1)The Good-During another playoff-free season, QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Antonio Brown continue to be the few bright spots for the offense. Ben was 23 for 39 passing for 349 yards and 3 touchdowns. He wasn't intercepted but did lose a fumble on a sack. It ultimately lead to a Miami touchdown. Congrats to Ben for becoming the Steelers all-time leader in touchdown passes, surpassing Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw. I'm sure it's small consolation for Ben, though. Meanwhile, AB had 5 catches for 137 yards and 1 touchdown. Unfortunately, what most fans will remember about Brown in this game was that on the final, five-lateral play of the game, it was Brown that stepped out of bounds at the 13 on what could have been the game-tying TD. Honorable mention has to be made to LB Jason Worilds and DE Cam Heyward. On a day when the defense allowed Miami to score their highest point total all season, these two were the few silver linings in an otherwise cloudy day. They accounted for the Steelers 3 sacks, Worilds with 2 and Heyward with 1. Worilds also recorded 3 TFLs and 1 QB hit, along with 8 total tackles, all solo. Heyward registered 2 TFLs, 2 QB hits and 10 tackles, 7 of them solo. It's shame it was too little, too late.
2)The Bad-There is no other way to describe the defense today without using expletives (Mrs. Black-N-Gold tries to keep it clean). Sure, S Troy Polamalu had the Steelers first pick 6 since the '08 AFC Championship game. Given the outcome of the game, we sure could have used more. The Steelers allowed RB Daniel Thomas to run all over them for 105 yards on 16 carries and 1 touchdown. They also let TE Charles Clay have a career day as he torched them for 7 catches of 97 yards and 2 touchdowns. CB Cortez Allen and Troy couldn't even stop Clay together on a crucial 12 yard TD reception in the 4th quarter.
3)The Ugly-During a 5-8 season, we've certainly seen our share of "ugly". I'm afraid a lot of it has been the same old, same old. The Steelers again played undisciplined football, especially late in the game, totaling up 9 penalties for 63 yards. And, of course, there was the usual clock mismanagement and ill-advised usage of timeouts. I know the Steelers won't let Tomlin go, as many fans would like. However, if/when the time (pun always intended) does come, can the question "Can you tell time?" please be the first one asked to prospective employees?
Looking at the standings, at least the Steelers aren't in last place. Cincy won and continue to be the top dog in the division. The Baltimorons also won and are in second place at 7-6. Then comes the Steelers, playing for pride. The Clowns round out the AFC North at 4-9 following their latest loss.
The Steelers have until Sunday night to live with this latest loss. It's Cincy and the Steelers at Heinz Field. Can the Steelers avoid a 3rd straight defeat and 4th home loss of the season? We'll have to wait and see. Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!
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