New Pittsburgh Courier
SPORTS
C5
NOVEMBER 25-DECEMBER 1, 2009
www.newpittsburghcourier.com
Too many Chiefs
not enough Indians
by Aubrey Bruce
For New Pittsburgh Courier
There are ugly wins and hideous losses.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were ambushed
by the Kansas City
Chiefs Sunday in K.C.
This defeat was sort of
“Freddy Kruggerish.”
Now let’s get right to
the ugly. Special teams,
special ed teams or ir-
regular teams, what-
ever words you wish to
describe this area, were
again the Achilles heel
BRUCE
that did the Black and
Gold in. Another kickoff
was returned for a TD and an ill-advised
throw from Big Ben with at least four red
jerseys hanging out in the end zone also
played a significant part in the unraveling
of the defending world champions. Line-
backer Andy Studebaker made his debut
as a starter for the Chiefs. He was not
under the baptism of fire that everyone ex-
pected but instead was the arsonist with
the torch who almost singlehandedly
burned the post-season chances of the
Steelers to cinders.
With Pittsburgh driving for a score in the
third quarter, Big Ben tossed a pick right
into the wheel house of Studebaker who
was two yards deep in the Black and Gold
end zone and he almost took it to the house
before running out of gas and being run
down from behind by Rashard Mendenhall
AP PHOTO/ED ZURGA
at the Steelers eight yard line. That play
FILLING IN—Steeler quarterback Charlie Batch (16) directs the team during overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs, Nov. 22, in Kansas City, Mo. Batch
cost the boys from “Steeltown” a minimum
replaced Ben Roethlisberger who was injured on an earlier play.
of three points. Talk to me people, what is
going on with the defense of Pittsburgh?
Snarls mean nothing in the NFL. The Big
Nasty D had better quit snarling and get
back to brawlin’ because in the National
Steelers, Bengals fall to inferior opponents
by Ulish Carter
great game catching 10 passes for 128 the kickoff that led to Sebastian
Inside Conditions
Courier Staff Writer
yards and Santonio Holmes had seven for Janikowski’s field goal that won the game.
86 yards and Heath Miller seven for 95 Looking at the numbers it should have
The Steelers and Bengals totally out- yards. been a blowout, but the only thing that
Football League everyone puts on their
played their inferior opponents but both Compare these numbers to K.C.’s num- matters is the final score.
pants and pads the same way. Playoffs,
lost. In what were supposed to be easy bers and it should have been a lopsided vic- In other games involving the AFC North,
what playoffs? No one had better even be
wins against opponents with 2-7 records, tory for the Steelers. Matt Cassel was 15 of the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit
whispering about the playoffs, wild cards
both fell short, keeping the AFC North race 30 for 248 yards and two touchdowns, no Lions, two 1-8 teams, had the best offen-
or any other cards because the Steelers are
tight. interceptions. His primary target was the sive game of the day with the Lions pulling
now performing like “mild cards.”
The Kansas City Chiefs have struggled newly acquired Chris Chambers who had out a 38-37 victory. The Baltimore Ravens
A few weeks ago I talked about making
all season but were 2-2 in their last four four catches for 119 yards. The Steelers kept it close and exciting but in the end the
my hotel reservations for Super Bowl
games coming into Sunday’s game against held their running game in check holding Indianapolis Colts remained undefeated
XLIV. H’mm, that was probably a bit pre-
the Steelers. This wasn’t supposed to be a Charles to just 58 yards on 17 carries. But (10-0) with a 17-15 win.
mature on my part because it now appears
real test, but once again Pittsburgh’s spe- the only thing that really matters is the This week the Bengals face the Browns,
as if maybe the win by Pittsburgh at In-
cial teams gave up a 97-yard kickoff return final score. Two costly interceptions killed and the Steelers play the Ravens in Balti-
vesco field against the Denver Broncos
by Jamaal Charles for a touchdown that drives that would have been easy scores; more. This is a must game for both teams.
sucked a significant amount of the wind
ended up being the difference in the 27-24 either field goals or touchdowns, which. The Steelers must win to stay close to the
out of the Steelers sails.
overtime defeat. along with the kickoff return, ended up Bengals, and the Ravens must win to stay
The Oakland Raiders helped to deflate
Even though the special teams were able being the difference in the game. in the race for a playoff birth.
the cushion of the Cincy Bengals’ AFC
to hold the Chiefs in check for the rest of With the Steelers defeat, all the Cincin- The division leaders are Indianapolis (10-
North lead by defeating the Bengals 20-17
the game, the damage had been done. The nati Bengals had to do was go out and take 0), New England (7-3), San Diego (7-3) and
later last Sunday afternoon. But the play-
offense accumulated yardage on the care of business against the lowly Oakland the Bengals (7-3). This leaves the Steelers
off aspirations of the Steelers are still just
ground and through the air, but penalties Raiders, but like the Bengals of old they (6-4) battling with the Broncos (6-4), and
a little shy of being on life support.
and not being able to score in the red zone didn’t get the job done, thus keeping the the Jaguars (6-4). The Houston Texans (5-
Pittsburgh was not totally focused for 60
cost the Steelers the game. door open for the Steelers to come back and 5) were lost to the Tennessee Titans (4-6)
minutes because how can you allow a team
Ben Roethlisberger was 32 of 42 for a take the AFC North title. Monday night. Teams with outside chances
(Kansas City) that had only amassed 47
whopping 398 yards and three touchdowns Much like the Steelers, the Bengals dom- are the Miami Dolphins (5-5) and the
total yards of offense at the end of the first
and Rashard Mendenhall looked impres- inated the game but allowed the Raiders to Ravens (5-5).
half come back and beat you. It shows that
sive once again with 80 yards on 21 carries. come back from a 17-10 deficit in the final The Bengals are still in the driver’s seat,
the Chiefs made adjustments in the locker
Willie Parker saw more action picking up minute for the victory. Brad Gradkowski but they must take care of business
room and Pittsburgh did not. Don’t forget
24 yards on six carries. Mendenhall also threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Louis against the Browns and the Lions in their
the turnovers, no, not the apple turnovers
looked impressive as a receiver catching Murphy with 41 seconds left to tie the next two games to prove that they are not
just the turnovers.
four passes for 35 yards. Hines Ward had a game, and then Andre Caldwell fumbled the Bengals of old.
Even though the company line is always;
“one game at a time,” I have a sneaking
suspicion that a few of the Black and Gold
were already imagining that they were lis-
WPIAL championships set for Heinz Field
tening to the pre-game introductions at
M&T Bank Stadium in B-More last Sun-
by D.W. Howze
Class AAA—Hopewell (12-0) vs. West Beaver Falls, to return to the title game
day waiting to bust pads with “Big Play”
Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and the rest of the
For New Pittsburgh Courier
Allegheny (10-2)—5 p.m. Hopewell will for a second consecutive season.
be led by running back Rushel Shell, who Greensburg Central Catholic looks to
Baltimore Ravens. Hey fellas, the Ravens
The WPIAL finals are set and eight has rushed for more than 2,000 yards this avenge its 32-14 loss to Aliquippa in
game is this Sunday.
teams around the area will face-off Nov. 27, season. He will go against West Al- last year’s quarterfinals.
Oops, a hidden pothole was in the road—
at Heinz Field. Listed below are the games legheny’s junior tailback Mike Caputo Class A—Rochester (12-0) vs. Clairton
the Chiefs. Kansas City represented more
and times. who led the Indians to a 28-21 victory (11-1)—10:30 a.m. This will be the first
than a speed bump on Pittsburgh’s road to
Class AAAA—Gateway (12-0) vs. Wood- over the defending state champs Thomas time that these two powerhouses will do
Super Bowl XLIV because when it is all
land Hills (11-1)—8 p.m. Gateway’s last Jefferson in a legendary 257-yard perfor- battle this season. Rochester is seeking re-
said and done the boys from K.C. may have
loss was to Bethel Park in this very game mance. venge since missing the title game by los-
been the sinkhole that swallowed up Pitts-
last year. They will look to redeem them- Class AA—Aliquippa (11-1) vs. ing to Clairton in last year’s semifinal
burgh’s playoff chances this year. Notice
selves this season against the Wolverines Greensburg Central Catholic (10-2)— game. The Bears will return to Heinz,
that I said, “may have” because you can
who are undefeated against WPIAL teams 1:30 p.m. The Quips are coming off a where they were crowned champs one year
never really count the Steelers out until all
this season. 17-10 victory over their archrivals, ago.
of the votes have been tallied. But even if
you look through the best pair of rose col-
ored glasses that you can find, it appears
bleak for the chances of the defending
Super Bowl champions to hoist another
Lombardi Trophy over their heads to end
the 2009 season.
The Black and Gold seem to be really
missing the services of Troy Polamalu.
What about the Steeler concept of “plug-
ging others in when starters go down?
Kansas City had their own personnel and
problems playing without suspended start-
ing wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. Bowe is
serving a suspension for violating the
NFL’s banned substance policy but veteran
wide receiver Chris Chambers stepped up
and torched the Steelers secondary catch-
ing four balls for 119 yards. Dwayne who?
Before OT the Steelers had the ball for al-
most 19 minutes longer than the Chiefs
and out muscled them in yardage gained
stats 463-206.
As far as kickoff and punt coverage are
concerned, the Steelers had better put
their best athletes on special teams if they
do not want to continue getting burned.
This would be a great time to have the
Cedric Wilsons of the world.
PHOTO BY CHRIS LOPEZ
By the way, not that it matters much, the
Chiefs won by the final score of 27-24 in
GATORS ADVANCE—Gateway’s Dayonne Nunley returns a kickoff for a touchdown against North Hills in the WPIAL AAAA semifinal game at Fox Chapel
overtime.
High School Nov. 20. Gateway defeated North Hills 42-20 to advance to the WPIAL championship game at Heinz Field.
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