It's a happy day in Pittsburgh today. It almost wasn't, and if you are lifelong Steeler fan like I am, you almost expected them to figure out a way to lose that game yesterday. Let's recap some of the not-so-great Steeler playoff moments of the last 12 years, grasping defeat from the grip of victory.
- 1994-1995 AFC championship game at Three Rivers against the Chargers, 4th down and goal, Neil O'donnell throwing late to a wide open Barry Foster in the endzone. San Diego to Superbowl.
- Superbowl 30, Neil O'donnell throwing not 1, but 2 picks to Larry Brown, gifts.
- 1997-1998 AFC championship game at Three Rivers, Korndog Stewart throwing interceptions in the endzone to the Broncos, letting Elway cap his career nicely.
- 2001-2002 AFC championship game at Heinz, 9-point favorites to the lowly Pats after a great 13-3 season. Troy Edwards runs out of bounds on punt coverage, forcing a re-kick and a Troy Brown TD return. Kris Brown FG blocked and returned for a TD. 2 late Korndog intereceptions.
- 2003-2004 Divisional playoffs at Tennessee, Joe Nedney misses the kick in OT, only to pull the greatest acting job of all-time to get a roughing the kicker penalty and a shot at the winner.
- 2004-2005 AFC championship game at Heinz, Pats dominate on a cold night and rookie Ben throws several key picks, including the dagger to Rodney Harrison who returned it for a TD.
Do you have this many bad memories from the last 12 years? I doubt it. So you only expected the worst when Referee Pete Morelli, took over 5 minutes to review the Troy Polamalu interception. The Colts knew it was an interception, and so did the announcers and every single person who has 2 eyes that work. Ask 100 people to look at that play and 100 will say it is an interception. That's why Joey Porter's comments ring true. You know and I know that Paul Taglibue ringed in to Pete when he was under the hood and told him to keep the dream season alive. It might have happpened.
Well, the Steelers won despite themselves and the refs. I thought they got a little too conservative running it in the 4th quarter, letting their foot off the throttle. The game shouldn't have been that close, but it was and they won and Pittsburgh is happy.
So when Bill Cowher gives his pre-game speech this weekend in Denver, it will go something like this, "Don't let me coach the pro-bowl game for the 5th time in the last 12 years. Please don't do that to me."
Betting
Ok, let's tally up the playoffs. We went 2-1 during the wildcard week, and 3-1 this week. That's a season total in the NFL of 55-43-1, a 55.5% winning clip. Not too bad.
This week will be tough to sort the home teams from the momentum. It ain't easy winning 3 playoff games in a row on the road. Then again, it ain't easy being 10-2 on the road in the NFL, and both the Steelers and Panthers share that record. The Steelers have won 6 games in a row, 4 of those on the road. The Panthers have won 5 road games in a row. Can the Panthers be effective with Nick Goings? Can the Steelers play another intense tight game? We will find out in 6 days.
