About an hour ago
In the last three seasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers have done more to destroy the joy than the Grinch, Ebenezer Scrooge, Hans Gruber and “Bad Santa” together.
The difference is that all movies have happy endings. The same cannot be said for each of the last three campaigns in December.
These are 5-9 in the last month of the regular season game for the past three years, with one game remaining in December 2020. And another on Jan. 3 in Cleveland.
Ho! Ho! Oh no!
The trend continues in 2020, with three consecutive losses in Washington, Buffalo and Cincinnati. Mike Tomlin’s team falls faster than Hans did at the top of Nakatomi Plaza at the end of the movie “Die Hard”.
And all the losses are taking the Steelers Nation out of the Christmas spirit this week “Crazy U, brother?”
This person thinks I didn’t go hard enough after Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in “Airing of Grievances” after losing in Cincy. Roethlisberger was 20 of 38 for 170 yards, a touchdown and an interception. His pass rating was 62.4. His test averages were 4.5.
I think you were too easy with Ben. It was an abyss and it was time to shut it down. He will not become more mobile and cerebral at 38 years old. Loyalty to him will affect this franchise for years.
– STFL (@SteelPhilFan) December 22, 2020
Here’s how I described Roethlisberger’s performance: “Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers quarterback, was terrible. Terrible. Terrible. One of the worst games of his career Steelers. “
This is textual.
If this is “too easy for Ben,” then I can’t imagine what Twitter would have been like if it had been invented when Kordell Stewart was the defender here.
Wow!
Brian emailed me suggesting that my recent criticism of the Steelers is ingrained.
“When you spend so much time hating the Steelers, you’re a closet fan.“
Get a load of “Dr. YINZmund Freud ”here. If I have emotional progress in our therapy sessions, please let me wipe away my tears with your awful towel, Brian.
Who thinks this guy? Lucy in a Peanuts comic? “Psychiatric help: 5 cents”
My Steelers fandom was never “in the closet.” I never avoided telling the truth. I grew up as a big fan of all the sports teams in Pittsburgh and I would rather see them win every game if possible. But I don’t let that stop the negative analysis when it has to be presented.
I don’t “hate” them. I’m critical. I’m critical because I’m as disappointed as any fan out there when the franchise performs poorly.
Since the fan in me lived 25 years between Super Bowl victories, I know a 11-0 start should equates to a fairly high chance of getting another. And it may be their last good chance in the Tomlin-Roethlisberger era.
Forgive me, then, if “my closed fandom” unleashes itself a little in my recent analysis of the last month. Stretch for what you might read from me over the next decade if Pittsburgh becomes the defenders’ Sahara desert every time Roethlisberger leaves.
Looking for Kent Graham!
John has a much more rosy outlook than I do.
Last time I checked, the Steelers have already won a place in the playoffs, with 3 more games. There are probably another 25 teams that would like to be 11-3. Good thing they have 2 games to fix the problems. The C
– John Chergi (@JChergi) December 22, 2020
Yes. In the meantime, I bet no single team in the league would prefer to lose three straight games, as they just did, including a pair with Washington and the modest Bengals.
Oh, and do you think they will solve these problems in two games? Is it a mistake? Or did you mean two years?
Richard wants the media to ask for Roethlisberger’s support in favor of Mason Rudolph.
“Surprisingly, you or your colleagues didn’t wonder why it wasn’t Ben. Clearly, he should have turned to a pitcher of relief (Mason Rudolph) against Cincinnati last night before the end of the half. Any other sport he would have sent to the showers.“
Maybe that’s why football is different from any other sport, Richard.
The goalkeeper is the last line of defense. Not the guy in charge of making everything work while you try to catch up.
Pull a starter jug for a fresh arm when the starter is gassed or to stop bleeding. Not to offend the jump.
It is not the same with the defenders when the team has to come back from a deficit of 17 points. And it’s especially a different strategy when the backup options are Mason Rudolph, Josh Dobbs and Devlin “Duck” Hodges.
He’s not a bullpen, is he?
Finally, Mike emailed me at 1:30 am while listening to the WDVE post-game show after the loss of the Steelers in Cincinnati.
“I just yelled and scared my poor dog because I was listening to Stan (Savran) and (Adam) Crowley. And callers crying about (Steelers) playing three games in 12 days!
Remember, the Ravens played three games in 13 days. (They) were decimated by covid-19. And without their best player (Lamar Jackson) against the Steelers.
In general, the team is lazy, unfocused, unmotivated and apathetic. Ben is washed. He can’t throw. He will not admit this and refuses to give up any control of the crime. The problem begins and ends there.
This is the reality. That’s it. Good night. “
Mike, I used to host that show. And after the losses in the night game, I consider that forcing a dog to listen to drunken callers is a form of animal torture.
You will hear from PETA soon.
You monster.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review writer. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets could be retweeted. All emails are subject to publication, unless otherwise specified.
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