12/22/24
September 10, 2002
Um, Kordell, sometimes, the best team wins...again!:
"We can stop making comparisons that they shouldn't have won the AFC championship game. They proved it tonight."
Just got back from Gillette Stadium. What a facility. And what a show by the Super Bowl Champions, especially on defense. Finally, the Steelers are admitting that the Patriots are the better team. Apparently the big gaudy rings on their fingers wasn't enough. Anyway, Flowers and Stewart were among the biggest off-season Steeler trash talkers who failed to bring Hefty bags to Foxboro Monday night.
Stewart, who threw three picks, fumbled and was sacked five times, in Real Audio: "We got our butts kicked."
Bono said it best after the game. "It was a Beautiful Day..."
posted by Conquistador to football at 03:16 AM - 9 comments
The Patriots are definitely for real, and proved it with an impressive win over a team that some analysts had picked to go to the Super Bowl. And it's pretty classy of the Steelers who were quoted to just admit they got their butts kicked.
posted by kirkaracha at 01:12 PM on September 10, 2002
Classy? If they had said anything else they'd be lying. Of course they got their butts kicked. The whole world saw it. Besides, where was the class after the AFC Championship? All of the sudden the Steelers are classy? I mean, they're not the Ravens or anything (urinating on the field before the game), but your coach running on the field to challenge a play and calling timeouts to score a meaningless touchdown as time expires doesn't really exude class.
Meanwhile, what does this game say about Bill Cowher's coaching? If I'm not mistaken, this guy's got more tenure than any coach in the NFL, but he let his guys talk trash all off season and then brought a woefully ill-prepared team into Gillette Stadium. When the Pats line up with a no-huddle, empty backfield set to pass 25 straight times, he sits back and plays essentially a prevent defense, which prevents nothing. No blitzing, nothing. So Brady picks them apart.
Shouldn't Cowher's job be in serious jeopary? If they lose to the Raiders on Sunday Night Football, the rumblings should start, if they haven't already.
posted by Conquistador at 01:58 PM on September 10, 2002
Conquistador, I was thinking the same thoughts about Cowher after this game. How much of his success is attributable to Steelers management scouting, singing and replacing great players (especially on defense) throughout Cowher's career? The penalties, the mental mistakes . . . I enjoyed watching the Pats struggle to beat the real AFC Champs. What does it take to get the smirk off of Hines Ward's face?
posted by yerfatma at 02:17 PM on September 10, 2002
Guys, the topic of why Bill Cowher has remained at the helm of the Steelers has been around for a long time. Personally, it's amazing to me that he has lasted this long, especially after terrible seasons in the late 90s leading to the slow start in early 2000. But to his credit, he turned that 0-3 beginning into a winning record at 9-7. But last season, the fact was, he wasn't prepared for the AFC Championship last year. Not that last night's game will define the entire season, but what bugs me is that he has had since February to ready this squad for what was undeniably a big opening season rematch in New England against the Champs, and he and the team fell flat on its collective faces. I'm a fan/suuporter of Pittsburgh, having spent my college days in the Steel City, but I'm embarrassed at that showing last night. The special teams woes continue, the inconsistencies of Kordell continue, and Cowher again displayed he is incapable of taking control of the situation when he needs to. It was indeed a tough one to watch last night. Yes, yes, it's just one game, but even my Eagles put up a fight in Tennessee on Sunday, though they fell apart in the second half due to stupid penalties (Thanks Al Harris) and a lack of ability from the coaching staff to make the proper adjustments at halftime while nursing a 24-10 lead (i.e., don't go into conservative mode!!!). That's another story for another time. I'm still trying to figure out what the heck Pittsburgh was trying to accomplish on that field last night. Well done New England. Many fans and teams may have not honestly respected you after what was deemed a "fluke" Super Bowl win in February, but you've certainly captured the attention of the rest of the league now.
posted by rosey8810 at 03:48 PM on September 10, 2002
First off let me say the patriots were great last night, Belichek out coached Cowher, and Brady was great. I'm a Steeler fan, and last nights game just proves what we Steeler fans have known for years Kordell chokes in the big games. If Cowher wants to save his job he needs to bench Kordell now. The Steelers have all the other peices for another Super Bowl run, but they have to deal with a qb that cries, whines, and throws balls into the turf when WRs are open, bottom line bench the chocker Cowher
posted by jbou at 10:51 PM on September 10, 2002
if you've followed a schottenheimer-coached team, you know about cowher. he does enough to keep the winning percentage high -- good defense, safe offense -- but not much beyond that. as for kordell, he drives me nuts, but until the morons put some real thought into an alternative, he gives the steelers the best chance to win, no question.
posted by jackhererra at 09:22 AM on September 11, 2002
Madden 2003 was playing Tee Martin against me in the first game of the Pats' season. He had a hell of a game. Obviously, he'd be a tremendous replacement.
posted by yerfatma at 10:54 AM on September 11, 2002
The Pats aren't flashy, but they win. The played that stood out the most for me was the TD catch and run by former U of Wisconsin star Donald Hayes.
posted by shackbar at 05:01 PM on September 11, 2002
As a Browns fan I just have to congratulate Kordell. Keep it up!