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Pittsburgh Steelers: Current Season



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Monday, April 12, 2010 -- Afternoon

Steeler News
News about those rascally Steelers. Santonio Holmes and Ben Roethlisberger have been headline news items because of their juvenile behavior. Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault a few weeks ago when he was plying girls with free drinks in the VIP section of a college town bar in Georgia. Yes, it was near his home, and yes, Roethlisberger was celebrating his birthday. However, you would think that Roethlisberger after one sexual assault civil lawsuit would be a smidge more careful with his behavior. Nope. When you feel that you are entitled to your celebrity, and that means having access to as much young, nubile girls as possible, you make stupid choices. Today, the DA in the town said that was not going to press charges because the girl declined to press charges. Also, there wasn't conclusive evidence of a rape. So Roethlisberger is off the hook with the police, but he should not be off the hook for destructive behavior. When a 28 year old man hangs out at college bars, liquoring up girl under the age of 21, and gropes said girls in the bar bathroom, he has a problem. Then Santonio Holmes got into trouble for throwing a glass at a girl in a bar. There has been controversy on who threw the glass, but Holmes has a history of problems with beating his girlfriend and being caught with marijuana. Reports circulated at the end of last week that Holmes was going to have a four game suspension in the coming season because of a substance abuse violation. No word on that from the NFL yet, and no one has any idea if it is for failing a drug test or not showing up for one. The Steelers got rid of Holmes last night, packing him off to the New York Jets for a fifth round draft pick. The big question: is this the end of the Steelers' woes with misbehaving players?

Sunday, January 3, 2010 -- Sixteenth game of the season


Teams
Steelers
Dolphins 		1st quarter
14
7 		2nd quarter
3
3 		3rd quarter
7
0 		4th quarter
6
14 		Final
30
24

The Steelers were in Miami this afternoon, fighting for their playoff life against the Dolphins. Either team needed the win, and a variety of loses by other teams to make the wild card for the playoffs. The Steelers, per usual, played like crap, especially in the fourth quarter. The Steelers has a 27-10 lead, that they blew to only be up 27-24. Fortunately, in the last minute of the game, Jeff Reed got a field goal, and Ike Taylor got an interception with only 25 seconds left to give the Steelers the win. Since Houston won this afternoon, the Steelers have to wait for the results from games that the Baltimore Ravens, the New York Jets, and the Denver Broncos to lose in order to make the playoffs. It's not very likely that all three will lose, especially since all three are favored in their games. So the Steelers will probably have to go off and lick their wounds and figure out what the heck went wrong this season. In the game, Ben Roethlisberger hurt his right (throwing) arm, and he was getting treatment after the game. The question will be how will Roethlisberger be IF the Steelers are lucky enough to get the wild card?

Sunday, December 27, 2009 -- Fifteenth game of the season


Teams
Ravens
Steelers 		1st quarter
3
6 		2nd quarter
7
14 		3rd quarter
10
0 		4th quarter
0
3 		Final
30
23

The Steelers played their final home game of the season against the Baltimore Ravens. I wouldn't say that the Steelers won the game so much as the Ravens shot themselves in the foot with penalties. Of course, I think that the Steelers really needed to thank the refs for calling ticky-tacky penalties against the Ravens while ignoring calls against the Steelers. As a Steeler fan, I would say that the Steelers should really thank the refs for the calls. In one play in particular, Joe Flacco, the Ravens' quarterback, threw the ball to a receiver in the end zone. But there was a pass interference that wasn't called. As Mike Tomlin said after the game, "we need a break, because we've had our share of the opposite." The only thing is that I don't think that they will get in the playoffs with this sort of play, AND if they do manage to make it, I can't see them getting very far. After all, even in this game, the Steelers had great difficulty in getting the ball into the end zone. Final score: Steelers 23 - Ravens 20.

Sunday, December 20, 2009 -- Fourteenth game of the season


Teams
Packers
Steelers 		1st quarter
7
14 		2nd quarter
7
7 		3rd quarter
0
3 		4th quarter
22
13 		Final
36
37

Somehow the Steelers managed to eke out a win against the Green Bay Packers. I would love to say that the Steelers played well, but they didn't. The only thing that they did was get less penalties that the Packers. In fact, the game was so tight, that the Steelers only won because Ben Rothelisberger managed to contact with Mike Wallace in the end zone with 0 seconds left on the clock to tie the game. Then Jeff Reed kicked the extra point to win the game. Final score was Steelers 37 - Packers 36.

Thursday, December 10, 2009 -- Thirteenth game of the season


Teams
Steelers
Browns 		1st quarter
0
3 		2nd quarter
3
10 		3rd quarter
3
0 		4th quarter
0
0 		Final
6
13

The Steelers were in Cleveland tonight to play the Browns. Mike Tomlin has said in his press conference that he was going thinking of bench some starters because of poor performance. BTW, Hines Ward, who said that he would lie and play hurt, was playing with a supposed sore knee. The Steelers were playing very poorly in the first half. Yes, it was cold and windy. Yes, they were playing into the wind for one of the quarters in the first half, but that doesn't explain how the Browns' defense sacks Ben Roethlisberger five times in less than two quarters. The Browns scored first with a field goal, then they got another field goal, and a touchdown. With a 13-0 lead, the Steelers got the ball, and managed to use their three time outs to get the ball down the field in a minute. Unfortunately, they ran out of time, and had to set for a field goal. The Steelers went into the locker room at half time down 10 points. The Steelers played like losers throughout the second half, and guess what? They lost. Yep, the Cleveland Browns now have two wins for the season, and the Steelers have to admit that they are imploding. Not much chance for a playoff wildcard bid if the Steelers continue to play like crap. Final score: Steelers 6 - Browns 13.

Sunday, December 6, 2009 -- Twelfth game of the season


Teams
Raiders
Steelers 		1st quarter
3
3 		2nd quarter
3
7 		3rd quarter
0
0 		4th quarter
21
14 		Final
27
24

The Steelers were playing the Oakland Raiders here in Pittsburgh today, and it was a very frustrating game to watch. I have to admit that I joined Steeler Nation in thinking that the Steelers should definitely win this game. After all, if they didn't, it would be the fourth loss in a row. Plus, the Raiders came in to the game with three wins and eight losses. Of course, something was telling me to pick the Raiders in my Beat Bob pool, and I should have. The Steelers were definitely lackluster. In fact, they had a four point lead that in the fourth quarter that they gave up with nine seconds left in the game. The defense was practically non-existent, and there were bad plays by several of the players that undid any of the good plays by others. The Steelers have probably waved good-bye to their playoff dreams for this season, since their only hope would be to get a wildcard. Now next week, the Steelers should be the Cleveland Browns. If they don't, they should just hang their heads in shame.

Sunday, November 29, 2009 -- Eleventh game of the season


Teams
Steelers
Ravens 		1st quarter
0
7 		2nd quarter
7
7 		3rd quarter
3
0 		4th quarter
7
3 		OT
0
3 		Final
17
20

The Steelers were playing the Baltimore Ravens this evening. With Roethlisberger and Charlie Batch both out in this game, Dennis Dixon, the third stringer, is playing. Also, the Steelers signed University of Pittsburgh loser quarterback, Tyler Palko as backup to Dixon. Dixon didn't do such a bad job. At one point, he realized he couldn't get rid of the ball and ran with it for 31 yards, but the ball came back because of a holding call. The Ravens scored first. Dennis Dixon did make a nice pass to Santonio Holmes for a touchdown to get the Steelers on the board. Dixon also ran the ball in for a touchdown. Both the Ravens and the Steelers seemed to suck though. The game was a close one and came down to a tie in regulation. The Steelers won the coin toss for the overtime portion, and of course, had first crack at the ball. After playing so well during regulation, Dixon threw an interception in OT. The Ravens ran the ball down into the 10 yard line. The Ravens went for the field goal, and won the game. It was a shame for Dixon because he did really well in his first NFL game. Well, the Steelers have been sucking this season. You could say that it's injuries, or that there isn't the urge to win. Either way, the Steelers just moved further from a wildcard berth for the playoffs.

Sunday, November 29, 2009 -- Late Evening

Hines Ward Is An A**
Hines Ward is an a**. At least that is my opinion. Ward was interviewed by Bob Costas before the Steelers game this evening. Ward was questioning Ben Roethlisberger's toughness and whether he was truly hurt. As Ward said, if it were he, Ward would have lied to the doctors and would have played. As Ward says, it is only a concussion. What a jerk! I mean, we have been hearing how multiple concussions are affecting football players later in life (and not in old age, but in the 30s and 40s), and Ward just diminishes it all with his cavalier remark. Costas tried to say that it isn't like playing with a sore knee, but Ward is too much of an idiot to understand the difference. In Ward's opinion, this is like a playoff game, and football should be so important that a person risk his future life over it. What an a**! The Steeler doctors said yesterday and today that even though Roethlisberger was practicing with the team all week, he was still having post exercise headaches, and they refused to clear him for play. The doctors have it right. Ward has it wrong, but then that's because he's such a loser.

Monday, November 23, 2009 -- Evening

When It Rains, It Pours
Poor Steelers! Not only did Ben Roethlisberger get his clock cleaned yesterday, but it appears that Charlie Batch broke his left wrist. Batch is going to have surgery on the wrist either tomorrow or Wednesday. Although it is not his throwing hand, Batch will be out for a several weeks, maybe the rest of the season. There has been no word on Roethlisberger, but he did have some sort of head trauma, ie, concussion. The question is how bad was it, and when will he be back. That leaves Dennis Dixon as the third string quarter back. The local sports announcers have been saying that the Steelers are courting some veteran quarterbacks, and someone may be signed this week of those still out there, like Jerry Garcia.

Sunday, November 22, 2009 -- Tenth game of the season


Teams
Steelers
Chiefs 		1st quarter
0
7 		2nd quarter
17
0 		3rd quarter
0
10 		4th quarter
7
7 		OT
0
3 		Final
24
27

The Steelers played the Kansas City Chiefs this afternoon. Everyone expected the 6-3 Steelers to easily beat the 2-7 Chiefs. Obviously, the Steelers are the better team. Well, not quite. Special teams broke down right at the start with the Chiefs returning the opening kick off for a touchdown. It is ridiculous how many times that has happened to the Steelers this season! The Steelers picked up their game in the second quarter to only falter in the second half. Ben Roethlisberger got picked off in the end zone. He had been evading sacks for most of the game, but finally got sacked. The Chiefs tied things up, and the game went into overtime. Then Roethlisberger didn't have a play, and tried to run with the ball. As he was coming down, a Chiefs player ran into Roethlisberger's head with a knee. Roethlisberger was lying on the ground for awhile, and then had to leave the game. Charlie Batch did what he could, but the team in general has just been crappy. The Chiefs got a good long run down the field to the four yard line, and won with a field goal. The local sports announcers and fans were none too pleased. This was a game that the Steelers easily should have won. Instead, it's another loss. It's not looking like the playoffs for them this season. Final score: Chiefs 27 - Steelers 24.

Sunday, November 15, 2009 -- Ninth game of the season


Teams
Bengals
Steelers 		1st quarter
6
3 		2nd quarter
0
6 		3rd quarter
6
0 		4th quarter
6
3 		Final
18
12

The Steelers played the Cincinnati Bengals this afternoon. This was the second meeting of the two. The Bengals had won the first meeting, and today's game turned into defensive challenge. Neither team's offensive was able to score a touchdown. The only touchdown came from special teams when the Bengals returned a kick for a touchdown. The kickers were busy, with each team getting four field goals. Unfortunately, Troy Polamaul injured his knee again. I think that his knee really wasn't in good shape in the first place, and that's how he hurt it again. Polamalu left the game in the first half to not return. The Bengals won the game with a score of 18-12. Obviously, the Bengals are much improved over the past few seasons.

Monday, November 9, 2009 -- Eighth game of the season


Teams
Steelers
Broncos 		1st quarter
0
3 		2nd quarter
0
7 		3rd quarter
7
7 		4th quarter
14
0 		Final
28
10

The Steelers were in Denver to play the Broncos this evening. Ryan Clark did not play because of his sickle cell condition. In past years, when Clark would play in Denver, he would wind up getting hospitalized. Clark's type of sickle cell disease doesn't do well in high altitudes. Casey Hampton was on the sidelines quite a few times getting oxygen because his size was preventing him from breathing properly. In the first period, first half, the Steeler offense was having trouble scoring, but the defense ran in an interception for a touchdown. Tyrone Carter, in for Clark, got the interception. The Steelers' first possession in the third period didn't go well. Ben Roethlisberger lost the ball, and the Broncos ran it in for a touchdown. Fortunately, Roethlisberger came back with the next possession to move the ball down the field for a touchdown. I was extremely tired from my trip last week, and went to sleep at that point, but I was very happy to hear in the morning that the Steelers won with a final score of 28-10. Looks like they got a couple of touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Sunday, October 25, 2009 -- Seventh game of the season


Teams
Vikings
Steelers 		1st quarter
0
3 		2nd quarter
7
7 		3rd quarter
3
3 		4th quarter
7
14 		Final
17
27

Brett Favre was in Pittsburgh this afternoon as the Steelers played the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings were undefeated going into the game, and the Steelers haven't been playing the best so far, but I still picked the Steelers to win. There was a good deal of back and forth in the game, and some highs and lows. One of the highs happened in the third quarter, when Santonio Holmes ran the ball down the field, dodging tackles to get inside the 10 yard line. And the low happened on the next play when Rashard Mendenhall fumbled the ball. The Vikings recovered. Then Lamarr Woodley picked up the ball that Favre dropped trying on the Vikings 10 yard line to run the ball all the way down for a touchdown. The Steelers then had a 10 point lead, but on the Vikings ran the ball in for a touchdown on the kickoff return. There was only a three point difference, and the Vikings had the ball in the last two minutes. It was looking bad, when Keyaron Fox intercepted a Favre pass, to run it in for a touchdown with only one minute left in the game. The game ended with a James Harrison sack of Favre, who just laid there like a baby. Woo-hoo! It's great when the Steelers put Favre in his place! The final score: Steelers 27 - Vikings 17.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 -- Early Evening

A Little Drink Never Hurt 'cha
Jeff Reed was issued a citation for drunk and disorderly behavior after Sunday's game against the Browns. Reed seems to specialize in disorderly behavior, breaking a paper dispenser in a local convenience store bathroom a few weeks after the Super Bowl. It seems in this incident, a few of the players were sowing wild oats. Matt Spaeth was given a citation for public urinating at the same incident. Reed and Spaeth both apologized to the team, and Reed will be playing on Sunday. The problem with penalizing Reed is that the Steelers really don't have a good enough backup kicker. So heck with the disorderly behavior as long as you are indispensable.

Sunday, October 18, 2009 -- Sixth game of the season


Teams
Browns
Steelers 		1st quarter
0
0 		2nd quarter
7
17 		3rd quarter
7
7 		4th quarter
0
3 		Final
14
27

The Steelers were back in town today to play the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have long been a joke here in PIttsburgh. Of course, there is a "rivalry," but I think that it is no longer based on a challenge. Although there were moments when the Steeler fan had to sit on the edge of the seat, there wasn't much doubt that the Steelers would win, and they did with a final score of 27-14. At times, it seemed that the Steelers wanted to compete in mediocrity with the Browns by exchanging fumbles and interceptions, with five in a row going back and forth between the teams. Willie Parker was in the game with his "turf toe" encased in a special shoe. Troy Polamalu was also back in the lineup. In general, the Steelers just don't seem to have jived well this year. Maybe things will get better as the season progresses. The Steelers have four wins and two losses, and are tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for first place in the AFC North division.

Sunday, October 11, 2009 -- Fifth game of the season


Teams
Steelers
Lions 		1st quarter
7
6 		2nd quarter
14
7 		3rd quarter
7
0 		4th quarter
0
7 		Final
28
20

The Steelers played the Detroit Lions this afternoon. The Lions have been pretty crappy over the past few years and have only won one game in the past two seasons. So it was surprising to see how poorly the Steelers played against the Lions. The Steelers did win the game in the end, but it was closer than it should have been. It does make me wonder how they are going to do in the rest of the games this season. The Steelers won with a final score of 28-20.

Sunday, October 4, 2009 -- Fourth game of the season


Teams
Chargers
Steelers 		1st quarter
0
14 		2nd quarter
0
7 		3rd quarter
7
7 		4th quarter
21
10 		Final
28
38

The Steelers were in town this evening, playing the San Diego Charger. Some were wondering how the Steelers would do in the game, since Troy Polamalu is still out, and Willie Parker is out with turf toe. Last week Rashard Mendenhall was in the doghouse with Coach Tomlin because Mendenhall didn't have the playbook down, and messed up soem plays in practice. So last week, Mendenhall sat out. Mendenhall had to play tonight because Parker was out. Mendenhall proved that he was willing to work when he ran 80 yards for two touchdowns in the first half. In the fourth quarter, there was an incident where the Chargers grabbed the ball out of Stefan Logan's hands as he was being pulled down, and ran it it for a touchdown. Tomlin challenged the call but it stood. The best play though was when Mewelde Moore threw a touchdown pass to Heath Miller. The Steelers started to make some stupid mistakes, like muffing up an onside kick. The Chargers got 21 points in the fourth quarter. Fortunately, Jeff Reed got a field goal to give the Steelers a two possession lead with 43 seconds left in the game. Fortunately, James Harrison sacked Phillip Rivers and forced a fumble that the Steelers recovered, and the game was over. Final score: Steelers 38 - Chargers 28.

Sunday, September 27, 2009 -- Third game of the season


Teams
Steelers
Bengals 		1st quarter
10
0 		2nd quarter
3
3 		3rd quarter
7
6 		4th quarter
0
14 		Final
20
23

The Steelers were playing the Cincinnati Bengals this afternoon. The Steelers started the game well, putting 10 points on the board, and Hines Ward got his 10,000th yard in reception yards. Not bad. The Bengals were having a great deal of trouble getting a first down in the first half, until Chad Ochocinco (good old Chad Johnson) got the first down for them. When the second half started, the Bengals got their first interception of the year by grabbing a pass from Ben Roethlisberger and running it in for a touchdown. The Bengals weren't able to the extra point because the ball was over thrown for the kicker. Although the Bengals weren't playing well, they still managed to keep the game close. Every time they would score, the Steelers would come up with an answering rally, and sometimes with points. In the last minute of the game, Ike Taylor managed to knock two touchdown passes out of Ochocinco's hands. The Bengals needed to score a touchdown to get a win, and they got the touchdown with 14 seconds left in the game. They Carson Palmer threw another pass for an extra two points. The Steelers had 14 seconds to do something, and they took 12 of the seconds running the ball around to get some yardage on the kick return. The Steelers were on their 35 yard line, and Roethlisberger's hail Mary pass dropped to the ground. The Bengels won with a final score of 23 - 20.

Sunday, September 20, 2009 -- Second game of the season


Teams
Steelers
Bears 		1st quarter
7
0 		2nd quarter
0
7 		3rd quarter
7
0 		4th quarter
0
10 		Final
14
17

The Steelers were in Chicago this afternoon to play the Bears. There was some talk that the Steelers might have an easy time of it because Jake Cutler, quarterback of the Bears, didn't have a very good opening game. But a much better Jake Cutler showed up today, and he did not have the interceptions that he had suffered the week before. The Steeler fans were concerned about Troy Polamalu missing the game. There was also some talk this week because Jerome Bettis is now writing for Sports Illustrated. He commented in his article this past week that the Steelers have not been able to run the ball, and that Wilie Parker, Rashard Mendenhall, and Mewelde Moore have not been able to break through. Bettis also said that the Steeler front office and coaching staff did nothing to improve the offensive line which sucks. The thing is that Bettis didn't say anything that the fans and local sports reporters haven't been saying. The comments are true, which is probably why they sting. But back to the game. The Steelers took an early lead with a touchdown, but then some rain came in the second quarter. The Bears tied it up as they went into half time, and then they traded touchdowns again in the second half. Unfortunately, Jeff Reed missed two forty something field goal attempts. The Bears kicker wasn't as troubled, and with 21 seconds left in the game, Brad Maynard, kicked a 50 yard field goal to win the game for the Bears. The finishing touch was when the Steelers', Stefan Logan, fumbled the return kick that was recovered by the Bears. Final score: Steelers 14 - Bears 17.

Thursday, September 10, 2009 -- First game of the season


Teams
Titans
Steelers 		1st quarter
0
0 		2nd quarter
7
7 		3rd quarter
0
0 		4th quarter
3
3 		OT
0
3 		Final
10
13

I really didn't watch the Steelers game on Thursday. I watched the first half at a local bar, and then came home to keep it in the background. The game was incredbily boring, and neither team seemed to be doing very well. The only big news from the game was that Troy Polamalu suffered and MCL sprain (knee) when the Steelers were successfully blocking a Titan field goal. One of the Titans fell on Polamalu's knee. Some people are calling it the Madden curse because Polamalu was on the cover Madden 2010 video game. Over the past several years, the guys who feature on the cover of the video game have had bad luck. As the game neared the end, Hines Ward fumbled and turned over the ball. The game went into overtime, and fortunately, the Steelers won the coin toss and got to go first. Jeff Reed kicked the winning field goal to give the Steelers a win in the first game.