GOOD
Mrs. Black-N-Gold always tries to find a silver lining in an otherwise cloudy loss. There were 2. First, RB DeAnglo Williams continues to show the world that he's be no means washed up. He only had 8 carriers for 29 yards but scored a touchdown on the ground. He was also a force in the passing game with 7 catches for 88 yards. Having DWill back there makes the loss of RB Le'Veon Bell a little less painful. But the big man on the day was WR Markus Wheaton who had a career day. While WR Antonio Brown was blanketed by CB Richard Sherman most of the day and WR Martavis Bryant had a case of the dropsies, Wheaton went out and caught 9 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown. It was nice to hear from Wheaton yesterday since he's been mostly silent this season.
BAD
How bad was it? Oh, let Mrs. Black-N-Gold count the ways. First, is the fact that Seattle converted 3 Steelers interceptions into 19 points. How many points did the Steelers get off of turnovers? Try zero because that's how many turnovers the defense forced yesterday. Zilch. Secondly, there is the putrid Steelers secondary. The Steelers let Seattle QB Russell Wilson beat them with his arm and he was more than up to the challenge, carving up the defense for 21 of 30 passing on 345 yards with a career-high 5 touchdowns. CB Antwan Blake was the real turkey of the day. Teams will continue to pick on him until he is able to make a stop or the Steelers put him out of his/our misery and take him off the field.
UGLY
This one is on the coach, Mike Tomlin. Mrs. Black-N-Gold is sure we can all agree that the coach's big boner of the day was the fake field goal that turned into a 54-yard interception by CB Jeremy Lane. At the end of the 1st quarter, leading 3-0, the Steelers were lined up for a 45-yard field goal attempt on 4th and 2. Only it wasn't a field goal attempt. QB Landry Jones was in to hold and attempted the ill-fated pass to OT Alejandro Villenueva that changed the whole complexion of the game. Jones took the snap, ran to his right and threw across his body and into the waiting arms of Lane. Now Mrs. Black-N-Gold knows if this play were successful, we'd be signing the praises of Tomlin as a genius. But it wasn't. And more often then not, Tomlin's attempts to re-invent the wheel often blow up in his face like a stick of dynamite to Wil E Coyote. There was no reason to think that K Chris Boswell would not have made this field goal. He already converted from 44 yards earlier. This would have given the Steelers a 6-0 lead in a hostile environment. Instead, the Seahawks marched down the field and turned this boneheaded play into a touchdown, giving Seattle the first of many leads, 7-3. Just where did Tomlin get his coaching credentials? From a box of Crackerjacks?
No doubt about it, the Steelers playoff hopes are now dwindling. They've fallen from the top wild card spot and #5 in the AFC to #8 and on the outside looking in. And the chances of winning the AFC North are slim to none thanks to a Cincy win yesterday. At least the Baltimorons and Clowns didn't gain any ground. They play tonight on MNF. Meanwhile, the Steelers need to dust themselves off, hope that injuries suffered to TE Heath Miller (ribs), LB Ryan Shazier(concussion), and ESPECIALLY QB Ben Roethlisberger (left with a possible concussion late in the game) are not serious and that they'll be ready for next week's game. The Steelers return to Heinz Field to face the AFC South-leading Indy Colts on Sunday Night Football. Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!
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