Just ten months ago, star Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was under investigation for an assault incident in the Georgia area. With this, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell ended up suspending Big Ben for the first four games of the 2010-2011 season. Even with this monumental loss, Head Coach Mike Tomlin rallied his troops and came out of the gates strong by flying high over the Falcons on an incredible 50-yard game-winning over-time touchdown run by running back Rashard Mendenhall. That same Atlanta Falcons team would go on to lose only one more game all regular season in a 31-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6.
The first four games without Ben didn't end up as dismal as most analysts predicted with the Pittsburgh Steelers ending up 3-1. The team’s only loss came from a touchdown pass caught by rival player wide receiver T.J. Houshmanzadeh of the Baltimore Ravens with under 30 seconds left in the game.
In the next 12 contests, the Steelers would end up 9-3 behind a career low 5 interceptions by the now more matured Ben Roethlisberger. Despite his valiant return, controversy was something that haunted the Steelers all season long. In Week 7, there was some major controversy in the Miami Dolphins game. Instant Replay showed that the Steelers may not have actually scored the game winning touchdown as previously suspected, causing uproar amongst the NFL. If things were not already togh on the Pittsburgh Steelers, major issues arose between NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and linebacker James Harrison.
As the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, Harrison is known as one of the most ferocious players in the NFL. His play is disruptive and violent yet clean, which makes me so upset with Goodell's new "quarterbacks wear skirts" and "two hand touch, not tackle" rules recently put into effect. The NFL has fined Harrison a total of $85,000 due to three different "illegal hits" deemed by these new rules… absolutely ridiculous. Football is a man's game; these guys know what they signed up for when they entered the league. Game outcomes have been changed drastically due to these new over-protective rules. I'm all for player safety, but it has gone much too far recently.
Despite dealing with controversial calls and injuries to veterans offensive tackle Max Starks, offensive tackle Willie Colon, and defensive end Aaron Smith, the Steelers went on to win their division once again clinching the Number 2 seed in the conference. The match-up the Steelers would face in the second round of the play-offs after their first round bye would be long-time rival Baltimore Ravens. Even with Heinz Field painted in yellow flags, the Steelers prevailed in another last minute win on a 2-yard touchdown run by Rashard Mendenhall, 31-24. The way Pittsburgh rallied in the second half to come down from a first half 21-7 deficit was absolutely incredible, as Roethlisberger played lights out completing 19 of 32 for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns.
With the Jets defeating New England, the Steelers would go on to host the AFC championship game for the second time in three years. Pittsburgh sought out revenge against the New York Jets due to their questionable 22-17 loss in Week 15. Right from the get-go, the Steelers absolutely dominated the Jets. Pittsburgh opened the game with a long 8-minute drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Rashard Mendenhall. The Steel Defense played lights out, holding the Jets offense to under 50 yards in a 24-3 score in the first half. The second half was a different story for the Jets though, as a quick touchdown pass to ex-Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes made the game only a two touchdown difference. Early in the fourth quarter came a monumental emotional turn of events as the Steelers stuffed the Jets on four tries from the 1-yard line. Quickly did this momentum burn out as back-up center Doug Legursky fumbled the snap on the 1-yard line, followed by a New York Jets safety. At 24-12 Pittsburgh, the Jets turned on the burners and went to work offensively scoring on a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery. With just under 3 minutes to go in the game and only a 5 point lead, the Steelers went back on the offensive behind quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. After Ben completed two immensely clutch third down conversions, the Steelers had clinched a win in their NFL record 15th all-time Conference Championship game and would be going for their NFL record 7th Super Bowl.
No comments:
Post a Comment