Obviously, nobody expects a team to win every game, but I couldn't disagree more with your above analysis. The Monday night game was a disasterous loss that I think was a combination of poor coaching for that situation and Ben coming off a 3 week or so rest from his knee surgery. While there is no excuse for any team to play football in a god-awful structure like a dome, the fact is they do exist and, unfortunately, the League has given this practice the green light. The Steelers didn't even have a silent count ready for that game. To me, that is underestimating the difficulty of that road game. And it goes without saying that it was questionable to open the second half with the onside kick, given that the defense had started to contain Indy after giving up a couple of early scores in the first half. Ben had his moments of decency, but it wasn't one of his better games as it was his first action in a month. None of that is meant as an excuse. Indy whooped Pittsburgh in no uncertain terms that night, but it is not indicative of their abilities at all.
As for the Steelers in the playoffs, it was obviously
total domination of every opponent. Yes, the Colts had an opportunity to tie the game with the Vanderjagt field goal and the fumble itself was almost run back for a touchdown. None of that would have ever occurred and had any relevance if the officials didn't botch a horrible call and take the interception away from Troy Polamolu. On the drive, Indianapolis eventually went on to score a touchdown and two-point conversion, at the time when Pittsburgh should have been running time off and setting up a chip-shot field goal to go up 24-10. The bad call is indisputable, as the League itself stated, but the score is what is was and is in the books. But the mere 3 point victory doesn't change the fact that Pittsburgh went into a game that most people, including myself at the time, thought they would lose, and absolutely hog-tied and bitch slapped the Colts senseless. Pittsburgh is anything but "freaking lucky that they are still in it". As the announcers said in the post game show, with the way they dominated that game and a couple of awful calls against them, it would have been a tragedy if it had slipped away.
I was concerned about what I saw in the December Cincinnati game, not because I thought Cincy was the better team, but because Pittsburgh got taken out of their gameplan and they failed to put it together when it counted. The Bengal got an early break when they fumbled a punt return at their own five-yard line and it was awarded to the Bengals when replay showed Pittsburgh had the ball. I forget why it wasn't challengeable. Anyway, it was Ben's second game back from the layoff and he threw three interceptions. Not a good day at the office. A fumble combined for a fourth turnover. The Bengals had no turnovers that game, so the Steelers certainly had some solid play at times to be within a touchdown in the final seconds after turning the ball over. They would have had a chance a tie that game if they didn't self-destruct in the final seconds of that game with false starts and shit like that. Not that there is no cause for concern, but the Steelers beat themselves in that game.
You bring up very good points. I don't think this is a done deal at all. I just think the Steelers have been awesome and are rightfully favored. But I wouldn't touch the 4-point spread on this game with my money. I haven't seen enough of the Seahawks to evaluate them the way you have. I know Seattle has some studs on defense, but I can't imagine they're heads and tails better than Pittsburgh, as the Steeler defense is just a wrecking machine that has probably looked more impressive than the offense in the postseason.
Well, Ben has successfully hit Ward and Randle-El the past few weeks, when asked to do so. The Steelers have answered the call against pass rushing opponents before, although I admit the Seahawks will be as tough as anything they've faced this year. I must say Hasselback has had an incredible year. He'll be facing a tough Steeler defense, but again he'll be as good as most anything they've faced this year.
Well, I hope you're wrong.
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