Being that I really didn't get to see nearly enough of Saturday night's Steeler-Redskin game as I hoped to, my options for a Monday morning opening topic were rather limited. There's Dennis Dixon's separated shoulder, Jack Wilson's letter to Pittsburgh fans, and of course, an end to the winning streak of the white-hot Pittsburgh Pirates. Pishaw, I say. Let's lead off with some American Idols rocking Mellon Arena and waving the Terrible Towel and ease into the week with a story only vaguely having any connection to Pittsburgh sports. We'll work our way from the bottom up.
ROETHLISBERGER 9-14, 110 YARDS, 1 INT
Yes, that is an NFL Playoff banner hanging on a lamp post. They usually blossom this time of year.
The pre-game entertainment was popular on the street outside the stadium. Not "Wu-Tang in Millvale" popular, but popular nonetheless. These guys play a mean bucket.
Finally, the Heinz Field entrance is on the horizon, and with 20 minutes until kickoff. Unfortunately, I estimate there are roughly 50,000 people in line ahead of me to get patted down by Heinz Field security, so making the seats by kickoff might be a photo finish.
Finally in the door, and the first jersey I see? That's right, #14 in your programs, and #1 in your hearts, Limas Sweed. Which reminded me, with all of our recent talk about jerseys to buy or avoid, an experience over the Christmas break at a sporting goods store in Century III Mall... I watched in amazement as some guy asked a store employee to get the metal jersey-grabbing stick and retrieve a Terrell Owens Eagles jersey. Which was followed moments later by another guy asking (and I kid you not), "Do you have that Duce Staley in a double XL?"
In the door and with a few seconds to spare before kickoff, the first thing I spot is an attention-monger with a Cowher/Browns/CBS related-sign. I hope the desperate attempt at getting a camera to point in their direction paid off. And for the record, their equation is wrong. Nothing plus Browns could ever equal Super Bowl.
The first 15 minutes of Sunday's contest were pretty uneventful, to say the least. Cleveland actually drove to the Steeler 36, and facing a 4th-and-three, Romeo Crennel showed some guts and...lined up Phil Dawson for a 53-yard field goal. Nothing like playing it conservative in your last game as coach. What a gambler's mentality. It's also worth noting that this was as deep in Steeler territory as the Browns would get all day.
Hines Ward gave the crowd some excitement by going over 1,000 yards, which was announced in-between quarters. The Steelers have drafted not one, not two, but three receivers in the first round during Ward's time in Pittsburgh (Troy Edwards, Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes), as well as a variety of others in high spots (Antwaan Randle-El, Sweed, etc.), and at the end of his 11th season, Hines is still leading the team in receiving yards. Unbelievable. And to top that, he got his 800th career catch later in the game, which ranks 22nd all-time.
Following a rousing halftime performance by B.E. Taylor that I missed due to the eight-deep lines at the urinal trough (and no, I didn't take pictures), it was on to the third quarter. I would call this the Browns' worst quarter of the season, but that would be an insult to the final 15 minutes of this game. Let's say things weren't pretty.
Nursing what is now a 24-0 lead during a TV timeout, the powers that be felt that it was the right time to play the Styx "Renegade" video highlight reel of the defense. If you've never seen it, let me set the scene with a few random objects from the video: bass absolutely thumping, James Harrison slamming a Bengal on his head, about 1,000 different sacks, and the video stopping with a photo of Wes Welker on the ground. At that point, Steeler fans were drunk on defense. And alcohol.
Cleveland got the ball back with four minutes and change remaining, and since that was too much time to start kneeling down, the Browns called for some incompletions to get the ball out of their hands as quickly as possible. Mission accomplished. And finally, Steeler fans start heading for the exits. I give them credit; sometimes they take a bad rap for leaving early, but this crowd hung around till the very end of a meaningless game, cheering the entire time.
Dennis Dixon was in the game and ended the regular season like the Steelers have ended many a Browns contest, in the victory formation. 31-0 and 12-4. It was an incredible regular season.
"And Skippy shall lead them". That was the theme again last night as the Steelers stole a 19-16 victory from the clutches of the Carolina Panthers in front of 50,485 at Heinz Field.
The first-team offense played just two series and nobody on the unit tore anything, so that makes two victories on the night. Their first-quarter scoring drive was set up on a long pass play from Ben Roethlisberger to Nate Washington. Of course, Washington didn't catch it, it was a 37-yard pass interference call on Carolina's Richard Marshall. But a penalty is a part of the game and as good a reason as any to throw the deep ball, which set up a Carey Davis touchdown moments later.
Among the running backs, Willie Parker had a nice 26-yard run and should be declared ready for the opener. Rashard Mendenhall apparently learned little from Hines Ward's social experiment and coughed up the ball for the third time in two weeks. I know that's a little thing in the grand scheme of things, but some rookies can have fragile psyches, so that may be something to keep an eye on. In relief of Mendenhall, Gary Russell ripped off a 23-yarder but ran for only 20 yards on his other 13 carries. As a team, the Steelers outran Carolina, 178-62.
The Steeler D held the mostly punchless Carolina offense to three field goals from the ageless John Kasay and a touchdown from Brett Basanez to Chris Hannon with 1:54 left in the game. With the score sitting at 16-15, Carolina coach John Fox elected to go for the tie in lieu of a two-point conversion, which bothered both players and fans (especially the guy that was clearly audible yelling at Fox on the KDKA/FSN/WPCW/Whatever Other Station Aired the Game Last Night Because of the Democratic National Convention broadcast).
Luckily, rookie QB Dennis "Don't Call Me Kordell" Dixon marched the Steelers downfield in short order and set up The Internet's Favorite Kicker for his second game-winner in as many weeks.
And with the Skipper's fourth field goal of the evening, we bid adieu to another season of preseason "action". It's been fun, but not as fun as the regular season will be. Polish your black-and-gold goggles, warm up your Terrible Towel, and fire up the tailgating. We've got an appointment with the Texans next weekend.
News and notes:
--Jerome Bettis was on the sideline, in town for an appearance at the new Tanger Outlet Mall in Washington, PA and his ESPN 1250 Radio debut today at 5:30.
--It's official: Arnold Harrison will miss the entire season after tearing his ACL for a second time. Personally, it's a crushing blow for the 25-year-old linebacker, who looked to have the team made.
--From the "Not Really a Bold Prediction" Department: Maybe it's just me, but I'm not counting on WR Limas Sweed to have a Randy Moss-circa '98 rookie season.
--Can we get a radar gun on Byron Leftwich? Please?
--As far as battles go, Willie Reid returned 2 kicks for 49 yards, Mr. Drummond 2 for 57 yards (and a punt for 5 yards, plus 2 catches for 10 yards), and Dallas Baker had 2 catches for 35 yards. The PG's Gerry Dulac says it's down to Baker and Reid.
--Anthony Smith had another bone-jarring hit last night, and thankfully it wasn't on Hines Ward or any of his other teammates.
--Keyaron Fox led the Steelers with 9 tackles and will add solid depth to the linebacking corps this season.
--Mewelde Moore had a nice 26-yard reception out of the backfield and looks like he'll be a solid contributor when called upon.
--Mitch Berger: 2 punts for 88 yards, long 48. Paul Ernster: 2 punts for 55 yards, long 33. You know what that means...POLL TIME!
