I mean, yes, they have Troy Polamalu, he of the long, curly locks and the hard hits and exceptional playmaking.
And yes, they still have "Big" Ben Roethlisberger, he of the multiple rape charges that were mysteriously cleared (money talks), and now, we are supposed to see him again as just "one of the boys".
Just as an aside, I always had a strong respect for the Steelers. I became a football fan during the 1981 season, just after the incredible Pittsburgh dynasty of the seventies, when they were truly "the Steel Curtain". Through the years, they had retained a certain toughness, and I admired that. Plus, they had one of the coolest uniforms in the league, that black and gold.
I was elated as a football fan when the Steelers made it to the Super Bowl following the 1995 season, and against the Dallas Cowboys, no less! A Super Bowl rivalry renewed! It felt like a privilege to see those two storied franchises renew the greatest of Super Bowl rivalries under the desert sun in Arizona, even if the Steelers suffered their first Super Bowl loss on that day.
The Steelers were competitive and tough throughout the Cowher years, and he got them back to the Super Bowl exactly ten years after Super Bowl XXX against Dallas.
This time, they faced the Seattle Seahawks, a team suddenly emerging in the NFC, to qualify for their first ever Super Bowl. On that day, Pittsburgh won their first Super Bowl since the dynasty days of the seventies, beating Seattle in a sloppy Super Bowl that was one of the least entertaining big games in recent memory.
I felt happy to have seen an actual Steelers Super Bowl victory. During the offseason, I remember, their star quarterback, the then very young Roethlisberger had gotten in a serious motorcycle accident, and he had not been wearing his helmet. The first questions about just how dumb and egotistical this kid was began to circulate. But I thought he was surely past that, having endured such a close call. He would not make such a huge mistake again, surely.
They returned yet again three seasons later, and this time, the Super Bowl was very exciting - a classic! They met yet another first time qualifier for the big game in the Arizona Cardinals. At first, Pittsburgh was completely dominating the game, and were up 20-7 in the second half.
But the Cardinals came roaring back with a furious comeback that almost saw them win the game. They not only closed the margin considerably, they outright took the lead, 23-20, late in the fourth quarter.
Then, to the considerable credit of the Steelers and "Big" Ben, who orchestrated the offense, they had an incredible drive that culminated in a difficult pass to Santonio Holmes in the end zone, against double coverage, to get the winning touchdown in glorious style!
Two Super Bowls in three seasons! Although I had that time been pulling for the Cardinals (I mean, why not? They had been a seeming cursed franchise for so long), but had to marvel that the "Steel Curtain" was, indeed, back.
Then, in the offseason, the Steelers star quarterback made major headline news off the field for the second time off the field. This time, there were no more excuses. He was in serious trouble for allegedly sexually assaulting a young, attractive woman.
But these days, people are crazy. Here was a high profile athlete, and maybe this woman was just, perhaps, trying to make a quick buck, and so either setting up some kind of situation like that, or exaggerating, or even outright lying, in order to get a piece of his fortune. It's a crazy world after all, right? He was just dumb to put himself in a position where he was vulnerable to such charges, went the conventional wisdom. But surely he could not be such a low life, not to mention so utterly, jaw droppingly stupid, as to actually have committed that kind of crime, right?
You would think he would lay low after that. Yet, one year later, in the next offseason, he was hit with similar charges with yet another woman. And suddenly, he was making the headlines again, and for all the wrong reasons. His arrogance, even in just the way he conducted himself in the community and with his fans, began to surface. The previous Steelers quarterback of Super Bowl glory, Terry Bradshaw, outright admitted that he did not like "Big" Ben. Of course, by then, hardly anyone did.
There were discussions on what to do about him. For a while, there was talk that the Steelers would cut Roethlisberger. When I heard that this fabled team was perhaps on the verge of cutting their twice Super Bowl winning quarterback, I was impressed They were taking this seriously, and what a statement that would be, not only for football, but for all sports! Some things are bigger than sports, right? There was even greater respect for this storied franchise.
But, of course, such noble talk did not last. Not only did the Steelers retain their quarterback, but they lobbied (successfully) to reduce his punishment from being out for six games to open the season, to just four games.
I began to actively root against the Steelers.
They made the Super Bowl again that season, with "Big" Ben trying to reshape his image, and do damage control. He had the Pittsburgh faithful on his side, it seemed. But no one else. After all, this was a rapist, to put it straight. I knew some Steelers fan, and one had the audacity to say, repeatedly, that you cannot judge another man. Yes, but we are judging his actions - multiple actions! Dispicable, disgraceful, inexcusable actions. That fact does not change simply because you are a fan of the team that he happens to play for. And making some weak, very convenient argument about not judging a man like that seemed to me a cop out that too many Steelers fans were willing to make, in order to continue rooting for their team, that happened to be led by a rapist.
I was disgusted.
In any case, they at least lost that Super Bowl, to the Green Bay Packers. But I was worried that they would be back in the big game before long.
Fortunately, they have not been. They went 12-4 the next year, in 2011. But they lost to Denver in the AFC Wildcard.
Then last season, they missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record, after getting knocked out by the Bengals in a late season showdown.
Yesterday, they had a chance for revenge. Both teams entered the contest at 0-1.
When the Steelers took the lead early, and their defense kept holding the Bengals, I was a little peeved. Having predicted a Bengals win, and a premature end to the Steelers season, I was grudgingly admitting that maybe I had underestimated this team.
But the Bengals came back to score a touchdown. Later, they added a field goal, and were up, 10-3.
Still, the Steelers were a very successful franchise, and responded like champions. They got a touchdown drive just before the half, to tie things up at 10-10.
In the second half, however, the Bengals regained the lead, and had built a comfortable 20-10 lead late in the fourth, and then managed to hold Pittsburgh to secure the win. And the Steelers are now 0-2 for the first time in over a decade, with a tough showdown against the Chicago Bears coming up!
As for the Bengals, who will not only try to qualify for the playoffs for a third straight season, but are aiming for their first division title since 2009, the win was a big one. It allows them to keep pace with the Baltimore Ravens, and to jump ahead of both Pittsburgh and Cleveland, both of whom are winless at 0-2.
The Bengals next game will be a tough one, though: They host the Green Bay Packers, and I just see the Packers as running on all cylinders. They played well and came close to beating the 49ers in San Francisco in week one, and then destroyed Washington in week two. They should be just a bit too much for the Bengals, who over the last few seasons, have generally beaten weaker opponents, but not been able to win against the better teams in the league. And the Packers still qualify as one of the best teams.
Predictions:
So, let's see what's up for week three, and here are my predictions:
In a big Thursday Night showdown that should prove entertaining, Andy Reid returns to Philadelphia to take on his recent team, the Philadelphia Eagles, now under head coach Chip Kelly. The Eagles offense looks faster than ever, and Kelly's style seems to accommodate the mobility of Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. So far, Philadelphia appears to be a vastly improved team over last season. But then again, the Chiefs look far better than they did last year, as well. In fact, KC already matched their win total from last season. The Eagles only got four wins all last season as well, and these teams clearly seem headed towards showing marked improvement for the year. It is a very intriguing match up, because they both look good, and Andy Reid knows the personnel on Philadelphia. But then again, Philly also knows Reid's style, and Reid cannot be that familiar with Chip Kelly's approach, it would seem. So, very intriguing match up. Philly has home field advantage, and that might be huge, but they have lost seven in a row at home. That said, the streak has to end sooner or later, doesn't it? I will predict a close game, and frankly, this one could go either way. Chip Kelly admitted to making a mistake with clock management last week, in expecting a touchdown, and thus not focusing on running down the clock and not allowing the Chargers to get the game winning field goal that sank Philadelphia. Don't expect that same kind of mistake again. The Eagles should score often again, and in a shootout, I see the Eagles winning this one.
In the other games, I like New Orleans to beat Arizona in a high scoring game, and I see the Packers outlasting the Bengals in Cincinnati. The Cowboys should hold off St. Louis, and in a battle of winless teams, the Vikings should beat Cleveland. Both San Diego and Tennessee have been surprisingly good so far, but I like the Titans to win out in this one. The Patriots will not light up the boards, most likely, but they will probably hold out and win another ugly game against the Bucs, who will continue to struggle offensively. I like the Lions getting back on track and surprising Washington, and sending them to 0-3. The Giants, in the meantime, will have a tough game at Carolina, but should win in the end. The Texans have hardly looked dominant, but then again, neither have the defending champion Ravens. So, Houston will pull it off- barely - against Baltimore. In a huge test for Miami, I see the Falcons finding a way to get it done on the road. The Jets will host the Bills in an important divisional showdown, but I actually like Buffalo snatching a road win here, although they are evenly matched. The 49ers should handle the Colts, and unless there is a severe letdown by Seattle, the Seahawks should easily get past the reeling Jaguars, who will likely contend for the first round pick.
On Sunday Night, the Bears visit the Steelers, and I actually see Chicago pulling it off to remain unbeaten, and the Steelers, rather shockingly, starting off 0-3. Cutler seems to have a groove, and the Bears offense is really clicking. The Steelers, in the meantime, don't look like themselves, and with all the momentum for Chicago, the only thing Pittsburgh really has going for it is homefield advantage, and I suspect that it won't be enough this week.
Finally, on Monday Night, The Oakland Raiders visit the Denver Broncos, who are really clicking on all cylinders. Denver should stay hot, too, as they likely will roll over the Raiders, to remain undefeated.
Okay, there they are. My predictions. Let's see how I do!
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