This win feels real empty, doesnt it?

[madinsomniac]

I mean it should have been an exciting game... but it wasnt for me... it was predictable.. so much so that it was almost boring...

Maybe im just not as invested anymore

Maybe Im just too cynical about this team winning in the playoffs that it just didnt matter.. maybe Football has just tweaked the rules so badly and has too many ridiculous endings anymore...

I dont know, but that last play I literally was virtually tuned out for... not even an ounce of celebration. It felt less like we won it as much as they lost it

This team is far more talented and plays such a stupid brand of football... like seriously, why is every first quarter complete **** offensively... why is it that an O that struggles all game long always comes alive in the 2 minute drill or as soon as we fall behind late...

Why does the D collapse on 4th down so often... or 3rd and long, or after we take a late lead?

Like i should be euphoric after that win... I HATE harbaugh abd strongly dislike the Ravens... I love the Steelers...

But I feel like we will come out next week playing super conservatively vs that Texans D and their O is going to press our D early... and playing from behind will mitigate their biggest weakness ( that oline) while putting our O in a terrible position vs their D...


Like this team has some serious talent and depth in enough areas they shouldnt be limping into the playoffs as a 4 th seed..

Its not even just a coaching thing... its like the whole franchise is stale and needs something to shock it back to relevance..

Like im really hoping for a win ext week just to see if my tank is totally empty for them right now... because at this point any playoff win is basically our super bowl

 

[madinsomniac]

Its probably just me.. but I mean I was shattered after those 1990's losses... i lost a tv to the 94 game... i went ballistic when we eeked into the playoffs a bunch of different years... heck i go nuts for last second wins all the time... this one was just so... i dont know how to describe it really... soft?

 

[stillwright]

Both of your posts are spot on with me also. I missed the entire game last nite. Woke up and saw we sqeaked out a win. I felt so indifferent about it. Still am. I probably would feel this exact same way if the Ravens would have made the FG. Every game is the same exact script. Just like you described above.

Well we have a home playoff game now. Go get them Tomlin!!!!

 

[diver]

I've become the older fan now and gotten to the point in life in which I can just enjoy it for what it is. So that game was fun for me. If they were 16-1 or something going into the playoffs I'd have the same view.
You guys attach more to it than me probably. What has happened in the past or worrying about the future. I just don't anymore. To me each year is a one off.

 

[Badcat]

I'm with you Mad, so much so that I didn't watch the game, not one second. Wifey watched "When calls the heart" as I sat on the couch filling my gut with bourbon playing scrabble on my phone.

When I was stationed in England, my wife and I would pull out the sleeper sofa in the living room and wake up at 2am to watch the Steelers on a Monday night game. I'd head to the base after the game tired as ****. We loved our Steelers and seeing "home" as the blimp hovered over the Pittsburgh skyline filled our hearts.

This isn't the Pittsburgh Steelers. This Defense isn't feared...it's laughed at mockingly in podcasts. This offense is a patch work of geriatric patients past their prime trying to find one more championship before retiring to the Bocce courts. Does that sound like a representation of the city of Pittsburgh? Of it's people? of it's very culture?

 

[diver]

I also think the frustration with Tomlin is so deep a lot of fans were ok if they lost to maybe get the Steelers closer to a new coach. I'm not questioning that, it's understandable. But shiit, he'll step down when he is ready, not before, so I just won't get all lathered up over it.

 

[slashsteel]

My girlfriend spazzed out when they won. I can’t say for me that it wasn’t exciting. No matter what my wants are (well documented) I enjoyed the win and that didn’t take away from my other in game feelings of frustration etc. Then to see Aaron after the game’s sheer joy and want to was pretty enjoyable. Gainwell and Warren and Heyward’s play and want to.. yeah for me focusing in on that was exciting.

 

[KentuckySteeler]

I mean it should have been an exciting game... but it wasnt for me... it was predictable.. so much so that it was almost boring...

Maybe im just not as invested anymore

Maybe Im just too cynical about this team winning in the playoffs that it just didnt matter.. maybe Football has just tweaked the rules so badly and has too many ridiculous endings anymore...

I dont know, but that last play I literally was virtually tuned out for... not even an ounce of celebration. It felt less like we won it as much as they lost it

This team is far more talented and plays such a stupid brand of football... like seriously, why is every first quarter complete **** offensively... why is it that an O that struggles all game long always comes alive in the 2 minute drill or as soon as we fall behind late...

Why does the D collapse on 4th down so often... or 3rd and long, or after we take a late lead?

Like i should be euphoric after that win... I HATE harbaugh abd strongly dislike the Ravens... I love the Steelers...

But I feel like we will come out next week playing super conservatively vs that Texans D and their O is going to press our D early... and playing from behind will mitigate their biggest weakness ( that oline) while putting our O in a terrible position vs their D...


Like this team has some serious talent and depth in enough areas they shouldnt be limping into the playoffs as a 4 th seed..

Its not even just a coaching thing... its like the whole franchise is stale and needs something to shock it back to relevance..

Like im really hoping for a win ext week just to see if my tank is totally empty for them right now... because at this point any playoff win is basically our super bowl

Its hard to get excited when you have a clown coach that cant compete with the top of the league and hates the fanbase so bad that be blows kisses. He and the “Tomlin 1st, Steelers second” dorks embarrass a once-vaunted franchise.

 

[KentuckySteeler]

I'm with you Mad, so much so that I didn't watch the game, not one second. Wifey watched "When calls the heart" as I sat on the couch filling my gut with bourbon playing scrabble on my phone.

When I was stationed in England, my wife and I would pull out the sleeper sofa in the living room and wake up at 2am to watch the Steelers on a Monday night game. I'd head to the base after the game tired as ****. We loved our Steelers and seeing "home" as the blimp hovered over the Pittsburgh skyline filled our hearts.

This isn't the Pittsburgh Steelers. This Defense isn't feared...it's laughed at mockingly in podcasts. This offense is a patch work of geriatric patients past their prime trying to find one more championship before retiring to the Bocce courts. Does that sound like a representation of the city of Pittsburgh? Of it's people? of it's very culture?

Spot on.

 

[Coryea]

Its probably just me.. but I mean I was shattered after those 1990's losses... i lost a tv to the 94 game... i went ballistic when we eeked into the playoffs a bunch of different years... heck i go nuts for last second wins all the time... this one was just so... i dont know how to describe it really... soft?

It's not just you. I'm there too, this team has been so embarrassing in the post season for so long, i've almost become numb to this team, because I've seen the same crap year after year. Yes great game last night great win for sure, but as usual with Tomlin's team something has to happen crazy to get the win. Our offense sucked until Baltimore lost their best two DB's including their all everything safety. It took a DB slipping on the "blessed" turf that left Austin wide open, Baltimore hit us with that same damn pass play 3 times in the second half, and again our ILB is matched up on their #1 WR when Flowers scored that TD.
Great game though, I think we're lucky the team this win or go home game was against the Ravens, the one team/coach we know best.

 

[steel dino]

I mean it should have been an exciting game... but it wasnt for me... it was predictable.. so much so that it was almost boring...

Maybe im just not as invested anymore

Maybe Im just too cynical about this team winning in the playoffs that it just didnt matter.. maybe Football has just tweaked the rules so badly and has too many ridiculous endings anymore...

I dont know, but that last play I literally was virtually tuned out for... not even an ounce of celebration. It felt less like we won it as much as they lost it

This team is far more talented and plays such a stupid brand of football... like seriously, why is every first quarter complete **** offensively... why is it that an O that struggles all game long always comes alive in the 2 minute drill or as soon as we fall behind late...

Why does the D collapse on 4th down so often... or 3rd and long, or after we take a late lead?

Like i should be euphoric after that win... I HATE harbaugh abd strongly dislike the Ravens... I love the Steelers...

But I feel like we will come out next week playing super conservatively vs that Texans D and their O is going to press our D early... and playing from behind will mitigate their biggest weakness ( that oline) while putting our O in a terrible position vs their D...


Like this team has some serious talent and depth in enough areas they shouldnt be limping into the playoffs as a 4 th seed..

Its not even just a coaching thing... its like the whole franchise is stale and needs something to shock it back to relevance..

Like im really hoping for a win ext week just to see if my tank is totally empty for them right now... because at this point any playoff win is basically our super bowl

I can see where you’re coming from mad, but it is an entertainment industry, and that game last night was extremely entertaining. One thing that might help you is to try to keep in the present and keep all things in perspective. Enjoy the moment enjoy the win it was much better than if that kid kicked the pigskin between the two gold posts at the end of the game.
Imagine how you would’ve felt last night and then this morning if we lost that game.
And like I said last night after the game, two of the best things about that game was, one that we beat the ravens, and two the Browns didn’t knock us out of the playoffs.
I know we have our warts and all, but it’s still our warts! And I’m happy for the players, especially the ones that played their heart and sole out last night to win that game.

 

[Coryea]

I can see where you’re coming from mad, but it is an entertainment industry, and that game last night was extremely entertaining. One thing that might help you is to try to keep in the present and keep all things in perspective. Enjoy the moment enjoy the win it was much better than if that kid kicked the pigskin between the two gold posts at the end of the game.

That's a great way to look at it. I guess with me, it's how much I don't care for Tomlin anymore. I know we are not a legit Super Bowl contender, I don't care if Mahomes isn't there, and we're not going to be next year, and haven't been since 2017. It just feels like this merry go around will now go around for another who knows how many years. I guess I'm not happy just being a +.500 team that isn't an actual super bowl contender

 

[steel dino]

That's a great way to look at it. I guess with me, it's how much I don't care for Tomlin anymore. I know we are not a legit Super Bowl contender, I don't care if Mahomes isn't there, and we're not going to be next year, and haven't been since 2017. It just feels like this merry go around will now go around for another who knows how many years. I guess I'm not happy just being a +.500 team that isn't an actual super bowl contender

Yeah, Tom, we all wanna win it all every year, but wish one hand and….
And just for everybody to remember, especially the ones that aren’t real fond of our head coach, and that includes me at times, Mike Tomlin is not the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I don’t know how you guys describe your fandom, but I root for the colors, the history, and the great art and Dan Rooney, HOF players of the past, especially those players in the 70s that got all of us through terrible, horrible economic times in the city of Pittsburgh during that timeframe, as well as some of the current players.

 

[Coryea]

Yeah, Tom, we all wanna win it all every year, but wishing one hand and….
And just for everybody to remember, especially the ones that aren’t real fond of our head coach, and that includes me at times, Mike Tomlin is not the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I don’t know how you guys describe your fandom, but I root for the colors, the history, and the great art and Dan, Rooney and players of the past as well as some of the current players.

I don't expect to win it every year, just to be a contender most years, you know we go into the season knowing there's a chance we could be hoisting the Lombardi, it hasn't been that way around here in a long time.

 

[steel dino]

I don't expect to win it every year, just to be a contender most years, you know we go into the season knowing there's a chance we could be hoisting the Lombardi, it hasn't been that way around here in a long time.

It could always be worse, Tom.
You ask a casual or other fans of other NFL teams when they think of the NFL in Super Bowls, and I guarantee the thought of the Pittsburgh Steelers comes in their mind.
Keep the faith will be back someday you’re a young man you’ll see it

 

[Coryea]

It could always be worse, Tom.
You ask a casual or other fans of other NFL teams when they think of the NFL in Super Bowls, and I guarantee the thought of the Pittsburgh Steelers comes in their mind.
Keep the faith will be back someday you’re a young man you’ll see it

yeah, that's the problem lol, then tell those same fans that the Steelers haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 season then watch their face, Steelers come to mind with the casual/other teams fans, but Steeler fans know the truth. I don't think we'll see those days until the HC is gone.

 

[steel dino]

yeah, that's the problem lol, then tell those same fans that the Steelers haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 season then watch their face, Steelers come to mind with the casual/other teams fans, but Steeler fans know the truth. I don't think we'll see those days until the HC is gone.

Maybe true., But Mike Tomlin won’t be there forever and I believe after next year he’ll be done. That should make a lot of people happy and maybe a little less frustrated with the Steelers. Personally, he’s just one man and doesn’t foreshadow the entire organization or history of the greatest football franchise that ever played the game.
I’m a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I am not a fan of the Pittsburgh Tomlins.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Because we needed a missed FG to win. As usual, we didn't put the opponent away.
I ***** about Shades being too conservative but I still think kicking a FG at the end of the first half would have been the right decision because the offense wasn't moving the ball consistently. Could have used those three points later.
One more week to see if my annual prediction of the annual 10-7 and the annual first round playoff loss will be correct.
Groundhog Day indeed.

 

[KentuckySteeler]

I can see where you’re coming from mad, but it is an entertainment industry, and that game last night was extremely entertaining. One thing that might help you is to try to keep in the present and keep all things in perspective. Enjoy the moment enjoy the win it was much better than if that kid kicked the pigskin between the two gold posts at the end of the game.
Imagine how you would’ve felt last night and then this morning if we lost that game.
And like I said last night after the game, two of the best things about that game was, one that we beat the ravens, and two the Browns didn’t knock us out of the playoffs.
I know we have our warts and all, but it’s still our warts! And I’m happy for the players, especially the ones that played their heart and sole out last night to win that game.

Very fair post. Warren, etc deserve better than clown Tomlin.

 

[JMM]

I was really glad to see the ball go wide right but I was more amped up with the Penguins OT winner. The Steelers have been pretty much just going through the motions for the past, I don't know,,,15 years? In all reality, it shouldn't have come down to that. The Steelers we used to know would have decimated the Brahans last week and yesterday's game would have essentially been a bye week.

So, I'm glad they won and will look forward to at least one more game. Should be a good game. Seems a little weird to have a playoff game on a Monday night but we have a good history of winning at home on Monday pm. We'll see what happens

 

[diver]

Man, let's all get together for some beers for the playoff game! Some of you guys would be all kinds of fun!

 

[fedderone]

I'm coming here to eat crow.
I feel like Michael Corleone in Godfather III.
Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in.
I am shooketh that the Steelers won last night.
My boy jumped up and down waking the wife and scaring the cat when the rats missed the field goal.
The game itself felt 2000s Steelers/Ravens light. It was the most entertained I've been in a while.
The first thing I thought was, "Damn! Would you look at that?! See what happens when you actually use Warren and Freiermuth?!?!"
But let's be honest.
Whichever one of these teams won last night is losing to Houston in convincing fashion.
Neither one of these teams are contenders.
They were going to be sacrificial lambs.
Tomlin got his not a losing season, Steelers make the playoffs, they get embarrassed in the first round, we'll pick in the early 20s, rinse, repeat.
I was VERY shocked at the crowd last night, though.

 

[fedderone]

Yeah, Tom, we all wanna win it all every year, but wish one hand and….
And just for everybody to remember, especially the ones that aren’t real fond of our head coach, and that includes me at times, Mike Tomlin is not the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I don’t know how you guys describe your fandom, but I root for the colors, the history, and the great art and Dan Rooney, HOF players of the past, especially those players in the 70s that got all of us through terrible, horrible economic times in the city of Pittsburgh during that timeframe, as well as some of the current players.

Dino - I, too have always cheered the crest on the front, and not the names on the back.
But it's just beyond infuriating when you're watching your favorite team's house burning to the ground on TV, and you're shouting at the TV, "GET A HOSE! CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT! BUST OPEN SOME WINDOWS FOR VENTING!" all while there's this clown in front of the burning house with a seltzer bottle spraying himself and laughing.

 

[SteelerFan448]

You’re too cynical. I don’t expect this team to win a title, but that crowd was a real playoff-type atmosphere. The ending was awesome and the most excited I’ve been about a win in years. Maybe because it was a taste of old times…

Sports are supposed to be fun. I’ll complain when this team deserves it, but I thoroughly enjoyed beating the Ravens last night.

 

[Superman]

I damn near lost a tv myself after Nedney's atrocious acting bullshit. I still hate that mf.

I'm older now and this brand of football just isn't what I ever expected from the Steelers. Seattle now plays the defense we used to play.

that said, I was shocked Boz missed that XP, but even more shocked their rookie missed the 44 yarder to win. After that kick, I let the shock subside, turned off the tv and went to bed. I certainly don't expect much from any Tomlin coached team anymore, as it's been beaten into my head that my expectations should be lowered to nil. Objectively, this week is when signing Rodgers should pay off. The coming week of practice, where we should be more enthusiastic, paying closer attention to details and trying to be absolutely perfect will be very important not only against the Texans, but if we were to somehow break Tomlin's 1-and-done playoff streak. I'd expect Aaron to be more involved in the game plan, the script and every facet of the offense. As an old time vet, and SB champ, he knows what it takes to win a playoff game and that all starts with practice this week.

But, I won't let myself have any expectations.