Remember when the Pittsburgh Steelers used to impose their will on other teams? They were the ones dominating the line of scrimmage and sending guys off to the sidelines for medical help.
Tonight in their AFC Wild-Card game loss to Baltimore, it was the Steelers who were dominated on both lines of scrimmage and it was the Steelers who were sent to the sidelines by bone-crunching hits.
The Baltimore Ravens left Heinz Field this evening with a 30-17 win that not only knocked the Steelers out of the playoffs but they also sent a clear message that they now own the rivalry. Don’t think that’s a fair statement?
The Ravens have now won six of the last nine games against Pittsburgh including their first in four tries in the playoffs.
The Steelers weren’t just beaten though this evening. They were physically beaten by the Ravens defensive line all night long as Ben Roethlisberger was constantly under siege and was sacked five times. Whether it was Terrell Suggs or Elvis Dumervil or (insert player) they were destroying the Steelers up front.
It wasn’t much better on the other side of the line either. The Ravens’ offensive line bent many times this evening, but never really broke. When you’re only consistent pressure is from 37-year old James Harrison then you know there’s a problem.
These Steelers were playing short-handed without Le’Veon Bell but that’s no excuse. They were beaten soundly and played with very little urgency. For all of the good things we saw over the last few weeks, they disappeared in a matter of just four quarters.
To not give the Ravens credit would be wrong. John Harbaugh has out-coached Mike Tomlin in recent years and this can’t be denied. His staff put together a gameplan that was built on pressure and they never relented from it.
What’s truly sad is that this how the Steelers used to do things defensively. They were the intimidators and they were the team dictating the play on the field but that’s no more. Dick LeBeau hasn’t forgotten how to coach but the talent he’s coaching less talent and not developing much either.
This Steelers team will undergo significant personnel changes, especially on defense and they have to find their edge again because tonight it was the team in purple that had it.
Marc Uhlmann writes for and co-owns www.steelcityblitz.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteelDad and the website @SCBlitz. Check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/steelcityblitz and on Fancred.com. You can hear him weekly during the season on game day on the Trib-Live Radio Steelers Pre-Game
7 comments
Pathetic game plan, pathetic execution by the offense, no urgency whatsoever. Where was the no huddle all day? Defense kept the team in the thick of it until they just completely fell apart.
This is typical of this team all year, win a couple games then lose. Finally you think they get on a roll late in the year and win the division and then just like always they decide they’d rather not show up.
You know we were doomed from the get go when all we heard all week was how the Ravens secondary was so bad and how the Steelers have won every 3rd meeting against the Ravens. Any time you hype this team up like that, it’s doomsday comin.
We just need a new QB who won’t stand there and hold the ball all day. We have enough talent in the receiving game if we just had someone who could deliver the ball on target and in a timely manner. Unfortunately, we’re stuck with him bcuz it’s a foregone conclusion that Colbert will sign him to an extension so, we’ll just have to hope they can eventually find a way to win a playoff game in spite of Roethlisberger.
Ben didn’t play all that well last night Donald but he was far from the only problem. The offensive line was never in sync and was exposed all night. Does Ben hold the ball too long sometimes? Yup, but this is the fine line we’ve always walked with him. Sometimes he makes great plays and sometimes he doesn’t.
Overall the Steelers had a good season. This team as it sits is not championship caliber. It has weaknesses like most teams The most glaring weakness last night was being totally dominated on both sides of the line.I have criticized the Steelers pretty much all this year but i have to admit for what they had to work with they did pretty good. The bottom line is last night they were pushed around and out coached.
And did you ever think you’d write that last sentence Bob? “The bottom line is last night they were pushed around and out coached.” Both of those things are sadly accurate. Yes, this team made strides but the end is troubling.
Cowher said it===this steeler team is soft—finesse not physical—( the line play needs to be more dominant on both sides of ball to be champions)