Playoff Talk, Continued

Just a new thread to continue the slim-to-none playoff chances conversation now that Marvin Lewis has admitted that the Bengals might half-ass it if the Pats win the early game.

Ravens Like to Cheat

I'm sure the Ravens will bellyache about all the penalties but, well, quit cheating. Either way, one down, one to go for the Steelers.

Game Thread, Week 16: Baltimore Ravens

Here goes nothing.

Down Goes Warren

So Greg Warren's on IR for the second time in as many years. Apparently, he blew out his knee on the final play of the Packers game. Can you imagine what would have happened if he was injured at some point before that?

Either Tomlin would have made him snap with one leg, or he would have just gone for two after Mike Wallace Happened. Because there's no way you can put James Harrison in there, right?

In other Steelers news: Limas Sweed has also landed on IR with … something. And I'll be honest, I'm not even thinking about playoff scenarios until the Steelers beat the Ravens.

MIKE WALLACE

At no point in this game did I ever stop and think: "You know, there's a chance the defense gets a stop here." Aaron Rodgers is too good and -- I'll admit it now -- this defense, without Troy, is an abomination.

And let me go on record thusly regarding the late-fourth quarter onside kick: I had no problem with it. Obviously, I would have preferred Ike Taylor wait till the ball traveled 10 yards, but more than that, with the defense sucking as much as it did, why give them a full field and an extra 3-4 minutes of clock to give up a touchdown? Make it quick. The failed onside kick accomplished that.

It would be a different story if the Steelers were, say, 9-5, but they're not. And even though this game probably won't have any lasting implications, it was nice to see a win after a month-and-a-half of some dreadful football.

New commenting system: 1-0!

Game Thread, Week 15: Green Bay Packers

Maybe the new commenting system will turn things around for the Steelers. If not, expect more changes. For now, just remember:

If you reply to a specific comment (hitting 'reply' in the thread instead of just typing your comment in the box up top), it'll be nested. Which means that if you're replying to something someone wrote an hour ago, no one else might see it because it will be so far down the page (most recent comments are at the top). Just something to keep in mind if you plan on making an insightful observation. If you want us to read it, just post it at the top of the thread.

Also: I expect 50 sacks in this game.

Finally: go Steelers.

Steelers Should Hire Vinny Cerrato

New thread. And this one's troll-free. (Obvious exception: DJ Any Reason.)

Packers Week!

It's weird to think that there are three weeks left in the regular season, and I spent part of my weekend looking at NFLDraftScout.com thinking about which players would best help the Steelers next season.

Despite being despondent the past month or so, I don't think the Steelers have suddenly turned into the Browns. Clearly that's not the case -- they're worse. (JOKE.) It's been a bunch of stuff, some of it bad luck, a lot of it really poor execution by players and coaches. Hey, it happens.

Oh, and Ryan Clark needs to shut up. Lethon would want it that way.

Anybody but the Steelers Thread

Just checked and the Steelers still suck.

FAIL

Next stop: last place in the division!

(By the way: I needed a scorecard to keep up with all the "changes" Tomlin alluded to earlier in the week. Pretty sure Santonio Holmes returning punts won't magically solve everything.)

Game Thread, Week 14: Cleveland Browns

Well, maybe if I predict a Browns victory that'll fix things.

Cleveland 112

Steelers 5

It's Browns Week!

Troy's season may or may not be over, there may or may not be benchings against the Browns and Hines Ward is probably out. Silver lining: more Limas Sweed.

What's the Opposite of 'Unleashing Hell'?

Sigh. The defense has been a disaster, granted, and Ike struggled last week ... but, really? He might get benched? Tomlin does know he's No. 24 and not No. 22, right?

Maybe he meant he was going to "Leash Hell," in which case this all makes sense.

Welcome to the Terror Dome

This team is a circus. You can say what you want about people being injured, bad luck or whatever else, but those are all excuses. They just lost to an outfit that previously won three times, are led by Bruce Gradkowski, whose owner is a senile fool, and whose coach allegedly punched an assistant and various ladyfriends.

I'm looking forward to the rose-colored glasses set explaining this one away. The Steelers just lost to the Raiders. At home. I defy anybody to rationalize this ridiculousness.

And I'm not even kidding when I say I'm seriously considering deleting any comments of the "well, look, there's still an upside..." variety. You're insane and need help. This team is a joke. I don't think I've every been this frustrated.

Game Thread, Week 13: Oakland Raiders

When the schedule came out I just assumed this would be a win. I thought the same thing about the Chiefs game, too. Good news: Bruce Gradkowski will be under center. Bad new: JaMarcus Russell won't.

TURNING POINT!

This is like that time the Steelers brought back Chidi Iwuoma in 2006. Wait a sec... Whatever, I welcome Anthony Madison with open arms.

And Godspeed, Huck. HSS salutes you, sir.