WHEW!!!

Whewwww......the Steelers have now played a full 60 minutes of football.......the only problem is that those 60 minutes came in TWO games! The fact that they were able to win both, against quality opponents playing one half per game is odd, but I will take it. The Steelers came out and blew the big mouthed Jets off the field for much of the first half. Then, they play a SOFT series to close the half, and gave the Jets a pulse. When, oh when will coaching staffs realize that the prevent defense BLOWS!!!!! The Jets were down and just about out, but gettting points to end a disastrous half of football, knowing they could get in the game with an opening drive in the second half boosted their morale, and it ALMOST cost the Steelers. As dominant as they Steelers were in the first half was about as anemic as they were in the second half. However, the Steelers did what they have done all year when it mattered. Despite losing the only elite player on a very suspect offensive line in the first series, the Steelers gutted it out, and made the plays they had to to win. First, the goal line stand was a thing of beauty. It actually sent chills up my spine to see them stiffen there at the goal line, and I truly thought that that was the game. Then, on cue, Legursky and Roethlisberger muff a snap, the Jets get a safety, and now two scores WINS it, not ties it. The Jets then score a touchdown to close to within 5 points, and it was white knuckle time. An offense that was pathetic in the second half had to burn 3 plus minutes to preserve a victory, a tall order given their play for the past 3o minutes. But again, despite a poor night of throwing the ball, Roethlisberger made the plays that were needed to run out the clock, especially with his mobility in the pocket. Again, Antonio Brown made the big catch to send the Steelers to the SHOW. And now the Steelers have a shot at some real heady stuff. This trip to the Super Bowl marks the 8th in franchise history, tying Dallas for most in history. The Steelers who are 6-1 in the Super Bowl, have a chance to put a little distance between themselves and the two teams with the second most Super Bowl wins (5), Dallas and San Francisco by winning their 7th!! Finally, a win here would mean that they can add a run of 3 championships in six years to go with their run of 4 championships in 6 years from the '70's. Roethlisberger, at the age of 28 has a shot at winning his third ring, putting him up there with Tom Brady and Troy Aikman as the only quarterbacks to win three rings, and behind only Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana the only quarterbacks with four wins in the big game. Tomlin can join a very short list of head coaches with multiple championships as well. A lot to play for, eh? One final note.......you cannot say enough about the effort put forth by Rashard Mendenhall, as tough and gritty game as you could ever ask for.