Face it; the Steelers just can’t beat the New England Patriots. Three times now the Steelers have fallen to the Pats in the AFC Championship Game. I thought the Steelers were capable of beating New England for the right to go to the Super Bowl but picked the Pats because the Steelers had to prove to me they could actually do it. They didn’t, and as long as Tom Brady, the best quarterback to ever play in the NFL, is a Patriot I’ll pick his team when it counts.
• The Steelers didn’t even get a chance to ride Le’Veon Bell until his wheels came off in this game. His game ending injury early definitely changed the Steelers’ game plan. You don’t lose a star like Bell and beat a team like New England. Had Bell played the entire game I still don’t think the Steelers would have won.
• It’s tough to beat a team like the Patriots when you self destruct. Sammie Coates dropped a long pass early in the game, while Cobie Hamilton dropped a touchdown pass. Add to that the fact the Steelers couldn’t punch it in from inside the one after a Jesse James catch. Furthermore, the almost automatic Chris Boswell missed an extra point. New England was clearly better, but had the Steelers converted on those early chances who knows how the game would have played out.
• I hope Antonio Brown has learned his lesson. His live airing on Facebook of the Steelers’ postgame celebration last week was one of the dumbest and most selfish things I’ve ever seen from a player. Brown apologized, but he didn’t come out and say he’ll never do it again. I love Brown as a player, but am getting really tired of all of the other garbage he pulls. I hope that Mike Tomlin and the Rooneys let him know that if he wants to be a Steeler for life he better grown up, and fast.
• The Atlanta Falcons looked unstoppable in the NFC Championship Game. I picked them to beat Green Bay, but never imagined they would roll over the Packers the way they did. I can see why so many think Matt Ryan will be this year’s MVP. He is terrific. The Falcons may lack Super Bowl experience, but they sure aren’t lacking in the talent department. It will take an incredible performance by the Patriots to beat them.
• Geno Malkin was right when he said the Pens would win the next few in a row after the club lost three straight. Since the prediction, the Pens have ripped off four straight wins. They’re also scoring like crazy. The Pens have exploded for 24 goals during the current winning streak. And they are getting production from all throughout the lineup. May be the losing streak was what the Pens needed. Because since then, they have been dominant.
• Pens’ fans sure got their money’s worth at last week’s game against Washington. Not only did the Pens light the lamp eight times, they also erupted for five goals in the second period. It was a fun game to watch in an era where goal scoring is way down in hockey. Back in the day, the Pens had a sponsor that gave fans free chili if the team scored seven goals in a game. Oh, for the good old days.
• I got to attend the Pittsburgh Pirates radio affiliates meeting in Seven Springs last week. It was most enjoyable hearing General Manager Neal Huntington talk about the team. Huntington discussed the challenges small market teams face. He was asked a lot of really good questions. The Pirate GM said he does not think Andrew McCutchen will play his entire career in Pittsburgh, although he hopes that does happen. I thought that was a very honest answer. I really enjoy listening to the Neal Huntington Show every Sunday prior to Pirate baseball on our affiliate 1160 WCCS. Greg Brown asks the GM really good questions, and Neal provides a lot of insight with his answers. Brown isn’t afraid to ask tough questions, and Huntington doesn’t dodge the questions either. It’s great radio for Pirate fans.
• Former Pirate and current broadcaster John Wehner had some really great answers during the session. He mentioned several times how it drives him crazy when players don’t hustle and give their all. That’s one reason the fans loved the Pittsburgh kid. Wehner always hustled, no matter the score. He also said he doesn’t think the Pirates can compete for the NL Central the way the roster is currently constructed. I thought that was a great and honest answer.
