled out a laundry list of player injuries and DNPs. Basically very negative. This morning I listened to WFAN online, the New York sports talk radio station. Mike Francesca, the host, commented that he feels Steeler fans are some of the whinest in sportsdom. And now I run into this article (I just joined). So perhaps there is something to this.
As a Giants fan, I respect the Steelers and Big Ben is a fine QB. And Mike Tomlin is a seriously upstanding dude--loved his comments after the end of the game. Classy. I cannot help but view the Steelers as an AFC version of my team--traditionally featuring a power run game and very solid defensive units and not to mention the team owner families' affection for each other.
With all due respect, the Steelers 'didn't throw away this game.' The teams alternated dominating quarters and it was a back and forth affair. From my perspective, the Giants left (lots) of points on the board. Four trips to the red zone and only nine points? Won't happen next time.
So both teams have flaws, like any in this NFL time of parody. Both teams left it on the field. Both squandered opportunities. So in direct answer to one of your posters, no, the 'Giants didn't get lucky with the win.'
Great game. Here's to hoping we meet again in February.
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
Well I try not to "whine" about my team as little as possible. I would really like to meet this Mr. Francesca face to face and it may not end well for him.
And yes, both teams had tons of missed opportunities. If the Steelers are going to win in Washington on Nov. 3rd, they have to straighten out some things.
And would really like to meet you guys in February.
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Craig Garrison Sr 8 months ago
I guess Edgar, you choose to ignore the fact that the Steelers are the best goal line team in the NFL? That's based on stats from this season. So the trips to the goal line and no points from it just happens to be norm for teams playing the Steelers.
And, yeah, I do think the Giants got lucky with that win, that doesn't mean the Giants don't deserve the win mind you, I see it this way: if those two played 10 games, I'd be willing to bet that at the end of the 10 games, they would 5-5, so luck would play a role in each game on some level, that's what happens when teams are evenly matched.
Nice stuff Edgar, hope you stick around, you make intelligent points and they are well written.
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Edgar Antonio Nunez 8 months ago
Well you can bet I'm pulling for your team against the Washington Redskins. That's also a great matchup--top ranked rush defense against the NFL's rush leader in Clinton Portis. So good luck to you. Good stuff, gentlemen. I much prefer this site to all the faceless posters and haters over at ESPN. Here posters attach their names to their comments for the most part.
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
well, Edgar, you seem to make some really good points. I hope to see some of your articles in the future.
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Jay Marcelle 8 months ago
you guys should be glad you didn't lose as bad as you were supposed to. those refs clearly wanted the steelers to win. the officiating was terrible. we should've had 35 points. it should've been 35-14. it wouldn't have made a difference if holmes played. it wouldn't have made a difference if willie parker played. you would've lost. and you are lucky the refs felt sorry for you
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Craig Garrison Sr 8 months ago
Jay, have you EVER been capable of bringing an argument that has any touch of reality to it, or is it just all about your conspiracy theory BS?
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
wow, are you sure you were watching the same game i was? because it seemed like every time James Harrison blitzed around the outside, he was held or pushed down from behind, which I believe are illegal, but they were never called.
I am sorry if you are mad you were cheated into a win, if that's possible, but why not keep stupid comments like that to yourself.
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Osi Umenyiora 8 months ago
Gimme a break. Anyone can find 30 plays a game where they think their guys are being held. The Giants o-line is one of the best in the league and Jacobs and Ward and both fabulous at picking up blitzes. They've only given up 6 sacks all year.
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
I'm sorry, but you cannot possibly have been watching the same game, because you cannot call holding all the time, goo play. It's totally unfair that Harrison has to get past a guy, WHILE he's holding him back. And he still makes tons of amazing plays.
Sure there is holding on every play, I understand that. But when its on a guy that is ready to sack the QB or tackle the RB for a loss, then it has to be called!! I can understand if a guy held a player, 30 yards behind the play and it didn't get called, that guy couldn't really affect the play.
If the holding on Harrison had been called, the long pass to Amani Toomer never would've happened, most likely making you lose.
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Charlie Cox 8 months ago
You have to remember, the Steelers O-line was built in the Cowher era. Cowher's philosophy as we all know was focused around Jerome Bettis.
Notice how no one complains about the O-line's runblocking skills, because that's what they're best at. Not until Tomlin took over, or perhaps the last year of the Cowher era, did Ben start passing the ball so frequently. The line isn't a pass blocking line. And yes, Ben does hold on too long. He wants to find a receiver and knows he can escape from a hit.
Good article though.
As a die hard, the loss kills me, but I like your analysis.
5/5
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
thanks for the positive comment.
You are right, we are definitely a running team and thats what our line is built around. Ben needs to really start hitting receivers quicker or running more, whatever it takes for him to not hold onto the ball forever and possibly get sacked.
The loss was really tough for me to watch, especially knowing how much better we should have played.
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Jay Marcelle 8 months ago
stupid comments? on the goal line, jacobs was clearly over the line for a TD. the television crew showed the best angles. plaxico burress was pushed in the endzone and nothing was called the guy had a handful of his jersey with the ref RIGHT THERE. it really seemed like the refs were rallying for you guys. my question is what game are you watching? yes, there are missed calls on both sides, but for some reason, our missed calls were costing us touchdowns. and thats unacceptable. as you would feel if plays like that almost cost you your game. am i exaggerating a bit? maybe. but thats how i feel. i literally sat and watched kenny phillips getting called for roughing and my effing jaw drops. that was unavoidable. i recall Brett Keisel later making a similar play on Ward, and by that logic, why wasn't there a penalty there? stupid comments? now thats your opinion. but if you felt penalties and non calls could've effected the outcome of your game, you would be doing the same thing
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
ok, uhhh there was actually no way to tell if Jacobs was over the line, (and he wasn't) but it was pretty much inconclusive. I must say that no matter what, bad calls and no-calls happen, trust me, I have had to deal with it many times as a Steelers fan.
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Jay Marcelle 8 months ago
THERE WAS NO WAY???? LAisten, I know you support your team and would like to think that they stopped him, but they didn't. Did you watch any of those replays?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxNBRO3uSy8&feature=related
At 2:50. You tellin me that wasn't a TD?
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
ok, Jay, I just watched the same video I saw 10 times on Sunday. It WASN'T a TD. I know that you would love for it to have counted, but they cannot overturn something that cannot be seen with the camera angles we had. Honestly I do not think it crossed the goal line, but there is no way to tell. So you cannot tell if it really WAS or WASN'T a touchdown. Sorry but you're wrong.
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Jay Marcelle 8 months ago
in the video i just gave, you mean to tell me he did not cross the plain? even the analysts said he did. they said maybe they got a better footage than the refs did when it was challenged
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
Sorry Jay but i just dont think it really was a score. You can't even see the ball so how do you know it was a TD? And the analysts are wrong sometimes, so you can't really trust them every time.
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
Sorry Jay but i just dont think it really was a score. You can't even see the ball so how do you know it was a TD? And the analysts are wrong sometimes, so you can't really trust them every time.
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Charlie Cox 8 months ago
This really makes me laugh just reading all this, but aren't there many times that this sort of "phenomena" has happened, if that's what you're referring to?
1. There wasn't conclusive evidence supporting it. You believe you saw it because of your bias.
2. You won, so shut up.
3. Remember Troy Polamalu's "interception" he got screwed out of in the AFC division game in Indianapolis 2006? It was an interception, but the refs called it otherwise with a challenge.
The point is, it is utterly stupid to continue this argument. He didn't score, they didn't get the six, the score was the same, and when it all boils down to it, you guys still progress to 6-1. Quit complaining.
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Osi Umenyiora 8 months ago
The Giants dominated that game for three of the four quarters and deserved to win. Did the Steelers run even one play from inside the Giants' 25 yard line the entire game??? It if wasn't for two big plays they would have been shut out. Weanwhile the Giants lived on the Steelers' side of he field all day even if they only got into the end zone once -- when it counted most. The bad snap was incredibly serendipitous but only tied the game up and didn't really affect field position. Then the Giants scored a TD and wiped up the floor with the Steelers' offense for both of their last two possessions. That game was closer on the scoreboard than it was in real life.
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
Ok Osi, the long snap by James Harrison affected the game tremendously. It tied it up, if that hadn't happened, then if the Steelers did go down and score, it would've been a win. It really did affect field position. You guys got it on like the 50!!! That part of your comment makes no sense to me.
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Osi Umenyiora 8 months ago
Yeah, it affected field position -- FOR THE STEELERS!
Go back and watch it again. The punter was standing on the five when the ball went over his head! The free kick was from the 20!
DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"If that hadn't happened and then the Steelers did go down and score, it would've been a win."
What? If what didn't happen, the bad snap? You know what would have happened then? A punt. So what in the world are you talking about?
And answer my question: DID THE STEELERS RUN EVEN ONE PLAY ALL GAME FROM INSIDE THE GIANTS' 25-YARD LINE? I really don't think so. The Giants pushed them around every way possible except for red zone offense.
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
you go on thinking that your Giants dominated that game, but they didn't. It was a gift from the Steelers. And you might want to rethink your comment because after the safety, YOU got the ball around the 50!!! If we had punted it, you guys would've gotten it around your 40!!! so YES it did affect field position.
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Osi Umenyiora 8 months ago
You're a complete and absolute moron.
Once again -- WITHOUT the safety the punter would have kicked from about the 7, because he was standing on the 5 when the ball went over his head.
WITH the safety he of course kicked from the 20.
SO FIGURE IT OUT!
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
wow Osi i cannot believe you are actually still arguing about this, there have been 2 games since then. I've dropped the argument, you should too, because I am tired of constantly reading your BS.
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Suade Chamberlain 8 months ago
Osi.......do you really believe that the Giants dominated that game? If you truely do believe that, then you need to make sure you leave cookies out for Santa this year and don't be afraid of the easter bunny either......they both bring gifts, which is what the Steelers gave the Giants Sunday.
and Jay...........what are you smoking?
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
nice comment Suade. The Steelers pretty much did give that game to the Giants.
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Osi Umenyiora 8 months ago
Nobody gave anything to anyone other than those two points on the punt snap. And too bad you don't have a backup long snapper on the roster. Coughlin claims to have two of them -- hopefully we'll never find out.
The four INTs were all legit -- first Butler making a great diving catch, then Butler smacking the crap out of Washington to cause the bobble to Kehl, then the last two on 4th down by Webster (who could have gone all the way but slipped down) and Phillips on the final desperation heave. Other then the safety you cannot point to one single thing that the Steelers "gave away," but if it makes you feel better to think that then go ahead. I'll be rooting for you this week.
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
How about the tons of points we pretty much just threw away from missed opportunities, it wasn't good play from you guys, it was bad play and bad decisions by us. Ben GAVE you guys four picks. He holds onto the ball way too long in the first place, then makes crappy last decision throws in a final attempt to complete a pass. If he had done like the old ben roethlisberger, he probably would've have run the ball himself in those last minute situations, and the outcome of the game would most likely have been different.
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Suade Chamberlain 8 months ago
Okay Osi......I'm done. If you need to feel that your team dominates every game so that you can sleep well at night, fine. I refuse to have a battle if wits with an un-armed man.
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Suade Chamberlain 8 months ago
Osi I'm not quite done. To answer your question about the Steelers running a play in side the 25......the answer is no. When you can score from the 32 and your own 35.....who needs to get inside the 25? Your beloved Giants got inside the 25, 5 times....................... 5 Times inside the 25 and and they come away with 1 TD, 3 field goals, and 1 denial. 3 field goals is dominating? Sounds to me that when the field get shorter, the Giants have no weapons.
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
Yea and usually dominating is winning by more than just 7 points
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Jay Marcelle 8 months ago
WOW, you honestly think the game was that close?????What game were you guys watching????? The giants dominated both sides. We just couldn't finish in the endzone. Something we've been having trouble with for years. The steelers had a few big plays the whole game. That's it. All that happened was the giants kept letting a struggling team stay in the game. Kinda like we did the 49ers till we finished them off. Yes, the steelers are a great team. The defense is STILL the best. As I feel its been for years. But the score was not as close as the stats say. Big ben did hold the ball for a while yes. But when your offense is struggling, you are missing fast WP and Holmes, you need time to set things up. What happens when you keep rushing the throws? You get more INTs. All that would've happened was instead of getting sacked so many times, they would've been picked off more. When a defense is bringing so much pressure, you can either hold onto it till the last minute looking for someone, trusting your O line, Throw it away, 3 TIMES IN A ROW(because he was stopped that many times late) or run and get clobbered by the giants D who crowded the line. Do you honestly think the steelers were so close by their own doing? We let them come back by not scoring. THATS IT!!!! Yes they are a good team. YES fully healthy and on their A game, they could stop us on offense completely, but not this past Sunday. YOU can believe what you want. the steelers stopped the run, BUT HOW COME WE GOT IN SCORING POSITION SO MANY TIMES? obviously stooping the run wasn't enough. this coulsd've easily been 34-14 if the refs called the obvious pass interference on Burress and the TD on Jacobs tat even the analysts thought was wrong. And saying he gave us 4 picks is nonsense. every INT is giving 4 picks. Its his fault for throwing them. HMM, I WONDER WHO MADE HIM THROW THEM.....
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
Yes I do think it was close, because if you look at the score, the difference is only 7. That is close. In YOUR mind maybe not, but to intelligent football fans like Suade and I, it was close. Stats do no tell the whole story. And last time I checked, points were WAY more important than trips to the red zone. I don't know about you, but if my team gets only 1 trip inside the red zone, but comes away with 40 points, that one trip doesn't matter.
And I'm sorry but if you're still too blind to see that Jacobs DID NOT score that TD, the you should see a doctor. He obviously did not make it, HE didn't even make it across the line and he couldn't have stretched his arms through a pile of Steelers defensive lineman and linebackers. YOU can go ahead and think he scored, but the truth is, HE DIDN'T, so just shut up about that.
And those INTs were pretty much gifts. Roethlisberger should've wrapped 'em up for you guys because they were bad throws by Ben, NOT good plays by you guys.
If you truly think the Giants dominated that game, then you must have been chillin' with Santonio Holmes and smokin' some of his pot during the game, because neither side dominated.
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Sean O'Brien 8 months ago
Wow, the comments on this one got out of hand quite quickly. As a Giants fan I can say that this game turned out the way I wanted it but neither team dominated the game. True that the Steelers were in the game because of two big plays, but that's what good teams do - make big plays. My G-Men didn't stop them from doing making the plays, therefore they did not dominate them.
Big Ben really manned up this season and considering the games have mostly been on his shoulders, the Steelers are playing well.
In the same breath, the Giants weren't necessarily lucky to win. They played a good game and capitalized on a momentum shift like every championship team should.
Fellow Giants fans, please don't make us all look like jackasses. We wouldn't want to sink to the level of Pats fans would we?
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Eddie Rossell 8 months ago
thank you Sean. I don't think either team dominated in any single aspect of the game, except maybe in the INT section. Both seemed to struggle a bit running. both did good passing, and both were strong on defense.
I hope Steelers fans never sink down to Pats fans level, or even Skins fans level. lol
Sorry Skins fans, had to take a stab at you before the game somehow.
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