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Monday, December 21, 2009
Ten quick takes on the Steelers' incredible, 37-36 victory over the Green Bay Packers ...
10. At first, I thought Mike Tomlin's decision to try an onside kick with 4:03 left and a 30-28 lead was an act of insanity. Part of me still does. But I'll say this much: Tomlin's post-game explanation made sense. I think. He basically said he didn't believe his defense could stop Aaron Rodgers -- did anyone? -- and that if the onside kick didn't work and Green Bay scored, he wanted Ben Roethlisberger to have enough time to come back. How can you fault him for that? Maybe I'm nuts, but given the circumstances of that game, not to mention the state of the Steelers' fourth-quarter defense this season, Tomlin's move was logical. I think. Hey, he sees the same defense we see. If the best definition of insanity is to continue to do the same thing and expect different results, then you better try something radically different. Tomlin did.
PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 20: Hines Ward(notes) #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers makes a catch in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers during the game on December 20, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)9. Besides, would you have trusted the Steelers' coverage team to make a play on a deep kick, "deep" being a relative term with Jeff Reed kicking?
8. This game provided further proof that the Steelers must make every effort to re-sign nose tackle Casey Hampton, a prospective free agent, even it means slapping him with the franchise tag (which he wouldn't be thrilled with). "Big Snack" has been looking like his old self lately, never more so than when he drove center Scott Wells into Rodgers and blew up a running play late in the fourth quarter. Hampton would be awfully tough to replace.
7. Where does this rank among Ben Roethlisberger's greatest winning drives? I'd put it at No. 2, behind only Super Bowl XLIII and just ahead of last year's drive in Baltimore, which came against an elite defense. The Steelers drove 86 yards in 11 plays last night, including a 4th-and-7 conversion (Santonio Holmes), a 3rd-and-15 conversion (Heath Miller) and, of course, the winning 19-yard strike to Mike Wallace as time expired.
6. That effort should leave no doubt that Roethlisberger is the leader of this team, whether anyone wants to admit it or not.
5. Roethlisberger flat-out refuses to slide when he runs. Crazy, perhaps, but you have to love the mentality. On the Steelers' second-last drive, Roethlisberger put his head down and ran over cornerback Jarrett Bush at the first-down marker, only to see the play called back on a hold.
4. So much for that overhyped Dom Capers defense in Green Bay. Capers called off the dogs too often on the final drive. The Packers came into the game as a top-five defense. Just more proof that there is no truly dominant 'D' in the NFL this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Wallace(notes), right, catches a touchdown pass from Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger(notes) in front of Green Bay Packers' Josh Bell(notes) (26) with time running out in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers won 37-36. (AP)3. Shall we declare it "Bruce Arians Day" in the 'Burgh? You have to admit, the Steelers executed some beautifully designed plays, including the final one, where Wallace was the fifth option but ran a designed route just as he was supposed to. The touchdown pass to Mewelde Moore also was nicely designed, as Moore lined up behind Santonio Holmes and used him as a legal screen into the end zone.
2. Once again, it occurs to me that the Steelers' road crowds often are more impressive than their home crowds. With the team still in playoff contention -- although that really shouldn't be a factor for loyal fans -- Heinz Field was dotted with empty seats. More than just dotted, actually. There were 7,598 empty yellow seats disguised as Steelers fans.
1. If I ever said anything bad about Rodgers, I take it back. What a demonstration in how to take a licking and keep on flicking. Rodgers absorbed some massive shots early in the game -- including a vicious but legal shot to the chin from Lawrence Timmons -- but never flinched. He stands and delivers amid pressure as well as anyone. Maybe that's why his third-down numbers are the best in the league.
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Starkey: Ben, Hines and head injuries
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