Steelers Make Mile High Statement
- Tuesday, November 10, 2009 8:53 AM
- Written By: Harry Parmenter
Who's your daddy, NFL?
The Pittsburgh Steelers, that's who.
As we hit the midseason point of the NFL circa 2009-10, the defending champions have made it clear they are the team to beat.
Their 28-10 beatdown of a strong Bronco team in Mile High Denver sent a message to the league: Come and Get Us.
With Troy Polamalu back, the best big-play defender since Lawrence Taylor, the Steelers showed they are the reigning Super Bowl champs for a reason or two: They hit harder and execute better than anyone in the league. The odds are changing overnight in Vegas and nobody with a brain will bet against these guys unless they take a flier on the Saints at good odds.
Pittsburgh showed enormous grit Monday night. Coming out of the first half with a defensive 7-3 lead, the Steelers zipped it downfield only to have Big Ben stripped of the ball by a great defensive play by Broncos' first-round pick Robert Ayres, a play that would have unraveled many teams.
Instead Roethlisberger pulled his team aside, took the blame for the call and then, ZAP!, led the Steelers back in to the end zone with a clinical dissection that put Denver on its heels.
From that point on, it was academic. As good a job as he's done since joining Denver, Kyle Orton is built for the short game, and when you get down double-digits to Pittsburgh, you better have a Manning brother at the controls. And clearly Kyle Orton, through no fault of his own, is no son of Archie M.
If and when Willie Parker gets healthy, look out, as Jon Gruden -- a tremendous MNF colorman who is clearly itching to get back on the field as head coach (listening Daniel Snyder?) -- pointed out while Pittsburgh simply took over against a capable opponent on the road.
The Steelers' sked gets easier, Denver's gets harder, and that will leave San Diego, New England and a dangerous Cincinnati team jockeying for position to unseat the AFC champs.
Good luck to them and their NFC counterparts. New Orleans has run the table in the first half but the Saints will have to get by either Minnesota or whomever the NFC East serves up to get to the promised land, and that won't be easy.
But back to the Steelers. Big Ben, Troy P and their ferocious teammates are showing the requisite tenacity it takes to repeat in this warrior sport.
Baltimore, long a Steeler tormentor, ain't what it used to be. San Diego will never beat Pittsburgh in the playoffs. And Tom Brady isn't what he used to be, nor is the New England D or special teams.
All roads lead to Rome, or in this case Three Rivers. Barring a takeout injury of Big Ben, the Steelers will be there for the big dance, and the NFC will have to produce a vicious, in your face entrant with offensive kick to threaten them.
But here's saying now at the halfway point that Pittsburgh is the team to beat. Like the Lakers they have watched everyone reload and laughed in their collective faces.
They may not be a populist choice but they have an excellent coach in Mike Tomlin, a fine receiving corps led by Santonio Holmes, Mike Wallace and Hall of Famer Hines Ward, and their defense swarms like a pack of hungry wolves.
The Steel Curtain is alive and well, and the spirit of Mel Blount, Ernie "Arrowhead" Holmes and Black Jack Lambert permeates this squad.
They're the New York Yankees of the gridiron, which means only one thing: Bring your A game or fuggedaboutit.
Take it to the Iron City Bank: The Steelers will win it all, again.
