Four years ago today (part Deux) ...

The Steelers' Super Bowl XL victory parade through Downtown Pittsburgh, February 7, 2006.

Four years ago today ...

Exorcizing Demons.

Last night the NFL Network rebroadcast Super Bowl XXX and I did something I haven't done since January 28, 1996.

I watched the game. In it's entirety.

For some Pittsburgh sports fans of a certain age, Sid Bream's slide in the 1992 NLCS is the moment that triggers their bile reflux, for others it's David Volek dashing the Penguins hope of a three-peat in 1993, and some couldn't get past Dennis Gibson slapping the ball -- and a Steelers' Super Bowl trip -- to the soggy Three Rivers Stadium turf in the 1994 AFC Championship game. 

For me, it was Super Bowl XXX.

Neil O' Donnell probably would've thrown to Linda Blair if she had a Cowboys uniform on.

I was a homesick freshman at a small school in pre-Ravens Baltimore. Catching the occassional Steelers game was my only salve. Two guys on my (Division III) football team were Steelers fans and had turned me on to a place called The Purple Goose Saloon. This was the hub of the Pittsburgh Steelers Fan Club of Baltimore and had close to 1,000 members at that time. The club now encompasses the entire state of Maryland and boasts 4,800 members that convene at 6 bars across the Free State. I watched a few games there during the 1995 season, most notably the Steelers last games against the "old" Browns, and loved the joint.

My school had a particularly long winter break, so I experienced the ecstacy of the AFC Championship game against the Colts first-hand at Three Rivers. I returned to campus for the Spring semester on Super Bowl eve. Our fraternity had a 'welcome back' party that night, and aided by the lucidity of several beers, the three of us decided around midnight it would be a fantastic idea to head to the Goose at 5 a.m. and camp out for the bar's 8 a.m. opening.

Even with kickoff more than 12 hours away, we weren't the first people to show. Some chap from Greensburg who was a dead-ringer for the Body By Jake guy had already been there for an hour, by himself.

More folks gathered and we started tailgating.

At 6 a.m. in late-January.

In Baltimore.

In a bar parking lot.

You gotta love Steelers fans.

The doors finally opened and we grabbed a spot in front of the massive projection screen. We thought it prudent to wait until at least noon to really start hitting the sauce, because, you know, we wanted to actually see the game. That gambit lasted an entire hour until a middle-aged woman named 'Sharky' gulping a Bloody Mary walked by, noticed our coffees and tersely remarked: "What are you kids in college? Get a beer you wimps!"

Bartender, a round please.

They stocked the place with Iron City and we did our best to un-stock them. Mind you, I was only 18-years old, although according to my fake ID -- procured from a kid in my dorm who made a mint selling them -- I was 22-year-old Tucker Orr, of 1615 Oakhurst St., Portland, Maine.

The day was truly a blast. The place easily exceeded their fire code capacity -- about 300 strong. We sang the Steelers Polka and Here We Go! song until our throats bled, stuffed our faces with food and drank an ocean of Arn. I won a prize for having Steelers boxer shorts on under my jeans. This was the pre-cell phone era and the pay phone at the bar had an hour wait, so long was the line of  people wanting to call friends and family back in Pittsburgh. I'm lucky to have traveled to Steelers clubs and bars around the country (and world -- here's lookin' at you, La Botticella) but the Baltimore group has always been among my favorites.

I needn't go on about the outcome of the game. Getting blown out would've been so much easier to take.

The club's founder, a fella named Jim Day who in the six-degrees-of-Pittsburgh-category was my high school biology teacher's brother-in-law, fought tears and channeled his best Coach Cowher in spittle-laden postgame address to the club: "Hold your heads up! This was a great season and we have every reason to be proud!" ... before pausing and letting fly a blue streak of frustration and throwing a beer cup against the wall.

We came back to campus that night and I remember crossing N. Charles St. looking almost catatonic in my Mean Joe jersey. Some folks in a car at a redlight saw my jersey and long face rolled down the window and said "It's OK. It was a great game and they'll be back again." That memory makes me laugh because starting that fall, they would've spit on a Steelers fan in the same situation.

I had a VHS of the game and the season highlight video but could never bring myself to watch it. Until last night. No bile reflux. Just catharsis.

Fourteen years and two Super Bowl victories is good therapy.

Some quick thoughts about the game after 14 years:

• Neil O' Donnell truly blew it. I know this is obvious, but watching it again with a clear mind and 14 years of perspective, he choked in spectacular fashion. He hurried everything, his touch was awful, and you would've thought he was trying to kill his receivers the way he led them into coverage.

• Levon Kirkland was a beast. Shame that guy never got a ring.

• LeBeau's halftime adjustments were masterful. The Cowboys scorched the Steelers like Sherman in Atlanta and were almost entirely shut down in the second half. They scored only because of the short field given to them via O' Donnell's picks.
  

• That crowd was roaring for the Steelers. Roaring. America's Team my foot.
  

• Cowher's onside kick call is still one of the best coaching gambles I've ever seen. And Norm Johnson executed the best onside kick, probably ever.

• I truly never knew that Larry Brown's son had died earlier that season. At least the right guy got to be the hero that day.

• I'd forgotten that Jason Gildon was even on that team, as a young special teams player. Amazing how the Steelers have molded four consecutive dominant right-side rushers -- Lloyd, Gildon, Porter, Harrison -- and they all cut their teeth on special teams.

• Postseason records since that game: Dallas 2-7, have not advanced past NFC divisional round; Pittsburgh 12-6, two Super Bowl titles.

• Any memories of that game? Share them in the comments.

The Bus in Miami

Former Washington Post writer, Kissing Suzy Kolber blogger, author, friend of the Pirate Parrot and Steeler Fanatic Michael Tunison has been in Miami this week as a correspondent for the Sporting News' Sporting Blog.

He caught up with Jerome Bettis on Radio Row for a great interview (once you get past the first few minutes of the Bus talking about some contest) in which the Bus talks about Bill Cowher's future, his last year's with the Steelers, Super Bowl XL, running-back-by-committee and the Steelers' offense.

Check it aht:

(Not-so) Wayback Machine: One year ago today, Part Deux

(Not-so) Wayback machine: One year ago today ...

Steelers-'Fins, live

Pregame: Brett Keisel has been scratched due to a Green Bay stinger he aggravated last week against Baltimore. Nick Eason is set to start in his place.

Other inactives for the Steelers --  S Troy Polamalu (PCL), WR Joey Galloway, CB Trae Williams, G Kraig Ubrik, OT Tony Hills, DE Sunny Harris and Charlie Batch as the No. 3 QB.

Host Dolphins -- CB Evan Oglesby, OL Andrew Hartline, T Andrew Gardner, DE Lionel Dotson, DE Ikaika Alama-Francis, WR Patrick Turner, DE Ryan Baker and Tyler Thigpen as the No. 3 QB.

FIRST QUARTER

1:03 p.m.: After the Dolphins deferred -- hmm, given their 27-0 deficit last week and trailing early the week before, that's curious -- the Steelers opened in an empty set with Hines Ward (hamstrings) starting and catching the first pass. Talk about curious. Chris Kemoeatu (wrist) was replaced again at started left guard by Ramon Foster. . . 1:04 p.m.: Wow, didja hear all those Steelers fans there? Didja see all tohse empty seats on the CBS replay of the third-down conversion, too? . . . 1:06 p.m.: It should be official now: Heath Miller is a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end and a full-fledged weapon. He should catch 60, 70 passes each of the next few years. . . 1:08 p.m.: Two things are evident with Ward already: His hamstrings won't allow him to evade or elude or gain may yards after catch today, and the Steelers are pushing for an early, perhaps-insurmountable lead because once those hamstrings are barking, he may not play much longer. Could Ward have a first-half, cameo role today?. . . 1:12 p.m.: Wonder how many touchdowns, starting with the Super Bowl winner, that Santonio Holmes has scored while being the third option or worse? Nevertheless, the Steelers take the opening drive and motor downfield nicely for a 7-0 lead. Ben Roethlisberger is getting too much time, almost; he will make some plays and carp up others that way. He may have to run a couple of times, so look for Bruce Arians to call deeper routes a few times -- not many --to give Roethlisberger some room. Poor Joey Porter will tucker out quickly. And did anybody else notice WVU's Patrick White warming up on the sidelines -- throwing, not running? Betcha he throws out of the Wildcat formation early. . . 1:14 p.m.: Feel free to complain about the kickoff returns here. . . 1:17 p.m.: Ricky Williams' opening run looked to be Lawrence Timmons' baby. He didn't seem to look for the ball, but rather greeted his blocker waiting for a safety to fill the hole. Or somebody. . . 1:18 p.m.: Bad throw by Chad Henne for Ted GInn on first down. But Ginn's speed has to be one of the Steelers' utmost concerns today, on offense and special teams. . . 1:20 p.m.: Wasn't that how Kansas City beat the Steelers with Chris Chambers in overtime, among others: dragging the receiver across James Farrior's coverage area? Seems to be a problem area this season. . . 1:22 p.m.: Textbook retaliation drive by the Dolphins. They went right after the Steelers' linebackers in pass coverage and on runs. It's 7-up. Steelers must retaliate, lest they give the flagging 'Fins hope. But they've been there before -- almost every game, in fact. . . 1:30 p.m.: You want to make the playoffs, you HAVE to go for it on fourth-and-inches. And, no, that doesn't spit in the face of the once-vaunted Steelers' defense. Mike Tomlin must retain a shred of confidence in that defense to potentially put them in a tough situation at their own 42. . . 1:32 p.m.: Week 17 of the season, week 24 or so since the opening of training camp, and STILL Roethlisberger cannot catch in stride Speed-to-Burnell Wallace III, otherwise known as Mike. The bomb to a slowing Wallace at the 6 restored the Steelers' lead, 14-7. Now they need a defensive stop to get the Dolphins starting to think negative thoughts again. . . 1:36 p.m.: Lou Polite, formerly of Pitt, gashed the Steelers' defense? True, Miami may have the best offensive tackles in the NFL. But the Dolphins' line is pushing around that defense right now.

SECOND QUARTER

1:42 p.m.: The Dolphins are moving at will. No rush on Henne, which will have to change. And no-name receivers are finding considerable room to operate. Ginn, you can understand. But these other guys?. . . 1:44 p.m.: Timmons argued that he was pushed down on offensive interference, to no avail. That's 3 for 3 on third-down conversions by Miam. Looks like it could be a long day for the Steelers' defense. . . 1:45 p.m.: Boy, Polamalu looked worried, with his hands on his head, on that third-down failure -- a first! A little bit of a rush unnerved Henne, who threw behind Brian Hartline there. Miami settles for a field goal. Steelers lead, 14-10. But they have to score again, and figure out a way to stop the Miami offense, if they have any playoff hope left. . . 1:49 p.m.: Hometown kid Stefan Logan wants desperately to have a big game in Land Shark Stadium, the former Joe Robbie and So Many Other Names. Anyway, he has contributed a couple of nice returns already, but notice something that the P-G's Gerry Dulac caught early: Logan almost always stops or stutter-steps on a return, which allows defenders to get to him easier. That time, Logan reversed field, which helped him get beyond the 40. Most times, though, it helps him get caught around the 20. It's about hitting it in a hole quickly. . . 1:52 p.m.: Tell you what, the Steelers seem to be running pretty well on these 'Fins. Willie Parker on both those carries was close to breaking a long one. . . OUTTA-TAHN SCOREBOARD UPDATE: New England Patriots 10, Houston Texans 7. On a 51-yard field goal, no less. Without an injured Wes Walker now, the Patriots have embarked on back-to-back, nine-play scoring drives. The question remains: How long will Bill Belichick stick with quarterback Tom Brady and his playoff-bound stars, especially with Welker carted off already?. . . 1:58 p.m.: Nice use of blockers, good call on blitz, and Mendenhall isn't quite Pro Bowl material yet but he looks every bit a running-catching star in the making with each passing month. Just wish he'd learn another running move other than the spin. . . OUTTA-TAHN SCOREBOARD UPDATE: Houston at the New England 9-yard line, poised to score. . . 2:02 p.m.: Roethlisberger was throwing short of the goalline anyway there. A Red Zone failure when they didn't need one. Jeff Reed's gimme putt makes it 17-10, Steelers. Twenty-three FGs in a row? Double wow. Meanwhile, OUTTA-TAHN, Houston has third-and-goal at the New England 1 and Matt Schaub's pass is incomplete. Fourth-and-goal? Patriots intercept. . . 2:08 p.m.: Just then, Deshea Townsend grabs the first Steelers' cornerback interception since the AFC championship game last January -- by him. Only a span of 16 games, huh? A full season! But the trick-play nature cost the Steelers. Sure, it's fine to go for the jugular there -- but not by Santonio Holmes, who threw a nice ball, but too far into the field. They got single coverage with defensive end Jason Taylor of Woodland Hills High, but Holmes needed to pin that pass toward the sideline. So any chance at squishing the Fish ended right there. Me, I would've opted for Mewelde Moore to throw the halfback option at third-and-goal if a trick play was necessary somewhere. . . OUTTA-TAHN SCOREBOARD UPDATE: Cousins turn the ball over about the same time of day, as the Patriots' Fred Taylor -- Holmes' Belle Glade, Fla., cuz -- fumbles and the Texans return it for a touchdown, 13-10 Houston. Not looking good at all for the Steelers, whose defense is back to being overly generous to Miami. . . OUTTA-TAHN UPDATE: Brian Hoyer has replaced Brady at New England quarterback. . . . 2:15 p.m.: LaMarr Woodley, who should be a Pro Bowl starter, finally got his piece of Henne. But Willie Gay gets beat by a nobody, who may well have slid his backfoot out of bounds while catching. If it were this reporter's call, it's a completion but out of bounds immediately. No matter, it would be a huuuuuge first down for Miami. . . Told ya so. Catch stands. . . 2:19 p.m.: The Steelers desperately needed Travis Kirschke to dive and get that ball. Bad bounce on grass -- it wasn't as if Kirschke was trying to scoop and score off that awful shotgun snap over the 6-foot-4 Henne. It's up to the defense to hold Miami to a field goal here and score a moral victory. Still and all, they needed that to get the Dolphins thinking. . . OUTTA-TAHN UPDATE: Hoyer leads Pats downfield before they stall. Will Belichick go for a 52-yard field-goal attempt to tie? Yes. And it worked. Pats-Texans, 13-13. . . . Steelers reach intermission, 17-10.

  Will Dame Fortune grace the Steelers like she did in 1989?

THIRD QUARTER

2:37 p.m.: Which made you more scared? The sight of Ginn awaiting the Steelers' kickoff? Or Greg Gumbel putting on the whammy by invoking how Ginn returned two kicks for scores against the Jets earlier? . . . 2:38 p.m.: Geesh, Henne was sooooo successful against the Steelers the first half, he must be hurt. Especially with medical staff/coaches around him. White is scary on his feet, so the Steelers' defense must beware of White scrambling. Though blitzing the 'backers works, especially on a stunt by Timmons. . . 2:39 p.m.: See how disorganized the Dolphins are, No. 22 rushing onto the punt excruciatingly late? See how disorganized Gumbel was there, identifying that Dolphin as the Steelers' Gay? Anyway, the point is: The Steelers MUST score here. They should go for the jugular again right away, but not via a trick play but a Roethlisberger-to-Wallace/Holmes attempt. This game is there for the plucking, as have been many this season -- Chiefs, Raiders, etc. Let's see if the offense has learned, improved. . . OUTTA-TAHN UPDATE: Tom Brady is back in for New England. . . 2:44 p.m.: Satisfied now? The Steelers and BA tried to slam it down the Dolphins' throat, old-style Steelers football by running on first and second downs. And it didn't work. Shows you that offensive line, at least without Kemoeatu, is incapable of old-school Steelers stuff. So without trying to change the entire line right now, they must pass. As a result, they just frittered away a great chance to take control of this game. The defense needs to stop the Dolphins here or get a score, and the offense needs to retaliate with a score so this game can be put out of reach. Trust me, White isn't an NFL passer just yet, but his elusiveness can kill this defense. . . 2:48 p.m.: Told ya so, Part Dieux. Steelers must maintain rush lanes against White. . . 2:49 p.m.: It's going to be all about run defense and making a crucial third-down stop for the Steelers' defense the rest of the afternoon. They got lucky with an underthrown ball by White there. They've already stopped White twice on third downs, more success than they experienced against Henne. Shows you how important backup quarterbacks and inactives are: The Dolphins designated Tyler Thigpen No. 3, so they can't use him in the third quarter unless White gets hurt. . . OUTTA-TAHN UPDATE: Ryan Moats fumbled on a run, but Houston recovered. The Texas are inside the Patriots' 20-yard line, so expect them to regain the lead any minute now. . . 2:53 p.m.: A long Steelers drive would go a long way here, not to be punny. A turnover would turn this game in a fatal way. The Dolphins were the first to make a mistake, on a facemask penalty. . . OUTTA-TAHN SCOREBOARD UPDATE:  Speaking of turnovers, the Patriots intercepted a Matt Schaub pass and got a 91-yard interception return for a touchdown at 7:53 of the third quarter in Houston. New England, 20-13. . . 2:58 p.m.: No more told-you-sos. Just look back to 1:12 p.m. for Roethlisberger rumble and 1:58 p.m. for Mendenhall breakaway -- he shed a couple of would-be tacklers on the way, but it was pretty well blocked up front -- give credit to the O-line when it's due. A time-consuming drive and score would  behoove the Steelers greatly here. . . 3:0X p.m.: A two-touchdown lead in the second half has been rare for these Steelers this season, which explains everything. Better late than never? Roethlisberger, with time afforded by the O-line, and a great catch and tapdown on a hard, high one from Roethlisberger. Could this be the tide turning for the Steelers? Visitors, 24-10. The Dolphins will have to make White do something he hasn't been able to prove yet in the NFL, still awaiting his first completion: Pass. . . OUTTA-TAHN UPDATE: That Steelers score comes at a time when Houston is driving inside the Red Zone again. . . Ex-Steelers kicker Kris Brown just missed a 38-yard field goal for Houston. . . .3:10 p.m.: White just absorbed a scary hit on third down there. This isn't good. It's a player I know well, having covered him the past four seasons. He never before absorbed a hit like that or suffered an injury like this. . . 3:13 p.m.: Tyler Thigpen will enter for White now. An omen? Thigpen started out with the Kansas City Chiefs. . . OUTTA-TAHN UPDATE:  Tom Brady is dinking and dunking -- the Pats are hardly throwing. They're already at the Houston 23-yard line, so barring a turnover they likely will add to their lead. . . 3:16 p.m.: White gets carted off with his helmet and facemask still on, when normally one or both often get snipped off. That's worrisome. . . 3:17 p.m.: Logan made a splash play there, but just as easily could've drown. A score here, and this baby could be in the Steelers' hip pocket. Except for the fact there's a fourth quarter for the defense still to play. . . OUTTA-TAHN SCOREBOARD UPDATE:  Fred Taylor, Holmes' cuz, does the Steelers a favor with a nice sweep left for a touchdown. Patriots lead a must-win game for the Steelers, 27-13, at Houston. . . 3:2x p.m.: Steelers offense keeps on churning -- imagine last year's defense with this offense? Though, remember, the offense has failed to score touchdowns instead of field goals, failed to capitalize when the club needed. Mendenhall needs to work on tip-toeing-the-sideline thing in the offseason. And a Reed field goal there illustrates the Steelers' offensive troubles this season: a 31-10 lead would feel insurmountable to a No. 3 quarterback and a woulded pack of Dolphins. But 27-10? They still feel in the game. That's a chronic offensive problem this Steelers failed year. . . OUTTA-TAHN UPDATE: Houston and Schaub moving again, and a pass-interference call on the same Deion Butler who returned the pick for a score puts the Texans in prime scoring position -- OUTTA-TAHN SCOREBOARD UPDATE and they score on a Schaub pass. Texans pull within 27-20, New England. . . 9 1/2 minutes left there. . .

FOURTH QUARTER

3:33 p.m.: Yes, it's the fourth quarter. Yes, the Steelers are giving away yardage. Giving away points? This team hasn't clamped down on an opponent all season. Is that a hunger thing after winning Super Bowl 43? Is that just a sad-sack secondary without Polamalu in it and Aaron Smith providing a rush. The slow-footed Hartline scores on a reverse, and Miami pulls within 27-17, Steelers. . . 11 1/2 minutes left in Miami. Hmmm. . . 3:41 p.m.: Well, the DOLPHINS couldn't have scripted that Steelers' offensive possession any better. That puts the onus on the Steelers' defense. And we've seen how it has fallen on its onus time and time again this year. . .  OUTTA-TAHN SCOREBOARD UPDATE: Houston drives down and gets a rushing touchdown. All tied up at 27-27 in Houston. Not looking good for Steelers making postseason. Not good at all.

3:46 p.m.: Mike Tomlin should be shaking his head. James Harrison just missed a sack there on that long touchdown pass, Kirschke missed one the play before. Two Dolphins scores in 2:47, and it's 27-24 with eons of time left -- 8:37 left. If the offense fails to embark on a long drive, the season is lost. . . OUTTA-TAHN UPDATE: Brady threw an interception, and Houston is at the New England 10-yard line. Is it over already? . . .3:51 p.m. : YES. Before that Roethlsberger fumble, CBS' Dan Dierdorf said something compelling: "You're the defending Super Bowl champions. It's time to act like it." . . 3:52 p.m.: Ryan Clark with a pick? Two in one game by the Steelers? It's been a month, if not more, since that happened. . .

Sorry, just got accidentally logged off. OUTTA-TAHN SCOREBOARD UPDATE: Houston drives down for another rushing touchdown and the lead.  Texans, 34-27. Fifty seconds left, and  Patriots are at the Houston 40.

3:58 p.m.: Roethlisberger's passing arm was hurt on that fumble play, but he's gritting his way through this. With three minutes left, they desperately need a score. And they need help from . . . New England's HOYER, of all people. . . 4 p.m.; KDKA just lost the CBS signal. . . 4:02 p.m.: It's back.

OUTTA-TAHN UPDATE: Hoyer incomplete on 4th-and-3. Houston wins. Now it's up to Oakland (Baltimore), Cincinnati (Jets) and the lowly Chiefs (Denver.) Not happening. Guess Bill Cowher ain't gonna get that Houston job now, huh?

4:04 p.m.: Parker, in what indeed likely will be his last game as a Steeler, just ripped off a nice run. Just the same, the Steelers need to run the clock and the ball -- and, most important, score a touchdown. A field goal here will lead to a loss, trust me. . . 4:05 p.m.: How about the Texans scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter? Think Belichick did that on purpose, just to tease the Steelers Nation? And how about an illegal-shift call that stopped the clock, the last thing the Steelers wanted? . . 4:06 p.m.: Parker scores a big touchdown -- but holding on Ward! With barely 90 seconds left in their season, the Steelers could be blowing it on all fronts. Talk about an implosion by a Super Bowl champion. . .

 4:09 p.m.: Three of five Red Zone trips, the Steelers suffice for a field goal. Steelers, 30-24. Even down to Miami's third quarterback and 40 seconds left, it still doesn't look good for the Steelers. . . 4:10 p.m.:  A seventh blown fourth-quarter lead? Nooooooooooooooooo. Ike Taylor with his first interception of the season, and the second  three-pick day of the year -- besides Denver at midseason -- for a defense that gobbled up takeaways in droves last season. Taylor's last interception? Dallas last December, some 21 games ago.

It's over, Steelers 30-24.

And the season might as well be over, too. It's up to Oakland, Cincinnati and Kansas City -- three teams who accounted for four of the Steelers' seven victories, but teams who (if memory serves) haven't all won on the same day since. . .

Well, it hasn't happened in 2009 or 2008. We're still checking.

Found it: The last time the Bengals, Raiders and Chiefs all won on the same weekend was Week 7, 2006 -- some 61 regular-season weeks ago and 150-plus games among them!

Jersey Shore: Steelers editon

You knew this would come eventually. The finest work to date from the great Benstonium. Big Ben's Jersey Shore name is classic.

Ravens-Steelers, live

Ravens call heads, it's tails. Steelers will receive.

FIRST QUARTER

1:04 p.m.: So much for Mike Wallace scoring on the opening play of back-to-back games. But at least Ben Roethlisberger threw it away, after Trevor Pryce and then Terrell Suggs pressured him. . . . 1:05 p.m.: Didja notice Stefan Logan on the fake reverse on first down there? That was a prelude to a play when he actually will carry. Sometime. Man, nice run on the Ravens defense. Haven't seen that much in previous years, but the Steelers have found room this year on a unit with an older Ray Lewis, an injured (or, in today's case, absent Ed Reed), etc. But without Reed in there, without rookie cornerback Lardarious Webb in there, expect the Steelers to throw a lot underneath today. . .  1:08 p.m.: Roethlisberger wasn't sharp on those two incompletions, but here's a question: How come the Steelers didn't try a 55-yard field goal there? Jeff Reed was banging them with room to spare from 50 yards in pregame. . . 1:10 p.m.: James Harrison, with his ailing right biceps immobilized, is starting. . . 1:12 p.m.: :LaMarr Woodley caused that fluttering, James Farrior interception by hitting Joe Flacco. If the rest of the Steelers had played as well as Woodley in that five-game losing streak, they would have clinched the AFC North a month ago. He deserves a Pro Bowl berth, but won't get it. . . 1:14 p.m.: Give Rashard Mendenhall a drop on that goalline, second-down pass. To come up with three points there is a moral defeat. Ya gotta open with a touchdown, drive a veritable stake through Raven breast, in that circumstance. Another failure in the Red. . . oops, in honor of the Trite Trophy today, we'll just say "Inside the Opposing 20-yard line." Reed's 26-yard field goal makes it Steelers, 3-0. . . 1:21 p.m.: Anytime you see Lawrence Timmons miss a tackle on a running play, like that 16-yard burst by Ray Rice, keep a good thought for Larry Foote. And how about Harrison almost delivering a one-armed sack on Flacco on first down? Deshea Townsend and Willie Gay were both in the viciinity on that third-down conversion. The secondary, even before that long first-down pass to Kelley Washington against Tyrone Carter, looks confused too often, if not most of the time. . . 1:25 p.m.: Billy Cundiff, from 27 yards, knots it at 3-all. . . 1:29 p.m.: Back to back weeks of long kickoff returns for Logan. Not too shabby. He just surpassed 1,300 yards in returns this year, breaking the single-season Steelers record that Ernie Mills set in 1996. . . 1:32 p.m.: The bigger escape act there was Roethlisberger getting away with an awful, pop-up throw that Wallace leaped and nabbed. It was followed by -- gulp -- a running play? Suffocating block by Max Starks, nice run by Willie Parker around left end. And Parker exited. Was Fast Willie winded?. . . 1:33 p.m.: Baltimore's Haloti Ngata blew past Matt Spaeth and pushed Mendenhall into Roethlisberger for that 8-yard sack, removing the Steelers from Inside (or Right At) the Opposing 20. It's a field-goal skirmish, kids. Reed's attempt from 39 yards -- he really got under it and popped it up -- restores the Steelers' lead, 6-3. . . BTW: The combined Steelers' scoring drives cover 26 yards in 11 plays, but, hey, they ate up almost 7 minutes of gametime, right?!. . . 1:40 p.m.: Notice that the Steelers' past three drives have all started in Ravens territory. If it leads to a third field goal, sheesh.

SECOND QUARTER

 1:44 p.m.: Two tight ends, and the Steelers are trying to play old-school, block-em-up, run-the-ball football. That's so 2005, isn't it?. . . 1:46 p.m.: Pass interference by a cornerback position badly missing Lardarious Webb, who tore his ACL last week. Gotta score from the 5, right? Mendenhall did, giving the Steelers a much-needed TD and the second-year back his inaugural 1,000-yard season (making him the seventh different back in Steelers history to reach that plateau). Nice job by him stretching out his ball-carrying arm at the goal line. Five plays, 43 yards, 2:11. Steelers, 13-3. . . 1:57 p.m.: Townsend had good position in coverage there, but tight end Todd Heap gave him an apparently legal nudge. Thirty-yard touchdown. Seven plays, 61 yards, 2:57. Steelers' lead whittled to 13-10. . .  1:59 p.m.: Keyaron Fox just ran into the Ravens' kickoff-coverage huddle, until one Bawlmer player pushed him out. Gotta like Fox's moxie there. Wonder what was said. . . 2:01 p.m.: Spin moves leave Mendenhall vulnerable, and that time Carr's helmet jarred loose the fumble recovered by -- who else -- Ray Lewis. To think, if the Steelers' offense had done it's job, the score would be 17-10 or 21-10 by now. No matter that Harrison wrapped up and caused that Rice fumble, recovered by Ike Taylor and the Steelers. . . 2:05 p.m.: Willie Colon tackled a Raven in pass blocking, and Roethlisberger stepped up and -- despite being able to run for the first -- almost overthrew and open Wallace, who made a dandy catch. For the fourth consecutive time, the Steelers are deep in Bawlmer territory. Once again, a touchdown is necessary. . . 2:08 p.m.: That's three sacks in five possessions already against the Steelers. This Antwan Barnes character keeps beating Steelers O-linemen. And why didn't Daniel Sepulveda and the Steelers kick out of bounds or corner, instead of that high, 41-yard punt that they failed to down inside the 5 -- which seems like a small-percentage play there. . . 2:12 p.m.: Ryan Clark's head-first tackle on the McClain Train put him out and Townsend at safety. That's why Gay was at cornerback on that third-and-1 smart call by Bawlmer. That's why he's still at left corner. . . 2:14 p.m.: Clark was back for the third-and-long, but Taylor's corner blitz came too fast for Flacco to see his open receiver on that side of the field. Steelers are working for the 2-minute offense and aiming for another score here. . . BTW: That was Taylor's first career sack. OK, so he has a sack this season but still no interceptions, which is a major part of his job description, right?. . . 2:19 p.m.: The Ravens defense isn't fooled. Suggs got both hands on that receiver screen right on first down, and Ngata was ready when Roethlisberger ran to his right on the draw for Mewelde Moore. But, hey, after Suggs' offside, they took a shot and got a 45-yard gain, once again Roethlisberger throwing long but making Wallace stop to come back and get the ball. It works for 'em. . . 2:21 p.m.: Roethlisberger, with that first-down pass to Heath Miller, just became the first Steelers quarterback in club history to surpass 4,000 yards in a season. And it was followed by a lovely, reaching catch by Ward going out the visiting sideline. Still and all, Steelers need a touchdown here. . . 2:24 p.m.: Nice secondary work by Bawlmer there. Domonique Foxworth blitzed, leaving Holmes the hot and wide-open receiver there. Dawan Landry missed badly on the Holmes inside move, and then Tom Zbikowski -- filling in for the injured Ed Reed (groin) -- had a facemask penalty as Holmes made a nifty move to score the touchdown. Steelers, 20-10. They needed only 1:25 for that drive, too. Now, with a 15-yard cushion, you could always try an onsides kick there, you know. . . 2:27 p.m.: OK, so it's the first time in club history that the Steelers had a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in the same season. And what has it done for them?. . . Halftime. Steelers, 20-10.

I have seen it all now.

"Renegade" on cellos at midfield for the halftime show.

A true sign of Armageddon.

. . . Actually, it would be so wrestling cool if Yo-Yo Ma ran onto the field and just started kicking cellist booty.

THIRD QUARTER

2:48 p.m.: The Ravens are running it down the Steelers' gullet, and the defense has a new look in the secondary -- no Carter. Townsend is a deep safety, and Clark seems to be playing more of Carter's (and Polamalu's) strong safety. . . 2:52 p.m.: Rice, who had 70 first-half yards, has 100 on the ground -- a feat rarely done against this Steelers defense in days of yore. The Ravens rolled down the field to that Heap touchdown catch over Gay. Ten plays, 64 yards, little sweat, 5:30. Ravens pare the lead to Steelers, 20-17. Heap's line: two catches, two scores. . . 2007 Jacksonville, Fred Taylor (Holmes' cousin), was the last time an opposing back ran for 100 or more, a stretch of 36 regular- and post-season games since. . . 2:59 p.m.: Eighty-one pass attempts, and Roethlisberger throws an interception right there, at a crucial time. Luckily for the Steelers, Suggs had a block in the back against Miller, erasing the touchdown call and bringing the Ravens back to the Steelers' 37-yard line. Compounding the Steelers' woes, Brett Keisel went down with what may well be yet another stinger. . . 3:05 p.m.: Man, Heap almost caught that one, too. Cundiff's 35-yard field goal crawls inside the left upright. It's hindsight -- 20-20. . .  3:08 p.m.: Keisel's shoulder pads are off. Good bet that he won't return today. . . 3:15 p.m.: Oniel Cousins, the second-team tackle, just left the field -- with Michael Oher already at left tackle for the injured Jared Gaither, the Ravens are running low on linemen. Could the Steelers use that to their advantage in run stuffing and pass rushing? Not the way they're making mistakes today. . . 3:18 p.m.: A one-armed Harrison missed the tackle on Willis McGahee on that sweep left for a touchdown. But Washington's holding penalty on Townsend brought the ball back to the Steelers' 27. Look at it this way: The Steelers are getting the breaks, and they're still getting smashed. The Ravens are playing what used to be known as Steelers' football: run, run, run, physical, physical, physical. . . Quarter ends in embarrassing fashion for the Steelers: two scores allowed in the opening nine minutes, Bawlmer had the ball 12-plus minutes and gained 74 yards rushing alone.

FOURTH QUARTER

3:23 p.m.: Yet another break -- Derrick Mason is the only Bawlmer receiver to go out on first down, puts a double move that badly beats Townsend, then just drops the ball in the end zone. Two Bawlmer penalties on the very next play. Are they trying to give this game to the Steelers, and the Steelers are trying to give it back?. . . 3:26 p.m.: You can't blame the cellists. The PA system is playing "Renegade," 14:21 left in the game. The Steelers are doomed for sure (see B'nG item, two down). . . 3:28 p.m.: A stupid penalty on Cousins, who is back in -- physically, anyway, not mentially -- hit a celebrating Woodley after the second-down incompletion. That took Bawlmer out of field-goal range. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. . . 3:32 p.m.: Interesting. Backed up inside their own 15, needing a drive, plenty of time left (13:52). And the home side comes out heaving the ball. A wide-open Holmes on third down made it work. . . 3:35 p.m.: The philanthropic Ravens have just committed their 6th penalty of the half -- with nearly a dozen minutes still to play. Thank you, kind sirs. . . 3:37 p.m.: Nice play by Landry to keep Moore from catching that ad-lib pass from a Roethlisberger with too much time. It was followed by a nice return by Carr, running in between three Steelers cover men. Biiiiiig series for the Steelers' defense. . . 3:44 p.m.: Third-and-9 from their own 31, and the Ravens get dumped by Ziggy Hood -- his first NFL sack. Big Snack knocked him down in the celebrating bump. If Logan keeps his balance on the punt return, he's gone -- and everyone saw it, including a frustrated Steelers sideline. The crowd -- the one that set a Steelers single-season attendance record today -- began cheering "Here We Go". . . 3:49 p.m.: Nothing like making your inaugural NFL catch on a huge third down, over the middle, against the dastardly defense of the hated Ravens. Tyler Grisham, boys and girls (check out pregame blog item about him). . . 3:50 p.m.: Inside the Opponents' 20 again, and Colon gets a false-start penalty. . . 3:53 p.m.: See, we saw that in the pregame: a Grisham drop. No celebrating for him.

3:53 p.m.: Reed's 38-yard field goal restores the Steelers lead yet again, 23-20. It won't end that way. Eight plays, 44 yards, 3:38. There's 5:25 left. Wayyyyyy to early for an onsides kick. Right?. . . 3:56 p.m.: Figures the kickoff-coverage gremlins would rear their head now, huh? Pretty fair lick by Reed on the tackle, though. . . 3:58 p.m.: Third-and-seven for the Ravens. Woodley, your Pro Bowl deserving linebacker, dumped Flacco on a sack. Takes Bawlmer out of field-goal consideration. They almost have to go for it here, and the Steelers calling a timeout gives them an opportunity to talk it over. The Ravens offense isn't budging. They're going for it. . . 4 p.m.: Woodley again with a humongous play, a sack-fumble. Is it too late to recast those Pro Bowl ballots? Hood intercepted a forward fumble. Still, it gives a rookie defensive end one more takeaway than any Steelers' cornerback, 1-0. . . 4:06 p.m.: The Ravens indeed did give the game to the Steelers. Frank Walker was called for an illegal-contact penalty on a play when Zbikowski intercepted Roethlisberger. Pick erased. Five yards and automatic first down, Steelers with 1:41 left. It's over. Amazing. Pulled-out victories on back-to-back weekends. Steelers, 23-20. 

Watch those Houston Texans, though. Can you imagine Bill Belichick laying down and having the Patriots lose at Houston next week, letting them into the playoffs and keeping out the Steelers who could challenge his Patriots for team of the decade.

Pregame Ravens-Steelers

11:50 a.m.: INACTIVES --

Steelers -- Starting OG Chris Kemoeatu (wrist), who practiced Wednesday but never again the rest of this week. . . after sitting out all of last week to try to heal it; CB Keenan Lewis; FB Carey Davis; S Troy Polamalu (PCL), OG Kraig Urbik; DE Sunny Harris; newly signed WR Joey Galloway; and Charlie Batch as the No. 3

Ravens -- for tat: Super safety Ed Reed (groin), like Polamalu, is out today, as are. . . WR Justin Harper, S Keith Fitzhugh, G/C David Hale, LB Tavares Gooden, OT Jared Gaither and NT Kelly Tavalou, the last three of whom are hurt, like Reed. John Beck is the No. 3.

Kemoeatu didn't come out with the starting Steelers offensive linemen in early pregame warmups, so couple with the fact he missed the final two practice days it was a cinch he would neither start nor play.

11:55 a.m.: Reserve WR Tyler Grisham, a development squadder most of the season, was on the field early catching passes. And, for the first time in the 20 or so practices I've personally watched -- and Gerry Dulac made this comment after watching most every one of them -- the Clemson free-agent rookie dropped his first one. Me, him and his conditioning assistant/warmup quarterback Marcel Pastoor were probably the only folks who witnessed it.

12:01 p.m.: To reiterate about the Ravens' inactives, they'll be missing three starters on defense: the all-everything Reed, Gooden at Jack linebacker and rookie cornerback Lardarius Webb, who last week sustained a season-ending torn ACL. Gaither is their left-tackle, the protector of Joe Flacco's blind side. So the absences of Polamalu and Kemoeatu (for whom Ramon Foster is expected to again start) and Aaron Smith are offset, so it would appear. (But the Steelers also miss Larry Foote, Bryant McFadden, Darnell Stapleton, their Mojo, Dame Fortune. . . .)

12:21 p.m.: James Harrison is out there with the fellas working out in pregame. He's a game-time decision, but he looks like somebody who can play. He's wearing a wrap on the right bicep he injured late in Thursday's practice and then missing Friday's practice as a result.

12:28 p.m.: Come to watch Harrison, the right arm is mostly immobilized by that bicep-and-elbow brace. A one-armed linebacker?

12:47 p.m.: It's official with the starting lineup changes: Deshea Townsend replaces Willie Gay at cornerback for the Steelers, and -- in true "Blindside" fashion -- rookie Michael Oher of movie fame moves from his customary right tackle to that left-tackle spot to replace the injured Gaither. Oniel Cousins will start at right tackle for Oher.

12:55 p.m.: Teams are on the field, and B.E. Taylor and band are readying to sing the national anthem. I was there at the Arena when he tortured the national anthem before Game 1 of the 1991 Stanley Cup Finals. He's singing it a shade faster today.

 12:58 p.m.: In celebration of the holidays, the throwback gameday and dressing today, defensive end Nick Eason has a gold stripe down the middle of his hair. No emblem on the right side, however.