GOOD
If you missed the 1st half of this game, that was good for you. But if you missed the 2nd half, then shame on you. That's when the Steelers really turned it on. Mrs. Black-N-Gold doesn't know if it was a case of the coaches making the correct adjustments or the players executing the plays or both. All Mrs. Black-N-Gold knows is that after the defense allowed Denver backup QB Brock Osweiler and former Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders to run all over them in the 1st half, the D tightened up. They were blanketing receivers, getting after the quarterback and forcing turnovers. They also allowed Denver to convert just 1 3rd down while blanking the Broncos in the 2nd half. And when Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger made an ill-advised pass right into the arms of Denver LB Brandon Marshall late in the game with the Steelers clinging to a 34-27 lead, the defense came out and stopped Denver on all 4 downs. With this win the Steelers moved into the 2nd AFC wild card spot, to boot.
Let us not forget the offense, too. After putting up only 10 points in the first half, the Steelers exploded for 24 unanswered points thanks to Big Ben and his wondrous wide receivers. Ben connected on 40 of 55 for 380 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs. WR Markus Wheaton caught 6 catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. WR Martavis Bryant hauled in 10 catches for 87 yards. But the Grand Poobah, the Big Kahuna, the Numero Uno of them all was WR Antonio Brown. AB was his usual bad ass-self, catching 16 of 18 passes for 189 yards and 2 touchdowns. Those 2 TDs came at the expense of Denver CB Chris Harris, Jr., who hadn't allowed a TD pass in 2 years. Now that's damn good!
BAD
What exactly did the Steelers coaches do to warrant this miraculous turnaround, especially with the defense? Mrs. Black-N-Gold doesn't really know. All she can say is that little-used CB Brandon Boykin saw the field in the 2nd half, taking snaps away from the often-targeted, often-burned CB Antwon Blake. Now Mrs. Black-N-Gold realizes that Boykin is far from the 2nd coming of Rod Woodson or Mel Blount. Thankfully, he won't be mistaken for Blake, either. What exactly did Boykin do to continue to live in Coach Mike Tomlin's doghouse? Did he steal the coaches parking space? And what did Blake do to continue to earn more playing time than Boykin? Did the Coach lose a bet to him?
Another bad thing that occurred in this meeting was the penalties, 9 for 63 yards to be exact. Mrs. Black-N-Gold noticed a pattern developing here. C Cody Wallace was penalized after jumping onto a pile after the play was clearly ruled dead. The pattern is Wallace does this repeatedly. He is the Chris Kemoeatu of this generation's offensive line, always jumping into the fray well after the play. The Steelers can ill-afford to penalize themselves out of a playoff game let alone lose their center to an ejection and/or suspension. Wallace has done a great job filling in for injured C Maurkice Pouncey. Don't ruin it by making ridiculous penatlies.
Bottom line: the next time Mrs. Black-N-Gold sees Blake successfully defend and/or tackle someone it will, indeed, be a Christmas miracle. And the next time Cody Wallace doesn't jump into a pile after the whistle blows, it will be the first time Cody Wallace doesn't jump into a pile after the whistle blows.
Seriously. Stop it. You're killing us.
UGLY
As good as the 2nd half was, the 1st half was just as ugly. The offense could only muster 10 points. The defense could not get off the field on 3rd down, allowing the Broncos to convert on 7 of 7.
There was a lapse by the (not so)special teams in the 3rd quarter that could have been a 71-yard punt return had Denver not been penalized for illegal substitutions.
And of course, there were the multitudes of penalties.
You can't play good football in just half of the game. It won't wash in the playoffs. The Steelers need to return to the days of the "60 Minute Men". If you can't play the entire game, chances are you won't win the game. It could get ugly.
Meanwhile, in the AFC North.....Cincy won and continue to lead the division. There is still a slim chance that the Steelers could take the North if Cincy loses out and the Steelers win out. The Baltimorons did us no favors when they let KC come into their house and crush them. The Clowns also were losers, no big surprise there.
Next week the Steelers take their show on the road to face the Baltimorons. Sure Flacco is out and Jimmy Clausen is in. But you have to look out for the letdown. After beating 3 1st place teams in the last 3 weeks, don't take the Baltimorons too lightly. The playoff ticket is not officially punched. Stay focused and stay in the win column. Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!
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