THE STEELERS’ GEORGE PICKENS WITH AN INCREDIBLE CATCH IN THE 28-27 WIN OVER THE COMMANDERS, NOV. 10. (PHOTO BY BRIAN COOK SR.)
The Pittsburgh Steelers were scheduled to end their bye week by traveling to Northwest Stadium to play against the Washington Commanders, the Washington Football Team, the Washington Redskins or whatever name that the team that hails from the nation’s capital chooses to go by these days.
After a positive start to the season, the Commanders entered the game with a 7-2 won-loss record, while the record of the Steelers stood at 6-2. That one-game difference was the fuel that stoked the flames of doubt helping the pundits to rationalize their opinions that the Steelers had not proven anything in recent weeks with victories over the New York Jets and the New York Giants, two of the worst teams in the NFL.
The Steelers won a nailbiter, by the score of 28-27, Nov. 10. The starting QB of the Commanders was their new 2024 first-round NFL draft pick, rookie phenom, Jayden Daniels. Early predictions partially based on his performance had the Steelers as “dogs,” even though the young QB was scheduled to compete against Steelers starting QB Russell Wilson, a former Super Bowl champion who has a 9-7 won-loss playoff record and is 1-1 in Super Bowl appearances. Regardless of Russell Wilson’s credibility, a few days before the game, Christopher Barbre, of Steeler Nation posted an article titled: “Steelers Are Projected To Have Worst Game Of 2024 Season Against The Washington Commanders.” Mr. Barbre, a self-appointed “prophet and visionary” from the Steeler Nation wrote: “They will be facing the Washington Commanders, who have lit the world on fire with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and Head Coach Dan Quinn. The Steelers will now start their gauntlet part of the schedule earlier than expected due to Washington’s unexpected early success. Marc Ross of NFL.com does not believe in the Steelers, however. Instead, he sees pretty easy win for the Commanders on Sunday. Jayden Daniels puts up 30 points, the most the Steelers’ D has allowed all season. Conversely, Dan Quinn’s Commanders defense bursts the Russell Wilson ‘moon ball’ magic by holding Pittsburgh to fewer to 20 points. That certainly is a bold prediction, but will the Commanders be able to just put up points ad nauseam?”
The Steelers failed on a fake punt attempt and Steelers running back Jaylen Warren fumbled at the one-yard line. If not for those two miscues, the Steelers would have probably won by two touchdowns. The Commanders did not score on the Steelers, at will or ad nauseam! I wonder if Marc Ross himself might be nauseated at the thought of seeing his stupid and biased opinion explode in his face and in print, for all of the world to see.
Let’s hope that Marc Ross is not a dog owner because if he is, one would hope that the canine would not be kicked in the rear end to soothe the ego of its owner…you digg. Is Chris Barbre a true member of Steeler Nation or is he part of the “haters brigade” that masquerades as Steeler aficionados?
They are willingly heaping tons of praise on rookie QB Jayden Daniels and the Commanders Head Coach Dan Quinn, who has a whopping lifetime 43-42 NFL head coaching won-loss record, all the while insinuating at this point in his career with a record of 176-101-2, Mike Tomlin continues to be lacking, at least in the eyes of a few recent graduates of the “Truth Social” school of sports journalism.
JOEY PORTER JR. PLAYS TO THE STEELER FANS IN WASHINGTON…AS THE STEELERS WIN, 28-27. (PHOTO BY BRIAN COOK SR.)
Allison Koehler, a content creator for Steelers Wire, USA Today recently posted a piece titled: “Steelers HC Mike Tomlin takes ownership of special teams blunder.” The following is an example of one of her “questionable observations” from the Commanders/ Steelers clash. “Pittsburgh won the toss, elected to receive—a strong statement to start the game—but went 3-and out.”
She continued on filling her “crock of nonsense” writing: “The Steelers chose violence once again midway through the first quarter. Special teams ace Miles Killebrew threw a strike to cornerback James Pierre on what was a perfect fake punt. Unfortunately, Pierre was still on his bye week and failed to make the wide-open catch.”
Thirty years ago, teams from “little” leagues to the NFL loved to win the coin toss so they could receive the football first. She should know that strategies change, game to game, depending on the situation.
She also gave us this cow-chip bit of info reporting that, “The Steelers chose violence once again midway through the first quarter.” I couldn’t believe that she wrote it, so just for the sake of confirming what she wrote, I am going to repeat it. “The Steelers chose violence once again midway through the first quarter.” Chose violence? What in the hell were they supposed to do, take ballet lessons, crochet, drink mint juleps while sitting on the front porch listening to Hank Williams belting out, “Your Cheatin’ Heart?”
First and foremost, James Pierre dropped a perfectly thrown pass, so how can it be defined as a “blunder” by Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin? If the play had been thwarted or diagnosed by the receiving team, Tomlin could have been assigned the blame, at least partially. However, the player dropped the damn ball. What? Was Mike Tomlin supposed to serve as a nice fat glob of stick-um on Pierre’s hands? The true blunder is permitting these neophytes into the sacred halls and spaces of sports or any other type of journalism. My instinct, which functions as my mental, moral, and intellectual “GPS,” is indicating to me that the Pittsburgh Steelers are on the cusp of football greatness. Do not allow anyone to brainwash you with garbage about your team or its coaches. Mick Jagger used to sing: “Hey, hey, you, you, get off of my cloud. Don’t hang around, cause two’s a crowd.”
Hey Steeler fans, if I were yinz, I would memorize those lyrics.
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