week 16: Steelers vs rat-turds Gameballs & Goats

What a game, what a game.

Imagine if they actually played the entire game the way they played the last 12 minutes.

List your awards:

Gameballs:
Ben: for his leadership in the 4th
Bell: doing it when we needed it most
O-line: for the 2nd half domination
Brown: getting the ball across the goal line
Boswell: When we needed it, he was solid
Avery: don't know this kid but had a huge catch late, and also the Pass Interference call he had along the sidelines
Bullock: Simply for making those FGs when we needed them for us, and shanking one against the Texans on Saturday. You can blame Hill for using the towel.

Goats:
Ben: 2 INTs almost gave the game away
O-line: first half, not opening up holes after the first drive

Avery is Ayers. Our seventh rounder this year. That was his first catch all year but I recall another late round guy who bloomed late in his rookie year. Not saying he's the next AB but I won't be shocked if Ayers can contribute too.

Maybe I'm being overly critical, but there are more Goats than Gameballs tonight.

Gameballs

• Bell - great game all around.
  
• Brown - with the stretch to win it.
  
• Rodgers - that semi circus catch on the last drive.
  

Goats

• Ben - minus the last drive, he was awful. Missed passes, questionable decision making. This is 3 weeks in a row Ben is off.
  
• Boswell - for the kicks out of bounds.
  
• Coaching - why did it take until 12 left in the 4th quarter for any adjustments?
  
• Lack of a 2nd WR - someone has got to step up.
  

hmmm..nobody is calling out the piss poor tackling ? i bet the ratbirds had an EXTRA hundred yards after contact...not to mention being punked by a 37 year old receiver ...

Tackling was the worst I had seen in a long time. And they haven't been that good this year already. However, they won, I dont care.

Win is a win. Gameball team for overcoming adversity, taking some shots right on the chin, and following that up with a knockout punch to seal the deal and win the North.

Gameball to the entire team for sending the rats home. The losing streak needed to be stopped...knocking them out of the playoffs only made it all the sweeter. Great job stepping up and covering for the missing guys on O and D, and the way they stood after being down 20-10 1 minute into the 4th, then driving down the field with a little over a minute to win the game.

ImmaculateGreenePolamalu wrote:

Avery is Ayers. Our seventh rounder this year. That was his first catch all year but I recall another late round guy who bloomed late in his rookie year. Not saying he's the next AB but I won't be shocked if Ayers can contribute too.

Ayers showed he isn't scared to block. Was impressed.

The guy has talent, and one of the reasons why I'm comfortable with the WR core going forward and I don't believe one should be drafted high. If he had stayed another year at Houston, I truly felt he'd have gone as high as the 3rd round.

Brown, Bryant, Rogers, Coates, DHB, Cobi, Ayers...Please let this happen.

OX1947 wrote:

Tackling was the worst I had seen in a long time. And they haven't been that good this year already. However, they won, I dont care.

Agree. Was saying most of the game they were allowing too many yards after contact and missing tackles.

Fact is that the O line kept Ben clean when needed to, so he could make those throws and score 21 points in the 4th. Will be good to see playoff football again.

Game Balls:

AB nice stretch
Bell for doing what needed
O-line for keeping Ben upright (so he can throw picks)

Goats:

Ben (2 picks ) He's now thrown half as many picks as TDs.
Boswell for not keeping kickoffs between the lines.
Cockrell I believe he's now the weak link. You can't hit NFL caliber RBs high and expect to do anything but go for a ride. He didn't cover for shit either.

I just wish Ben would show the sense of urgency from the start so we don't have to sit home clutching our chests every damn game.

At least we are adjusting in games and showing the ability to come back.

This was the Ratbirds, so no GOATS from me. Were there some turnovers and poor throws, YES, Missed tackles YES but these games are always tough and we were playing another damn good team out there and division rival in the best rivalry in the NFL.

Gameballs for everyone on the STEELERS sideline, great effort and team victory

According to PFF, Ben was pressured 4 times of the 33 pass attempts that he had. Zero sacks and 2 QB hits on Ben in a Steelers-Ravens game?? Much love for the O line !

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

According to PFF, Ben was pressured 4 times of the 33 pass attempts that he had. Zero sacks and 2 QB hits on Ben in a Steelers-Ravens game??  Much love for the O line !

Can't remember the last time Ben went unsacked in a Ravens game. Yep, much love for the o-line. They did a great job for Bell too. Definitely earned their gifts from Ben.

Bell ran admirably against a stingy defense (behind a great performance by the O-line), and made some clutch plays when he needed to. And what more needs to be said about AB that hasn't already been said? They all get game balls.

Ben had some goatish moments, and our defense allowed the Rats mediocre offense to gain way too many yards, but I've given up on expecting these things to improve.

Gameballs:
Bell
Brown
O-line
Davis for breaking up the TD
Tavon Young for a stupid penalty on Ayers that brought us back into the game

Goats:
Ben and Boswell for putting us in difficult situations
Bradshaw

ImmaculateGreenePolamalu wrote:

Avery is Ayers. Our seventh rounder this year. That was his first catch all year but I recall another late round guy who bloomed late in his rookie year. Not saying he's the next AB but I won't be shocked if Ayers can contribute too.

Glad yo knew who I meant

GOAT: Todd Haley for his ridiculous obsession with Hubbard, Nix, and David Johnson for 45 minutes which did nothing for this team.

Game Balls: Ben and his WR's for saving their season when they were allowed to play in the final 15 minutes when they sent the scrubs to the bench, those who have followed, and appreciated Ben's career from day one weren't shocked in the very least.

did anyone else wonder why there was no facemask penalty called on brown's TD ? i seen on the rattybird forum the members were bitching about the whistle not being blown because his forward progress was allegedly stopped, but yet they failed to mention wettle had hold of browns facemask the entire time.

Boswell is going to win the Steelers a playoff game in the end. That guy is awesome.

solardave wrote:

Game Balls:

Ben (2 picks ) He's now thrown half as many picks as TDs.

Incorrect.  29 TD's, 13 picks.  Outstanding ratio.  

Quote :

just wish Ben would show the sense of urgency from the start so we don't have to sit home clutching our chests every damn game.

Opening drive TDs in the Ben Era each OC:

Arians five years: 22

Whiz three years: 14

Haley five years: 12  

For Haley to have two less than Whiz with two EXTRA seasons, is a sin

OX1947 wrote:

Boswell is going to win the Steelers a playoff game in the end. That guy is awesome.

As long as the Steelers Defense can keep a game close, he has a chance. He's having a really good season for the Steelers.

Master_Of_Puppets wrote:

did anyone else wonder why there was no facemask penalty called on brown's TD ? i seen on the rattybird forum the members were bitching about the whistle not being blown because his forward progress was allegedly stopped, but yet they failed to mention wettle had hold of browns facemask the entire time.

They also missed two more in the endzone in Cincy. One to AB, one to Coates.

stlrtruck wrote:

ImmaculateGreenePolamalu wrote:

Avery is Ayers. Our seventh rounder this year. That was his first catch all year but I recall another late round guy who bloomed late in his rookie year. Not saying he's the next AB but I won't be shocked if Ayers can contribute too.

   
Glad yo knew who I meant

Yeah. We probably won't see much more of him if Coates and Hamilton are healthy but he's someone to watch for in the future. If this team does one thing really well, it's scouting WRs. We're seeing why they were so high on Eli Rodgers last year before he got hurt.

TheConfluence wrote:

Master_Of_Puppets wrote:

did anyone else wonder why there was no facemask penalty called on brown's TD ? i seen on the rattybird forum the members were bitching about the whistle not being blown because his forward progress was allegedly stopped, but yet they failed to mention wettle had hold of browns facemask the entire time.

They also missed two more in the endzone in Cincy.  One to AB, one to Coates.  

but had brown not scored , this blatant penalty which wasn't called would have been the difference between losing the game or having one more shot at scoring. he had hold of his face mask from the time he made contact until the whistle blew. how in the hell could the refs not see it ?