Friday, December 31, 2010

Steely McGnome Predicts: Steelers vs Browns take 2



I didn't feel like searching for another picture of McCoy, so I'm re-using this one.

Big, big game for the Steelers, a win and they clinch the division and the #2 seed. A loss and that all goes away with a Ratbirds win. Of course the Ratbirds lose and the Steelers still get all of that.

Still, can't worry about another team. The Steelers need to get the job done, and I think they will.

Steelers 34

Browns 6

Monday, December 27, 2010

Crushed - Steelers vs Panthers Recap



Yeah, I know it was a Thursday night game and this awesome recap is only coming out like 4 days later. But you'll deal.

That was an ass-whoopin' the Panthers got. Although on the Panthers first drive for a little bit it seemed like the Steelers forgot they could tackle and the Panthers thought they could actually play offense. Not so.

We need to see more of those passes to Mike Wallace. That was bad-ass.

Look. Hines Ward has been with the Steelers for 12 years, his production is going to drop off. And it still pisses me off that Santonio Holmes just couldn't lay off the blunts. Holmes was, in my mind, going to take over for Ward. He was filling in nicely, but the dude just had to keep getting high and he got caught, then sent packing.

Oh well, I'm becoming more and more impressed with Sanders and Brown. Steelers have a lot of options for catching the ball. And those guys all seem better than Butterfingers Nate Washington.

I'm happy that the Steelers need to go out and play this weekend to win the division, instead of having it locked up already. Although another part of me would like if they had that 2nd seed locked up already. That week off is going to help the Steelers heal a little.

That's it for my awesome recap.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Steely McGnome Predicts: Steelers vs Panthers



Thursday night game this week. I don't care what you or the NFL players think. I love Thursday Night Games, and Saturday night games too. More NFL games on TV is a good thing and you know it.

The Panthers come up to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. Big game for the Steelers, they need to win their remaining two games to keep that division lead and the #2 seed for the playoffs. Can't overlook a team with nothing to lose. I'm thinking the Panthers will put up a good fight, I hope I'm wrong about that.

Steelers 38

Panthers 16

Monday, December 20, 2010

Close Game, with a crappy finish - Steelers vs Jets recap



Close NFL games come down to big plays and mistakes. The Steelers did not make any real big game changing plays and they made all the mistakes. Allowing the Jets opening kickoff return was a big breakdown, actually the special teams play of the Steelers were kind of crap all day. The Jets got really good field position out of their returners yesterday, and on punts they pinned the Steelers back inside the 5 several times. Those are hard to overcome, and besides the safety, the Steelers did. Then that safety late in the game, which made the Steelers need a touchdown instead of a field goal.

I actually thought the Steelers played well on Offense yesterday. The offense seemed to be clicking a little better than the previous weeks, they actually scored some touchdowns. The defense, well, they played ok, that's below well. Really need to get pressure on the QB, that seemingly wasn't there yesterday. I don't know, seems like the Steelers held back on defense, just like they did against the Patriots. Maybe thinking they'll see them again in the playoffs and did not want to tip their hand?? Seems dumb to me, but you know how those AFC East teams like to video tape everything.

I do not like complaining about the refs, but I'm going to. If you're going to call defensive holding when a jersey gets grabbed, you need to call that every time. There were quite a few plays where the Jets DBs grabbed the jersey of the Steelers receivers. Plus, I'm sick of the non-hold calls on the Steelers linebackers, those are obvious holds and the head referee is right there. With that said, those non-calls DID NOT cost the Steelers the game, they had a chance at the end of regulation to win that game and came up short. Not even going to say if any of those holds had been called if the outcome would have been different. You can't look at a game like that, but the NFL needs to make referees full-time employees (I don't think they are).

On to Thursday, Steelers are already in the playoffs. Win out for the number 2 seed and the division. Let's go Steelers!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Steely McGnome Predicts: Steelers vs the Jets



The Jets make a visit to Pittsburgh this Sunday to take on the Steelers. The Jets were once poised to be the number 1 seed and led their division, but have since shown their true colors. The Steelers need to get some offensive touchdowns, the defense can't score two TDs every week, that would be nice though.

Steelers 24

Jets 13

Monday, December 13, 2010

Pick 6 - Steelers vs Bengals take 2 recap



I wonder what Tomlin said to make him laugh so hard?

Defense wins championship. Right now the Steelers defense is hitting on all cylinders, and it's coming at a great time. Especially with the offensive line being so banged up. The last time I saw a carousel of offensive lineman was the 6-10 Tommy Maddox led Steelers. That was a bad year, but it led to good things. The drafting of Ben Roethlisberger.

Back to the game recap. Final Score 23-7. My prediction 31-9. On the right track, I figured the last game was kind of a fluke with the Bengals scoring like that in 4th quarter. Although, I kept feeling like the Bengals were going to make it a closer game near the end of the game, but the last INT by Troy made that go away...until he tossed the ball back instead of just downing the ball. Bonehead move for sure, but he also turned the game the Steelers way with his pick 6 of Palmer. The Woodley pick 6 was great too, gotta love when the defense scores touchdowns.

The Steelers offense just can't seem to get into the end zone as of late. Not sure what the deal is, and it's really annoying. FGs are great, but they're not going to win you games against good teams. I know the Steelers offense out scored the Bengals offense 9-7, but that's just not good enough. I know that line is banged up and that's part of the issue. Ben not having enough time to go through his reads before someone is coming after him is never helping in the production of Touchdowns.

Seriously. The frickin' commentators sucked. They would have liked you to think that the Bengals had the game wrapped up in the 1st quarter when their offense actually produced. Dan Dierdork and Greg Bumble sucked it up. I'm normally not opposed to Greg, but he was getting on my nerves yesterday. I never liked Dierdork, guy was a lineman. You blocked the guy in front of you, I don't really care about your thoughts on anything other than the offensive line. Please, retire.

Oh, and don't think I forgot about you Refs. YOU SUCK. How can you not call that hit on the head of Ben? I saw a game earlier this season where a defender barely brushed Tom Brady's helmet, Brady was all up in the Ref and got a flag on flag on the defender. Ben got swatted in the head, again, and no flag. Then, before the half on a 3rd and goal, there was a late hit. Again no flag, but multiple times the James Harrison hit a QB with the legal time and got flagged. Get it right NFL, make your refs full-time. Make them watch film on legal and illegal hits. This non-sense has to end.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Steely McGnome Predicts: Steelers vs Bengals take 2



Steelers take on the Bengals for the second time this weekend. Last game the Steelers had a big lead that they decided to blow in the 4th quarter and were very close to losing. But the Defense stepped up and did their job.

Could this be the last time Palmer faces the Steelers in a Bengals uniform? I hope so, go to the UFL loser.

Steelers 31

Bengals 9

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Damn, that was a game - Steelers vs Ravens recap



Damn. When I think of a good NFL game, this game between the Steelers vs Ravens is what I think of. Hard hitting, tough defense, last minute heroics.

Would be great if the NFL officials could actually get their damn act together. Two illegal hits and no flags, how does that happen these days. Since they flag legal hits half the time. Good to know they at least fined the Ravens for those hits. Hines Ward is right, someone is going to lose a game in the playoffs because the Refs can't get it right.

Ben really had to get use to his foot being in that shoe boot, and it showed in the first half. The announcers wouldn't let you forgot about it either, god I hate Chris Collinsworth. I swear they had one camera guy just focusing on Ben's foot. So annoying. Ben got on the right path in the second half, plus it helped his receivers started catching the ball on 3rd down.

At first it looked like the defense was going to let the Ravens pass all over them. But, again they showed up and started shutting them down. Frickin McFadden, better get it together you've been taking a beating this season. Troy came up big in another game against the Ravens, seems like he always makes a difference in those types of games. Gotta say, it was nice to have Keisel back, although the Defensive line has been holding it's own with Aaron Smith and Keisel out. Ziggy Hood was a good choice.

As much as I hate the Ravens, I look forward to the games between these two teams.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Steely McGnome Predicts - Steelers vs Ravens Round 2

Round 2 this Sunday night for the Steelers vs the Ravens. This time with more Ben and less Chuck.

Should be a good game, they normally are, and a close one.

Steelers 24

Ravens 16








Rumor has it that the Ravens will be wearing their new uniforms this week.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

So this is OK by the NFL
















So when Quarterback in the NFL is hit in the NFL, it's not ok. You get fines and flags.

BUT.

When a QB is on the ground, it's OK to still bend and twist him.

Tell me how that is right?