2007 Steelers - Week #10 Cleveland Browns
Last Weeks Result
- Pittsburgh 38, Baltimore 7
- Record: 6-2
- Standings: Sole possession of 1st in AFC North
Last Weeks Game Recap
Wow. This game could not hardly have gone any better from a Steelers fan perspective. The one glitch in the nearly perfect night was the 33-yard run for a touchdown that the Steelers gave up near half time. I always try to keep things in perspective, especially when it comes to football. However, this weeks perspective needs to be looked at from two sides. This first thing to realize is that both starting cornerbacks for the Ravens were out. Ben definitely took advantage of this and a lot of his passes abused these two inexperienced defensive backs. The Ravens defense shut down the running game nearly all night long and applied consistent pressure on Ben. On top of that it was an extremely wet and sloppy night that was conducive to turnovers.
Let’s look at things from the other side of the coin however. Both the Ravens and most of the media want to discount this game and diminish what the Steelers did in this game as well. I have little doubt that not a single Steelers player nor a single Steelers coach care a lick what anyone thinks as long as the W still counts. Generally, I could care less as well. But instead of going into detail about the game this week I thought I would take a different tact. The game itself was an absolute blow out. Bottom line: one team showed up to play, the other didn’t. The loosing attitude for the Ravens did not stop on the field however. I came across an article today that I am going to quote in here, that proves how big of losers these Ravens really are. I have never cared much for this organization, but just when I thought they couldn’t possibly be any dumber…
The following quotes can all be found in this article. I will start with Trevor Pryce, because in a room full of idiots he appears to be their king.
In the far corner, defensive linemen laughed as they swapped Willie Parker anecdotes. They weren’t real impressed with Fast Willie, who was held to 42 yards on 23 carries in a 38-7 victory.
Defensive end Trevor Pryce finally turned toward the showers and said, to no one in particular, “Willie (expletive) Parker. What a fraud.”
The first thing that is wrong with this is that the Ravens were enjoying being embarrassed on television and laughing about it minutes after being thoroughly dominated. I do have new found respect for Ravens fans, as I am not sure if I could be a fan of a team that is so caviler about getting their collective asses handed to them on national TV. And congratulations Trevor on stopping Willie Parker with 9 guys in the box. It is plain stupidity and arrogance not to adjust your defense especially when your corners are both backups and getting beat like bongo drums. Way to go. Way to play right into the Steelers offensive scheme. Wait though, there is even better stuff from this intellectual power house.
Pryce called Roethlisberger’s precision passes “luck” and said, “Whatever their game plan was, it didn’t work.”
Lucky passes? Roethlisberger was 13 of 16 with 5 touchdowns. One time out of every three pass attempts was a touchdown. Some were threaded into tight coverage. Others were toss and catch to a wide open receiver. While neither Ravens quarterback could complete a pass on this wet, muddy night, Roethlisberger only had 3 incompletions. I guess that Baltimore is lucky that the Steelers game plan didn’t work. If it did work, what would the score have been? Maybe it is more lucky that the Steelers called off the dogs in the second half. Yet more from this classy individual.
You know it’s not your night, Pryce said, “when a little 5-9 linebacker (Harrison actually is listed at 6 feet) gets four sacks. That will never happen again in his life. He knows that.”
Way to show some class and respect for the game of football. James Harrison made history against your team. No defensive player has ever had the night that Harrison had. On many of these plays he bull-rushed Jonathon Ogden. I wonder how little Ed Reed thinks that Harrison is when he was slammed to the ground. Or maybe ask Derrick Mason how little Harrison is as he was pushed out of bounds like a rag doll while trying to tackle him. You’ve got to love Harrison’s response upon hearing this though.
“Who is Trevor Pryce?” he said.
Reporter: “A defensive end for the Ravens.”
Harrison: “He’s entitled to his opinion. … What did he do?”
Well, besides ring up zero tackles, Pryce failed to wrap up Roethlisberger on one of those lucky touchdown passes.
What about our favorite murdering, dancing, pile-jumping, every tackle celebrating, NFL icon linebacker Ray Lewis? Surely, he would show some class and respect, right? After all he is a spokesman of the NFL — an image of class and professionalism that the NFL wants to portray. Let’s see what he has to say about this game.
“When you give somebody that many opportunities, anybody can make a play,” linebacker Ray Lewis said, referring to his team’s four first-half turnovers. “Now, come see us in Baltimore.”
Wait a second. Your vaunted defense just got lit up for 5 passing touchdowns in one half. It ties a Steelers record and if we would have been the Patriots, we would not have called off the dogs in the 2nd half and that record would have been broken. Your team lost 38-7 after being outgained by 300 yards to 100 yards. I guess anybody can make a play, except for the Ravens defense. I’m looking forward to seeing the game in Baltimore. Thanks for the warm and friendly invitation Ray. Bart Scott sounds like he is getting pretty excited for the rematch as well as he talks about Hines Ward.
“He was being who he is, taking his shots,” Scott said. “Next time it happens, I’ll find him and make sure I take the most violent shot I can take. We’ll see them again, and I’ll play violent. I’ll play all the way to the edges of the rules.”
I guess you need to say something when you get absolutely clobbered on a block by a little old wide receiver. Does the big bad line backer not like getting blocked? The thing is, Ward has already won if he really got in his head this much. If Bart Scott really does take the individual retribution approach in the rematch, it will be another long day for the Ravens defense.
Boy did I enjoy this victory. There is absolutely not a lower, more despicable team with less class than the Baltimore Ravens — and it is not even a contest. It starts with their shady pig of an owner that screwed an entire city, the offensive genius coach and the tap dancing linebacker that got away with murder and apparently transcends through the entire team. There were some Ravens that I used to respect (Ed Reed, Bart Scott…), but I can’t even do that now. This team is even more pathetic off the field than they are on the field.
Game MVP
Ben Roethlisberger (Offense) - Again, 1 of every 3 times that Ben dropped back resulted in a touchdown. He only missed on 3 passes all night in a monsoon. He shakes off defensive linemen like they are non-existent.
James Harrison (Defense) - I don’t like to put people in this list twice, but there was no choice. No one has ever had a game like this as a defender. And contrary to what Trevor Pryce may think, James Harrison is always making plays for this defense. I suggest that Mr. Pryce pay a bit more attention to film next time. I think Ogden will.
Game Grades
- Offense: A - It would have been nice to see the running game get established. Baltimore sold the farm to stop the run and it absolutely backfired on them.
- Defense: A- - I was not too happy with that cheap touchdown that the Steelers gave up. However, the 109-yards of total offense and 5 first downs by the Ravens makes up for it.
- Special Teams: B - This would be a D without James Harrison. The lone Ravens touchdown was given up by a long return and a special teams penalty.
- Coaching Staff: A - Great preparation and great game plan. Coach Tomlin knew this game was about being more physical than the Ravens. In addition, letting Ben throw on a horrid night was a great call.
- Overall: A-
Season (Composite) Grades
- Offense: - C+
- Defense: -B-
- Special Teams: - B-
- Coaching Staff: -B-
- Overall: -B-
Next Up: Cleveland Browns
Well the rivalry with the old Browns (the Ravens) seems to have fizzled a bit. Will the rivalry with the new Browns start to heat up? With a win, the Browns will be tied for first place in the AFC North. After being blown out in the first game by the Steelers, the Browns have played well offensively. Their other two losses were a strange game at Oakland and a loss to the New England Patriots. In retrospect, that loss to the Patriots appears to be the second most competitive game that the Patriots have had after Indianapolis. They have hung points in bunches on just about everybody. Their game last week against Seattle was spectacular and I couldn’t help but pull for them.
For the Steelers, this game is a chance to create some good separation with the Browns. There is still a lot of football left to be played, but with the way the rest of this division is going (ie Bengals and Ravens), a win for the Steelers will solidify them as the favorites in this division. It will provide a two game cushion with a sweep of the second place team. Victory will not come nearly as easy as it did in the first game, but the Steelers have the personnel and the momentum to do this. With proper execution and preparation, the Steelers will win this game.
On defense, the Steelers need to be prepared to stop the pass. The Browns have run the ball decently well, but they are decidedly a pass first team. Derek Anderson has shocked the world with his passing prowess and the way that he attacks secondaries across the league. No one, including the Browns, thought that Anderson could be this good. He has outstanding weapons as Braylon Edwards is becoming one of the most complete receivers in the NFL. I believe that he is the best receiver in this division and he is the best all around receiver in the league right now in my opinion. Combined with the emergence of Kellen Winslow as the threat that he was always supposed to be, this receiving corps is outstanding. I think that the Steelers will use a similar defense as in the Seattle game, only maybe with a little more pressure. Let stopping the run take care of itself. They will get some yards, but Pittsburgh’s defensive line does well against the run, especially if Aaron Smith is back. They need to be careful not to let Winslow get into coverage with a line backer, as Winslow will flat out beat any line backer in this league. Edwards needs to be doubled on about every play as well. They have other receivers, but not in the same category as these two.
On offense this appears to be a mismatch with the Browns porous secondary and a resurgent passing attack from the Steelers. However, the Steelers need to avoid getting in a shoot out with the Browns — that is the type of game that they want and a type of game that they can win. Instead, I would like to see some heavy doses of Willie Parker. We need 15-minute scoring drives. A grind it out offense is the best defense against a team like the Browns. The passing game will need to be used, but I think that the Steelers will try to make this a smash mouth football game and keep the Browns explosive offense on the sidelines.
Final Score Prediction
Pittsburgh 27
Cleveland 21
