Automatik;961817 wrote:I recall the majority bitching that the calls were inconsistent, which they are. I've learned to just deal with it...its part of the game now.

This is very rare, but I agree.

There are only a few calls a year where I think fans/teams have a legit right to QQ about. I.E. Calvin Johnson's non TD call in week 1 vs the Bears last year, or the tuck rule game.

NFL officiating is shitty all over...it is like the officials just pick and choose their spots

wes_mantooth;961830 wrote:NFL officiating is shitty all over...it is like the officials just pick and choose their spots

It's not even close to being as bad as NBA officiating.

I have to get off here and get some things done but a few more comments on this one...

...I think if these teams meet again, whether the playoff game is in Baltimore or Pittsburgh, the game will be much more like last night than the first meeting.

Woodley and Harrison have not been at full strength and on the field at the same time this year. They were on the field in the opener but Harrison was still recovering from back surgery. For the Steelers, these are two of their best players at outside linebackers. When those two are playing at Pro Bowl levels, coming from both sides, the defense is a lot more dynamic.

Their receivers are young and dangerous. They showed that against New England. With Sanders back in there, it's a better group.

If this was the last game of the season then it would be a lot tougher to take but there's a lot of football left and several teams with a shot to come out of the AFC. The Steelers are one of those teams.

Schedule is not as easy as it looked earlier in the season but it's still favorable for the Steelers to at least win 10 games and have a shot at a wild card berth.

at Cincinnati
at Kansas City
Cincinnati
Cleveland
at San Francisco
St. Louis
at Cleveland

I will say that they're very vulnerable next week against the Bengals coming off of this emotional loss. That's a game that will be close and they'll need to survive. If they drop that game it could be a serious blow.

like_that;961833 wrote:It's not even close to being as bad as NBA officiating.

Yeah, that isn't even debatable

Tough loss. Flacco got it done in crunch time. I hope they meet again in the playoffs. Calls were bad both ways. They couldn't get much more inconsistent.

Non;961799 wrote:Actually, I know you expected them to lose to New England and Baltimore.

They beat New England and were right there against Baltimore, a game that could've gone either way.

I feel better about the Steelers chances than I did earlier in the season. I never said they were guaranteed to win it all. I think they're one of the teams that have a legit chance to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. They should be in the playoffs and at least playing in the divisional round, possibly against Baltimore again.

oh what the fuck ever. just a few days ago you were saying there wasn't a team better than the steelers. go suck a bag of dicks

The AFC is going to get very interesting, there is no clear cut dominant team.

NE, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and the Jets all have the ability to make a deep run.

Non;961836 wrote: If this was the last game of the season then it would be a lot tougher to take but there's a lot of football left and several teams with a shot to come out of the AFC. The Steelers are one of those teams.

Exactly why it shouldnt have ever been called game of the year before it was played by you. Not to mention, it wasnt, and it wont directly affect the outcome of the standings or playoffs right now.

Don't sleep on Houston.

like_that;961880 wrote:Don't sleep on Houston.

+1

With their weak schedule, they could easily win 11-12 games, which means a bye and hosting a divisional playoff game.

Automatik;961863 wrote:The AFC is going to get very interesting, there is no clear cut dominant team.

NE, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and the Jets all have the ability to make a deep run.

I am not buying the jets....but I agree with the others about Houston. They might be the most balanced team once Andre Johnson comes back

Yeah I forgot about Houston, although unproven, they could make some noise. They have a lot of talent at the skill positions.

Frustrating loss. The "end of half" defensive scheme needs some work. Regardless of the call on Clark in the first half, they still let the other team go a good ways in a very short period of time. Their third-down "defense" was shoddy the entire game and just seemed to get worse the more they needed a stop.

Need to rebound against the Bengals next week. Anything to get the taste of this game out of the mouth.

Heretic;962034 wrote: Their third-down "defense" was shoddy the entire game and just seemed to get worse the more they needed a stop.

Because the Ravens would get into a max protect and the Steeler secondary can't cover worth a shit. So they would stop the pass rush and the WR's were burning the DB's right off the line/

Heretic;962034 wrote:Frustrating loss. The "end of half" defensive scheme needs some work. Regardless of the call on Clark in the first half, they still let the other team go a good ways in a very short period of time. Their third-down "defense" was shoddy the entire game and just seemed to get worse the more they needed a stop.

Need to rebound against the Bengals next week. Anything to get the taste of this game out of the mouth.

I bet there are other tastes in your mouth that you want to get rid of too.

Laley23;961879 wrote:Exactly why it shouldnt have ever been called game of the year before it was played by you. Not to mention, it wasnt, and it wont directly affect the outcome of the standings or playoffs right now.

Pretty good ballgame, one of the best of the year so far. Even though Baltimore won.

Could be a defining moment for the Ravens and Flacco. Time will tell.

I think it could have important long-term ramifications. If the Steelers had made one defensive play and held on to win and go to 7-2 I think it probably changes the entire dynamics of their season. They'd be in the driver's seat for the division and home field. They would've had a lot of momentum going plus they're getting healthier. It was good for Baltimore and the other AFC contenders that Pittsburgh got knocked back. Steelers will have to go a lot more difficult route when, perhaps with one play to win that game last night, they'd be on a much more promising path.

Maybe that outcome will end up being very pivotal. Again, time will tell.