Sacré bleu, the Pittsburgh Steelers won another Monday night football game in Pittsburgh.
This trivial bit of info is not meant for you “rain man” type of professional football aficionados. This “insight is focused toward all of us “fan types.”
The Black and Gold have not lost a Monday night contest in Pittsburgh since 1991 when they were defeated by the New York Giants. They have now won 16 consecutive games played in Pittsburgh on “moons day.” They have won all eight games played at Heinz Field as well as the final eight games played at their former home, Three Rivers Stadium.
The jury is still out in regards to the Steelers offense because the defense basically gave the “O” field position that gift wrapped two scores. Steelers cornerback Brice McCain held Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson in check for most of the game. It was only when the Texans began to use multiple receiver sets on the side of beleaguered side of cornerback Cortez Allen, that Houston finally began to be more effective throwing to their star wide receiver. In some ways, Mr. Allen should give the Steelers a refund.
In their analysis after the game had concluded, ESPN sports science theorized that the odds of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Brett Kiesel intercepting a pass that he deflected around the line of scrimmage that subsequently bounced off of Linebacker Lawrence Timmons and back to him were about “5000 to 1.”
Just like the probability that approximately 42 years ago, the Terry Bradshaw pass that bounced off of Steelers running back John “Frenchy” Fuqua or Oakland Raiders defensive back Jack Tatum back to Steelers running back Franco Harris which Harris ran into the end zone that resulted in the winning score for the Steelers against the Oakland Raiders never could have been drawn up on the blackboard either.
There will be no controversial guesses and murky analysis and questions as to whether the “pick” was legal.
There should also be no more second guessing the reasoning of Steelers Head Coach Mie Tomlin or the Steelers Director of Football Operations/GM Kevin Colbert as to why they re-signed defensive lineman Brett Keisel or linebacker James Harrison.
As maligned as the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line has been (in some cases justifiably so) they seemed like a determined group against the Houston Texans.
Everyone expected Houston d-lineman JJ Watt to have his way with the Steelers O-line, including me, but in the end it looked like there might have been a slight power shortage in regards to Mr. Watt because his name was barely mentioned. He mustered up just two tackles, one assist and one sack, for the entire game! I did not notice the Pittsburgh offensive trembling.
Since the Steelers decisive victory, there have been very few postgame rants to replace Mike Tomlin, Kevin Colbert or the Steelers Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley, at least not this week. Why? Well not because the Pittsburgh game plan was altered significantly.
I’d like to ask “yinz” boys’ and girls’ a question. Could the Steelers victory over the Texans be the result of the players executing the plays? The Steelers or any other team should not have to rely on “divine intervention” to achieve success. “Divine performances” and execution will bring positive results every time.
Aubrey Bruce can be reached at: abruce@newpittsburghcourier.com or 412.583.6741 Follow him on Twitter@ultrascrib
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