The Pittsburgh Steelers couldn't run the ball. They didn't really try to run the ball in the second half. They couldn't make a first down when it counted. They couldn't keep their defense off the field. They couldn't stop the run when it mattered most. They didn't take care of the football. Too often, they held the ball like a loaf of bread, losing three fumbles. And, for the third straight week, their pass defense statistics were misleading. The Steelers only gave up 159 passing yards to Jay Cutler and the Bears, but the Bears had no incentive to throw the ball down field after the first quarter because they held a lead of 14 points or more.
I do not remember a time in life when the Pittsburgh Steelers were a punchline. They had some rough times in the late 1980s, but accompanied by some significant "yeah, buts". In the prior 41 seasons, the Steelers have had seven losing seasons, last 10 years ago in 2003. Approximately one losing season every six years in the last four decades.... Raise your hand if you'd trade that pattern with your favorite team's pattern. Nine-out of ten of your raised your hands, can't count, or are fanhood narcissists.
LAST NAME, "EVER", FIRST NAME, "WORST?"
Of those past 41 seasons, only one included an 0-3 start, in 1986 (all against teams that would finish with winning records, including the eventual AFC champion). That 1986 team would win six of their next 13 games. In 1988, they got off to an historically bad 1-6 start, thought would win four of their next nine. The opponent in those five of those six losses? The defending Super Bowl champions, the eventual AFC Champions, the eventual AFC runner ups, and two division rivals who would go on to face each other in the playoffs.
The remaining five losing seasons in the last 41 years were years in which the Steelers often had a puncher's chance going into December and were always competitive enough to beat any team on any given Sunday. These Steelers have lost to three potential playoff teams, but have never really been a serious threat to win after the third quarter in any of these games; fans of the opponent had cause to be quite comfortable as the clock ticked. This team is historically, and hysterically BAD!
Today's retweet, from Jeff Tilson (@jefftilson), is indicative of the growing laughing stock status of the Steelers as they prepare to take on the Minnesota Vikings in jolly old England.
"Steelers play in London next week, so there will be two Big Ben's in town. One is old and basically obsolete. The other is a clock tower."
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| Rape memes at Ben Roethlisberger's expense were "the good old days" for Steelers fans. |
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