Preacher

From an outside perspective - I get the frustration, trust me. Steelers have had the same problems for years. Starting in the last couple games of the 2008 season, our defense started giving up one or two TDs in the fourth quarter almost like clockwork. I bring that up because of the parallels - I'm wondering why the Ravens are going through similar issues to the Steelers especially since both teams have historically had a philosophy of run first, stop the run, smashmouth football philosophy, both aged out a core of vets over the last 3-4 years including a safety each that should both be 1st ballot HOFers, and have won SBs in the last 5 years.. So, part of it may be coaching, but I doubt you can put the majority of the weight of error there (as much as we would like to). The game has changed in the last seven years to tremendously favor a passing attack, and refs seem to call 4th quarter passing penalties tighter than any other time. Seems to me the problem then lies, for both teams, in (1) the struggle to rebuild a new defense since the old one aged out, (2) having to address a new reality in the NFL concerning passing, and (3) the fans' wrong perception of reality in today's NFL. What do I mean by that last one? Take a look at the 4th quarter comeback leaders in the NFL since 1960. If you include Peyton Manning, then 5 of the top 11 QBs are still active in the NFL for career 4th quarter comebacks. An even more telling statistic is 43 4th quarter come-from-behind victories this year in the NFL, up from 31 last year. On average, that's 1 out of every 6 games sees a come-from behind victory, or 3 games per season per team (again, on average). As much as I hate it, the new reality just may be 4th quarter comebacks.

Thanks, I appreciate it. Strange how much our seasons followed each other. Our early wins, then the losing streak, followed by our later winning streaks seemed to be almost parallel. Good luck again the Bungles next week. Here's hoping the Ravens get out of there without injury—or their wallets stolen. Don't know, I was never on that board. SteelersFever, where I originally posted blew up in 2011(ish) with a new owner that tried to charge for access. From it, SteelersUniverse was created, and that's where still post, although a smaller group ended up back on SF when the new owner realized his mistake. I don't know how it is on this board, but things seem to get stale on (most) Steelers boards after a while. You can only read so many "Fire Tomlin!" or "The Defense Sucks!" etc. etc. before it gets monotonous. Same goes with where I post, but at least there, there seems to be quite a few people with good football knowledge.

Although not here often, I usually at least stop by during Steelers/Ravens week (or, since I'm on a Raven's board, Ravens-Steelers week), but I've been so busy this fall I've barely posted on my Steelers forum. Nonetheless, I wanted to stop by and congratulate you all on both the first game and a hard fought game last night - and to post a few observations: Game Observations 1. Juszczyk had a beast of a run. If he has that much heart and leg drive, I'd suggest giving him the ball more often than 5 times a year. Sure, he's not going to turn into a halfback, but with that kind of heart, I'd give him the ball in two-back sets and in short yardage situations and see what the kid can do with it. 2. Pitta was a pain in the arse from the Steelers perspective. I don't know why he isn't utilized more in your offense. Sure, he's had 4 seven-reception-plus games, but He's a good pressure relief valve for Flacco. 3. If I had to pin the Steelers win on one thing, I think it'd be on your surprising inability to shut down Bell and the run game. Surprising, because Bell usually has his worst games against the Ravens. But last night, by him running as well as he did (even though he had some trouble in the 2nd and 3rd quarter), it forced your secondary to account for him, leaving the passing lanes open. 4. I don't know if it was just me, but the game seemed to lack that little extra emotion that usually accompanies these games. Maybe it was because the AFCN was at stake and both teams didn't want to hurt themselves. I don't know. Or, it could be because Hines Ward, Troy P. Ed Reed, and Ray Lewis are no longer playing. General Observations 1. I've decided I hate Steelers-Ravens games. One day, one of these games is going to give me a !%#!$#&! heart attack. I don't mind the intensity, I love the rivalry, but these "Last team to touch the ball might win" games are taking years off my ticker. 2. Terrell Suggs after game interview = very classy. It epitomizes this rivalry - deep-seated respect born of similar makeup, ownership style, and philosophy of football. I'll be honest with you all. It's gotten to the point that, when the Ravens are in the playoffs and the Steelers aren't, I find myself secretly cheering for the Ravens because I respectfully hate them so much . . . if that makes sense. It's more like cheering for the brother you have an intense rivalry with. When it goes outside the family . . . I'll pop by a few times over the next couple of days as I'm in a lull right now with my work. Wish I would've gotten here before the game, because it's somewhat bad form to post only after a win, but I hadn't been by yet.

Just heard about this on my home forum and wanted to come on over and offer my condolences. Times like this we're reminded football's just a game and there's real human beings wearing opposing colors and jerseys. Also, props to John Harbaugh for his heartfelt letter. Well-written and tasteful, which is difficult to achieve with that kind of letter under these circumstances.

Yeah, it doesn't look that bad. http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/baltimore-ravens/cap/2016/ They're almost at 5 mill in space as is next year. Restructure Flacco's and Smith's cap alone and the team'll be standing with over 23 M in cap room.

Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much. This year's Ravens reminds me of the 2003 Steelers - just a few adjustments and the Steelers had a 15-1 season the next year. The Ravens will get most if not all their star players back next year, and a hunger to prove this year was a fluke. I'd be more shocked if the Raven didn't challenge for the AFCN title next year.

Haven't been around much this year. Life is just too busy. But when I heard I thought about everyone here. Dang, and I thought my Steelers were snakebit in the injury department this year. To lose both players in the same game . . . Here's hoping they all come back strong next year.

Thanks, everyone. You would think . . . Although to be honest, I'd prefer we pick up one in FA or even trade a draft pick for one. It's taken us three years to develop this particular O line. Our WRs are starting to come on strong, and we have good ILBs. Who knows about outside. Our D Line is developing as well. That leaves our safeties and our CBs, and I don't want to see us drafting both and developing them at the same time. I appreciate it. Wife would say I'm not well, but I think she means "Well in the head." Oh, and have any of you followed the conversation between Suggs and Hines Ward this year? Hilarious. And it shows exactly what this rivalry is about.

Haven't been around here this year, life's been really busy. But I decided to stop in tonight to say congrats. Here's hoping you all thump the Pats* next week. As for my Steelers, I think we've seen the last of Troy P., but on the positive note, I think our rebuilding era has come to an end, and without a losing season (and only 1 winning season out of three, as well). Now comes the difficult part for me. Do I root for the AFCN teams that I despise but respect (alright, team, I just can't respect the Bungles), or some other team that I neither despise or respect. Sigh. Anyway, good luck!

I've been seeing that a bit myself. Personally, I could care less about that since it's the "first one to" that makes the difference for me. It is hard rooting for a team that you love to hate though - one of those "familiarity breeds contempt" issues. Of course, you all winning the SB would just up the ante in the rivalry for next year. It's also nice to see the AFCN have four of the last eight AFC SB teams, and would be nice to see them have three of the last eight SB championships.

First, thank you, thank you, thank you for crushing the hopes of the Pats* again. Now that I got that off my chest, congratulations on the win. Didn't watch it, wife and I went out to the range and then to dinner. However, it's nice to see real football - AFCN football represented in the SB again. Can't say who I'm going to root for. I lived in SF for a few years when they were cellar-dwellers, so it's nice to see them back in the SB. Either way however, wanted to stop by and give you all your due - especially after bombing the last part of the season. I think the entire AFCN took the month of December off. I know my Steelers sure did - as did the Bengals.

Had too much going on to stop by before last night's game. In all honesty, I had it chalked up as a loss. Then again, it's a rivalry, probably the best in the league. So why did I expect something other than a "How the *** did that happen?" game. I said it here before, that we might as well get used to the Steelers/Ravens having a three-game series every eyar. It almost happened last year (stupid crossing route and throw by Tebow), and it did happen two of the preceding three years. So, there's a good chance we'll have a tie-breaker game in a few weeks. I'd say good luck the rest of the season, but I really do hope you lose three of those games, Nothing personal - just the math involved for first place. BTW - both games were decided this year by how many points again? I swear - these teams are trying to give me a friggin' heart attack.

Oh, Lord, isn't that the truth.

Congrats to the Ravens - and to you all. Interesting thing - I was right concerning our defense (only allowed 6 points). I was right concerning our run game (they were able to get some good runs, though they weren't by any stretch of the imagination dominant. I was right about leftwich - He played well enough for us to win the game (10 points). And I completely forgot about special teams = 7 points for the Ravens. O,o Another typical Ravens/Steelers game - and we have another one in just a couple weeks.

Add to that the fact that KC actually is one of the best run teams in the NFL, and it shows you just what a good running game can do for the rest of the team. It won't get a team into the playoffs anymore (A good run first, run only team), but it will still help out tremendously. Also, Titan and Jets were part of the Steelers first 5 games, where we admittedly sucked on defense. No other way to state it. However, at least on defense, everything really started coming together. As far as our offense goes, I'm not as worried, even about last week, because Steelers players are saying that KC defensive players were calling out the offensive plays before the ball was snapped. They knew the system well enough to really muck it up. Vmax - funny thing is, I think the Steelers fans are feeling about the same way concerning this game. For the first time, neither team is going in with confidence that they're going to win the game. That either means that this is going to be a sloppy game, or it's going to be one of those games that intensifies the rivalry because something strange/wierd/unforeseen happens . . . you know, like a Steelers/Ravens game without a fight. Oh - and probably the last time I pop by until the game's over. So enjoy yourself tomorrow everyone - I just hope you don't enjoy it too much. I'll be back by, win or lose sometime next week.