NFL Playoffs: Pittsburgh Gets It Done at Home Over San Diego 35-24

PRE-GAME:

The Pittsburgh Steelers will try to cool down the hot San Diego Chargers , who have won their last four regular season games, and a playoff game.

The Chargers will hope to stay in this game, giving themselves a chance to win, perhaps in the end.

You will not see a high scoring game , but most likely a defensive battle again, like the last time these teams met.

Pittsburgh has the number one defense in football, and should be swarming all over the field, and make life tough for Rivers, Sproles, and Bennett.

I am not having a good prediction weekend, unlike last week, when I went 3-1. If the Steelers win this one, as I have predicted by about a touchdown, i will be at 1-3  and 4-4 for this seasons playoffs, mired in mediocrity.

For the season , i am now 167- 95-1. 72 games over 500 on my picks, still adequate for the season.

Enjoy the last game of the weekend, and hopefully Pittsburgh will be at home against the Ravens, next week, while Philadelphia travels to the unbelievable Arizona Cardinals home field.

I have the Steelers to make it to the Super Bowl, playing the Eagles or the Cardinals. I have become a Kurt Warner fan, and am picking the Cardinals at home. I am sold on this team to get it done.

Game recap and comments:

San Diego starts on their own 25 yard line, and Rivers completes a 21 yard pass to Gates right away. Sproles get nothing on his first carry, and it's second and nine.  Sproles catches a screen pass in the snow and picks up a first down.

Rivers goes deep down the field for Jackson, and it's a 41 yard touchdown! San Diego strikes first and fast , giving a 7-0 San Diego lead , early. It's snowing in Pittsburgh, but San Diego is still hot.

Pittsburgh will start on the 42 yard line of the Steelers. Willie Parker gains 10 yards and a first down. Willie Parker picks up another four yards. Parker runs forward for another first down.

Ward catches a quick out but it comes back , holding on the Steelers. 1st and 20. Incomplete to Ward, and it's second and 20. Miller catches a pass for 11 yards. Third and nine to go for a Pittsburgh first down.

Big Ben throws incomplete. They go for it on fourth down.  Ben kicks it on a quick  kick, a play seldom seen in the league, and pins San Diego down inside the 10 yard line.

I will call the Pittsburgh quarterback Ben, because i do not want to type his last name all night. Rivers, i can handle.

Phillip Rivers and the Chargers take over at the eight yard line. Sproles gets three yards. Sproles again for only two yards. Third and five to go. Overthrow by Rivers and San Diego will punt.

Holmes takes the punt all the way home for a touchdown, 68 yards, and it's all tied up.7-7.  There's one for the highlight reels, as Pittsburgh answers San Diego's big play with one of their own on special teams.

San Diego takes over on their own 35 yard line. Bennett gets no yards on his first carry, and the offense gets a face mask call. First and 25. A sliding catch made by Chambers and it's second and 13. A short gain and it's third and seven.

Gates makes a catch for a first down. Rivers is having no problem so far with the cold and the snow. False start and it is first and 15 for San Diego.

Sproles picks up three more yards on a short pass. Rivers is sacked for an eight yard loss. Third and 20. The play clock expires and it is third and 25 to go. Sproles is caught for a very short gain. San Diego will punt once again.

The Steelers take over on the 25 yard line.  The Steelers go three and out, and have to punt.

San Diego takes over on offense. Sproles gains eight yards on his carry from scrimmage. Second and two. Sproles again, for a first down. The quarter ends 7-7, all tied up.

Sproles again carries for only a yard. Gates pick up eight yards on a short pass, and it's third and one. Sproles is stopped short, and it's fourth down.

Pittsburgh takes over on the 20. Parker gains seven yards on first down. Parker surges ahead for the first down. Parker runs for another six yards. Parker hits the hole for another 4 yards and a first down.

Moore comes in and gains another four yards. Parker comes back in and gains three. Third and three to go. Six straight runs. Movement on the Steelers, and it's third and eight.

Complete pass to Davis, but a yard short for the first down. Pittsburgh will go for it.  No. they punt instead. San Diego starts at their own 20 yard line.

A long pass play is challenged. The ball clearly hit the ground, and it will be ruled incomplete upon review.

That was a nice effort by Stephen Jackson, but incomplete.Fourth and 10. San Diego punts again.

Holmes is back to get the punt . once more. Fair catch, and the Steelers take over at the 40 yard line. Holmes gets the ball  on a reverse for three yards. 

Washington catches one, but he's short of the first down, by two yards.

The Steelers are stopped again, on a running play. They fake the punt, but San Diego sniffs it out and they stop the play.

San Diego takes over at the Pittsburgh 44 yard line. A run is stopped for a loss, and a pass falls incomplete. Third and 11 , and Rivers hits Gates for a first down and a 15 yard gain.

Sproles get tackled for a loss, and it's second and 15.  Sproles catches one out of the backfield and he is stopped cold.

Third and 12 for the Chargers. Gates catches one, and comes up short of the first. Nate Kaeding will try a field goal in cold snowy conditions.

Here's a 42 yard attempt and it's.... good!!!  10-7, San Diego. That score was set up by the blown fake punt .

Pittsburgh gets it back, with 1:50 to go in the half. They take over on the 34 yard line. Can BIg Ben get this tied up , before the half runs out?

Holmes catches one, and moves into San Diego territory. Ben throws it wide to Miller, and it;s third and one. First down for Pittsburgh.

Big Ben misses a wide open receiver at the 10. Oooh! Second down and 10 to go. Pittsburgh completes one but an illegal formation penalty brings it back. Second and 15.

A big throw to Moore and it's first and goal at the three. Willie Parker runs wide left for the touchdown. Pittsburgh answers again and it's 14-10  the Steelers over the Chargers.

It's halftime and  finally a game is actually going my way this weekend!

The second half is underway and the Steelers take up, where they left off. A couple of first downs and they are in San Diego territory. A long pass, down and across the field and Holmes just misses it.

The San Diego defense is playing of the receivers a little too much. Another first down for the Steelers. Third and 10 now, at the San Diego 30 yard line. Miller catches another first down with good protection for Ben Rothisberger.

Parker runs for five yards and it's second and five. Touchdown , Pittsburgh, on a pass to the tight end Miller. It's halfway throught the third quarter, and San Diego is just getting the ball for the first time.

21-10 Pittsburgh over San Diego. I feel slightly better about the weekend. Just slightly.The Chargers take over at the Steelers 23 yard line on a dash by Sproles for 63 yards on the kickoff return.

The next pass is tipped and the Steelers intercept the pass. Wow! That was a quick body slam to the hopes of San Diego for a comeback.

Pittsburgh takes over on offense on the 20 yard line. No, wait, the interception is challenged by Norv Turner, coach of the Chargers. The play stands, it is an interception.

San Diego has no challenges remaining. Holmes on a reverse, runs for a first down. The Steelers have run 18 plays to San Diego 's one so far in the second half.

Third and about 12 for Pittsburgh , in a great game so far for the Steelers. San Diego stps the Steelers. however , and San diego gets another chance.

Sproles fumbles the punt, off his helmet, and Pittsburgh recovers trhe ball. That's a very costly mistake. Pittsburgh has the ball on the 22 yard line.  San Diego has had one snap of the ball, the entire third quarter.

Is that some kind of record?  First down , Pittsburgh at the San Diego 10 yard line.

The fourth quarter begins with San Diego only touching the ball once the entire quarter.

That must be some kind of record for an offense, to have controlled the ball that long, through the entire quarter. I have never seen that, ever.

Fourth and goal on the one and Pittsburgh goes for it, and they don t get it. San Diego makes a pressure stop at the goal line.

San Diego starts at the one yard line. Do they have a 99 yard drive left in them?

Hester catches a 12 yard pass for some breathing room. Rivers is sacked at the two. Second and  20 from the two. Rivers throws incomplete, and it's third and 20 from thje two.

Incomplete and the Steelers make them punt from their own end zone. The Steelers take over at mid-field.

One good drive and this one is over. The Steelers defense has dominated for most of this game. One would expect that, with that defense being the best in the league!

It looks like it will be down to the third meeting of the year between the Ravens and the Steelers, in Pittsburgh next week.

I give the edge to the Steelers, the way Big Ben is playing, along with this defense.

Big Ben airs it out deep, and the Steelers get the interference call in the end zone. First and goal on the one. Touchdown , Steelers on the next play. 28-10 Pittsburgh over San Diego.

168-95-1 for the season now. Whew, I am glad I did not go 0-4 this weekend. Some degree of dignity is left. 4-4 in playoff picks now.

I will take the Cardinals at home next week, and the Steelers as well. as they were my AFC pick for the Super Bowl.

I had the Giants to play them , but we know how that went.

We might have the ultimate battle of Pennsylvania , unless the Cardinals pull out a win at home.

I think Pittsburgh's momentum will keep them on top against Baltimore, who are a little chipped up after their battle with Tennessee this weekend.

San Diego has it  first and goal now, with some nice passes from Rivers to a host of receivers. Touchdown, San Diego with nine minutes to go in the game. 28-17 Pittsburgh over San Diego.

San Diego went 73 yards in a little over 4 minutes in a nice drive.

Pittsburgh still needs a few first downs to keep from getting nervous in this one. I think  it's over, but that's why they keep playing until time runs out.

The Steelers take over at their own 27 yard line. Big Ben goes long again, but it's incomplete barely. Washington catches one, and it's third and four. First down for the Steelers.

That uses up some clock. Parker picks up 27 yards and another first down. San Diego senses defeat, now for sure.

5:34 left in the game. Moore picks up another first down. It's nice my AFC Super Bowl bracket pick is still alive and well.

Willie Parker races in for the touchdown and it is 35 -17 Pittsburgh over San Diego with this one in the refrigerator, the eggs are cooling, and the butters getting hard. San Diego scorea a late touchdown and it's 35-24.

I hope yuo enjoyed thr game commentary, and have a fantastic week.

Until next week, thanks, Thomas [NFL Mikee] Moreland