Blog 'n' Gold

Scenes from the Heinz Field parking lot ...

2009-11-16T01:47:00Z

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor, but the Steelers, and their special team, among other culprits, decided to run the day for the black and gold faithful. Nonetheless, it was a perfect day for a game and the scene was predictably jovial outside of Heinz Field. At least before kickoff ...

It's always Steelers Sunday in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

Tribute to a fallen warrior. Unsolicited book recommendation: I'm halfway through Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon Krakauer and it's excellent.

No ... just ... no. He would get the last laugh though, ridiculous get up and all.

Heeeeeeee's baaaaaaaaack. On the far right is Giovanni Poggi, proprietor of La Botticella, the home of the Steelers Nation in Rome. He's visiting a bunch of his legions of Pittsburgh friends during his annual American vacation.

British, Italian, American, whatever ... the Steelers Nation holds one of its 8 annual summits in Pittsburgh.

This shirt is factually correct, but they were both equally non-factors on Sunday.

... he didn't come down from the gallows on Sunday.

Clever. Verrrrrrrrry clever.

No, it's not good at all. In fact, it's very bad.

A gentleman from the Berlin (Pa.) Fife & Drum Corps, one of the oldest such organizations in America.

Getcherr motor runnin' ....

Steelers Chopper, designed by Jim's Visionary Auto Body of Beaver Falls and autographed by Franco Harris.

So predictable. So juvenile. Yet it makes me laugh every time. Like the "T.O. has B.O." signs.

Bengals-Steelers, live (Polamalu out)

2009-11-15T17:53:00Z

(Last time they met, Cincinnati fans emailed that we were all offended by the "Bungles" references. Hey, lighten up, people, it's a Pittsburgh thing. It's a Cope thing. At least I didn't call them the Wicky-Wackys. . . )

12:59 p.m.: Tamara Tunie of "Law & Order SVU", also of McKeesport and Carnegie Mellon, sang the national anthem with a military flyover above. You can thank me later for dressing up the blog.

FIRST QUARTER

1:06 p.m.: Yeah, it's hard to focus on the game. . . Steelers cornerback William Gay, suffering from Ike Taylor Syndrome, has dropped two potential interceptions in the opening seven plays from scrimmage. A good sign or a bad sign?. . . 1:13 p.m.: Sounds like the old Bengal luck -- feel free to insert Mahrn's favorite nickname there: A 51-yard field goal wattempt by Cincy's Shayne Graham, and it's high enough, it's long enough, it's. . . going KERPLUNK off the right upright. No good. Steelers ball in dandy field position at their own 41. . .1:18 p.m.: For a second there, I felt like I was watching Rich Rodriguez's offense: wide-receiver screen right, wide-receiver screen left, etc. But you have to like Bruce Arians tossing out a new-look formation, which just so happened to be the old T- and pro-formation, side-by-side backfield a la Rocky and Franco. And Mewelde Moore, behind great seal blocking from the left side, ran 12 yards on a third-and-1. . . 1:21 p.m.: This Roethlisberger dude ought to run more often. So long as he doesn't continue to dive head-first. A batted pass and some Red Zone passing trouble leave Jeff Reed to clean up this nice opening drive with a 28-yard field goal. 11 plays, 49 yards, 6:06 -- and this offense can do a great job of eating up clock, staying in-bounds, milking the play-clock. Steelers, 3-0. . . 1:24 p.m.: Maybe they just should squib, pooch or onsides anymore -- for the third time in four games, the Steelers gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown. This time, rookie Bernard Scott, on only his third NFL return, whisked Reed's kick into the left corner some 96 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Missed tackles, botched lane assignments, some nice Cincinnati blocking, and next thing you know it was Scott vs. Reed, who at least turned him back into the field. According to our Ed Bouchette, that makes seven consecutive games in which the Steelers have given up a return for a touchdown: by fumble, interception, punt or kick. . .

1:33 p.m.: All-everything safety Troy Polamalu left the field and the game with what was described as a left knee injury -- the same one in which a sprained MCL prevented him from playing Games 2-5 and the final three quarters of the opener. In all, he has played less than 14 quarters all season, and he appeared as if he was just returning to his otherworldly form. Tyrone Carter, the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after two interceptions Monday in Denver while replacing safety Ryan Clark, is again filling in for Polamalu. . . 1:40 p.m.: For the record, the review on Santonio Holmes' third-down catch was correct; the bad spot was patently detectable by our naked eyes way up here in the press box. . . 1:42 p.m.: The Bengals are content to pick, pick, pick. Cedric Benson's runs here or there. Short Carson Palmer passes, to avoid the Steelers' rush. Of course, the Steelers are content to allow short plays and figure they'll make a play at some point. Still and all, Bengals, 6-3. End of first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

1:52 p.m.: Mike Tomlin noted this past week how well Holmes is doing the non-statistical things, such as blocking. Well, on that first-down pass to Hines Ward, Rashard Mendenhall threw a crushing cut block on Bengals linebacker Rey Maualaluga. But the offense isn't quite in sync. Perhaps it's time for the no-huddle. . . 1:59 p.m.: The Bengals were 3-for-5 on third down before that last, high Palmer pass for Chad Ochocinco, who is some kinda hacked. But he doesn't have much room to jaw, as he did while coming off the field after the third down incompletion. He should've caught the first-down deep pass from Palmer. That drop is all one No. 85. Or maybe he can blame it on Tweeter Tunnel Syndrome. . . 2:00 p.m.: Nice return by Little Logan, who was due. He is exciting, whether his scooting works or doesn't. . . 2:05 p.m.: Injury update -- The Bengals' Benson is listed as probable to return despite a hip injury. Steelers cornerback and special-teamer Keenan Lewis is questionable due to a left rib injury on that Bengals' punt return. . . 2:10 p.m.: Another nice drive, another aborted attempt inside the Red Zone. Forcing the second-down pass into the corner looked ill-advised, at least -- Ward was open at the left pylon, with the defensive back behind him. At worst, a throw to Ward would've given the Steelers third-and goal at the 1. Reed's 33-yard field goal ties it up, 6-6. . . 2:12 p.m.: I repeat, can't they squib, pooch or even onsides a kickoff? . . . 2:22 p.m.: Credit backup Bengals safety Chinedum Ndukwe with that 46-yard gain via a pass interference penalty. I'm not so sure Mike Wallace catches that ball, slightly beyond his reach, if Ndukwe doesn't grab his arms. And fellow safety Chris Crocker had Wallace covered. That shows some impact from Roy Williams being injured and placed on IR, forcing Ndukwe into a starting role. . . 2:25 p.m.: Jumpy Geathers is what you'd call a Steelers killer. They respect the heck outta him. Don't konw if Mike Wallace was supposed to chip Geathers and keep him from rushing free, but that pushed the Steelers offense back -- their third Red Zone failure to score a touchdown. Holmes' right-corner pass was tipped and caused the ball to go through his hands in a Super Bowl-reminiscent play. Nine plays, 61 yards, 2:40. And it results in a hat trick of field goals for Reed in the first half, this one from 35 yards. Steelers, 9-6. Halftime.

I'm a believer. Ray Lewis. Donovan McNabb. Shaun Alexander, Michael Vick. Vince Young. Brett Favre. Polamalu makes seven straight years where a coverboy got hurt (remember, they kept Favre's injury a secret last season) and the sixth time in seven where a cover-subject missed significant time, if not most or the rest of the season.

THIRD QUARTER

2:50 p.m.: Maybe that'll teach 'em to run on third-and-short. Roethlisberger's pass was badly behind Ward, but Morgan Trent batted it, and lineman Frostee Rucker snagged it. Presto. Bengals get the game-tying field goal, 9-9. . . 2:52 p.m.: By the way, it's the second-biggest crowd ever at Heinz Field. The 65,392 has been topped in the regular season only once before -- the last game here, Oct. 25 against Minnesota. . . 3:02 p.m.: It's a field-goal-fest. Or, put another way, it's an oh-ffensive display -- nary a touchdown by an offensive unit. The fifth field goal of the day, and fourth since that kickoff-return TD, makes it Bengals, 12-9. . .3:04 p.m.: Wallace back for the kickoff. That's his first in the NFL, officially. and he'll get more after that 26-yarder. . . 3:06 p.m.: It's Willie Parker, kids! But on his first appearance in the game, the pass was a bit high, and Parker stopped abruptly on the flare route. The next play they got it right -- you hand the ball to Parker, or use him as a decoy. Pass-catching isn't exactly his forte. . . 3:09 p.m.: Smells like panic time. They're playing "Renegade." . . . 3:13 p.m.: Game possession for the Steelers here, first down at the 50. Desperately need a TD, though a FG wouldn't hurt. . . 3:15 p.m.: A pass from an under-center formation? There's a wrinkle. Roethlisberger isn't as sharp as normal though, which can happen not just on occasion, but after a Monday night emotional and sharp game. Bengals only rushing three, and he's finding receivers -- but they're closely covered. Wallace grabbed the under-center, second-down throw before being clouted, and Miller caught the next one while double covered. End of quarter. Stick up those four fingers, it's the . . .

FOURTH QUARTER

3:23 p.m.: Gutsy call to go for it on fourth down. Press box consensus: Chuck Noll would've taken the points there, tied it at a dozen-dozen. But the Steelers convert the fourth down on a Roethlisberger sneak behind a strong push from the offensive line. . . 3:26 p.m.: Is it just me, or do the Bengals do a better job than anybody batting down passes at the line against the 6-foot-5 Roethlisberger. (Though you may ask yourself: Why didn't Roethlisberger pump there, step in and around a jumping Jonanthan Fanene, and find a receiver? Well, for one thing, the windows are smaller and the routes excruciatingly quicker in the Red Zone.) Oh, yeah, the fourth failure inside the Bengals' 15-yard line -- oh-for-4 is never good -- led to yet another Reed field goal, so it's tied at 12-12 after all. Ruh-roh, that means another Steelers kickoff. . . 3:30 p.m.: Deshea Townsend in for Carter at safety. . . 3:31 p.m.: Now Ryan Clark has that Ike Tyler Syndrome -- right through his hands, though it helped matters that Ochocinco ran the wrong route, out instead of in. . . . 3:32 p.m.: This has the look of a difference-making drive by Cincinnati, possibly even the game-winning drive. If they score a touchdown, that's something the Steelers have shown an inability to do thus far. Nice rhythm and pace to this drive, nice blocking by the Bengals line, nice job by Palmer picking out open receivers. . .3:39 p.m.: New slogan: The AFC North -- It's Trey-tastic! More field goals, which represents a moral victory for the Steeles. But the Bengals regain the lead, 15-12.

3:43 p.m.: Again, Roethlisberger is off. That third-down pass for Miller was way high. Tough angle, tough window. And now the Steelers are a woeful 3 for 14 on third-down conversions -- an even-worse 0-for-6 this half. If the Steelers' offense doesn't get its act together, or the defense conjure a score -- and Palmer doesn't make many bad decisions or mistakes that result in those -- this has a Bengals victory written all over it and a strong leg up in the race for the AFC North crown. . . 3:52 p.m.: So maybe Bill Cowher is a bigger genius than anyone gave him credit. Cincinnati is chewing up valuable time and within field-goal range, so they very well -- as Mr. Bill predicted -- could be on their way to the division title. After all, they have Oakland, Cleveland and Detroit all in a soft row, then Kansas City and the Jets to close. So a 12-4 season is well within reach, with a victory here. Third-and-eight at the Steelers 28, the Steelers use their next-to-last timeout, and. . . and. . . the Bengals, 4 for 12 previously on third down, get Lawrence Timmons to jump offsides. Hmmm. Third-and-three, and Palmer audibles into a run that Nick Eason stuffs it for a two-yard loss. Two minute warning. Graham, who before the play walked onto the field and took a couple of practice swings with his leg, gets to go for his fourth field goal of the day. . . 3:59 p.m.: Graham goes 4 for 5 for the day, his 43-yarder making it, 18-12 Bengals. Eleven plays, 52 yards, 4:20 on the Bengals drive. So it's either touchdown, or maybe hope for the wild card. . . 4:03 p.m.: Overthrowing Ward, with fill-in linebacker Brandon Johnson pulling his jersey back, and underthrowing Wallace on a 40-yard bomb, and throwing into an area where two Steelers receivers were crossing middle deep, and pressure by the Bengals causing him to throw away on fourth down. Remember those later, if the defending champions have to go on the road in the playoffs. It's over. Bengals, 18-12.

Pregame Bungles-Stillers (and Joe Greene-Coke kid)

2009-11-15T16:32:00Z

11:35 a.m.: INACTIVES include FB Carey Davis (hamstring), starting DE Travis Kirschke (calf), CB Keiwan Ratliff, G Kraig Urbik, OT Tony Hills, DE Sunny Harris, WR Shaun McDonald with Dennis Dixon as the No. 3 quarterback.

All of which means: WR Limas Sweed is active again. We'll see if the one thing he can grab is an opponent's jersey for the second time in a week.

So that makes Nick Eason the starter again for Kirschke and David Johnson listed as the starting fullback. Ratliff, for the record, had played every game since being inactive in the Tennessee Tuxedos opener.

For Cincinnati, the inactives are: FB Fui Vakapuna, WR Jerome Simpson, DT Pat Sims, and a bunch of key injured guys such as starting LB Keith Rivers, G Evan Mathis, OT Andre Smith, TE Chase Coffman, with Jordan Palmer -- Carson's kid brother -- the No. 3 quarterback.

Don't forget to update your Bungles roster: S Roy Williams (forearm) was placed on IR Friday and WR Maurice Purify, signed from practice squad, will be No. 14 -- and may help to replace injured WR Chris Henry from West Virginia.

12:09 p.m.: UPDATE -- The Bengals starting lineup gets three alterations. Nate Livings will start at left guard for Mathis, Brandon Johnson at weakside linebacker for Rivers and Chinedum Ndukwe at strong safety for Williams.

COKE AND THE KID

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12:14 p.m.: Joe Greene and Tommy Okon, whom Coke Zero imitated (the highest form of flattery, after all) in their Troy Polamalu commercial for Super Bowl 43, just met with the media to talk about a 30-year wrong being made right -- they were given copies of the Clio commercial awards they won in the 1979 spot that remains Coca-Cola's most famous and the favorite NFL television ad of all-time. (See it in the next BnG item)

Okon, of course, is a grown man nowadays. He's 39 and owns a stone fabricating contractor business -- his firm's handiwork adorns new Yankees Stadium, and imagine the attention the New York tabloids would've given that celebrity nugget. Okon brought his four children -- a 6-year-old son and daughters 4, 9 and 10 -- to Heinz Field to meet his commercial co-star and soak up some Steelers atmosphere. Their celebrated spot, which first aired during the 1979 Pirates-laden baseball playoffs and then for the Super Bowl XIV that Greene and the Steelers won. The ad was filmed at Mt. Vernon Memorial Stadium, said Okon, a native of the area and a resident still. "I drive by it every day on my way to work, which is ironic," Okon said.

Greene, who later starred in a made-for-TV movie based off the popular commercial, "The Steeler and the Pittsburgh Kid," remains grateful and awed by the power of one little ad. "It definitely changed some things that happened in my life," he said, and Okon concurred with his, too. He remembers doing other '70s commercials that earned him grief in his own locker room. But that one, after it first aired amid the baseball playoffs that year, earned key critical reviews: "Robin Cole came in the locker room and said, 'Hey, Joe, that was a pretty good commercial.' Normally. . . , they tease us about them. We look sort of goofy doing those. That time, I got praise."

Greene said he'd find room next to his other trophies for the award that he said "we should've received 30 years ago. I was working, he was working, so they passed." Okon, who still has a Greene jersey framed on his wall at home, said "my mantel's not nearly as cluttered as Joe's. But the picture of my 9-year-old might have to come down for awhile." The two, by the way, last saw each other eight years ago at a Mel Blount charity dinner in Greene's honor.

As for the Polamalu remake above, it made Greene smile. "I like the commercial. I like Coke Zero stealing from the other, not only their flavor but their commercial. And they could not have had a better guy to do it than Troy. Just very, very special."

12:38 p.m.: One last Greene-Coke story. He remembered being at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii in 1980 when the players from both the squads gathered for a photo shoot. They took the picture at a schoolyard in Honolulu, and just then the kids were cut loose for recess. Greene recalled a litany of tykes coming toward him with shirts and Coke bottles, passing the likes of such stars as Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach and Buffalo Bills halfback O.J. Simpson.

"That was the first inkling that i thought, 'You know, maybe this Coca-Cola thing is kind of special."

12:40 p.m.: International Space Station commander Mike Fincke of Emsworth and Sewickley Academy, the NASA colonel famous for his pre-Super Bowl video from the Steelers Galaxy, just presented his glass-encased Terrible Towel to the Steelers and Art Rooney II. In turn, Fincke was given a new towel to transport back to, uh, work.

Fincke, who is a funny guy, told the WDVE-FM show earlier today that, of course, every Steelers fan carries their towel with them whenever they leave home ("Bye, Mom, I'm going to space now.") He also spun the tale of how the video was shot: He noticed in the camera that the towel was upside down, so he lifted his legs and allowed gravity to turn it right-side up. Brilliant.

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Come early ...

2009-11-13T18:50:00Z

Aside from having to deal with the typical security rigamarole at Heinz Field, you'll want to get to your seats early for a bunch of pregame things that the team has planned for Sunday's fray with the Bengals ...

As Ed Bouchette noted on his blog on PG+ earlier this week, Hall of Famer Joe Greene will receive the Clio Award, the highest award in advertising, in honor of the 30^th anniversary of his famous Coca-Cola commercial.

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Astronaut Mike Fincke will present to Steelers’ President Art Rooney II a Terrible Towel that he flew in space during the team’s Super Bowl XLIII run last season. A photo of Fincke with his Terrible Towel in space made national news, and Blog 'N' Gold has a link to the video of Fincke and his weightless wave from back in January.

In honor of Veterans Day, the Steelers will honor military veterans with a war veteran representing the following wars: Pearl Harbor Survivor and WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm War and the Iraq War.

Also in honor of Veterans Day, the Steelers along with Operation Once in a Lifetime will welcome a group of wounded warriors. The U.S. Army soldiers were injured in combat and have received a Purple Heart for their injuries.

The VFW of Meadville Post 2006 will serve as the Color Guard in honor of Veterans Day.

Tamara Tunie, star of the hit TV series Law & Order: SVU, will sing the national anthem. Tunie is the sister-in-law to Steelers’ alum Greg Hawthorn

And finally, in what will surely be an incredibly stirring sight (and sound), the Strike Fighter Squadron 213, The Fighting Blacklions, stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., will perform a flyover prior to kickoff.

This'll get you ready for some football ...

Who Dey? hair gets kid suspended

2009-11-12T23:06:00Z

The PG's business and booze writer, the inimitable Bill Toland, passes along an item about a youngster in Hamilton, Ohio, who was suspended from school for having a Cincinnati Bengals 'Who Dey' inspired hairstyle. Turns out, this guy was his principal ...

Jason Witten gets kinda punked ...

2009-11-11T21:46:00Z

... by a pint-sized Steelers fan. Sent in by reader Tony Iapalucci, who correctly states that Jason Witten's reaction is priceless when he walks into the kids' bedroom ...

Also, courtesy of One For the Other Thumb, we find the only interesting few minutes thus far in the short history of the Jimmy Fallon show, as Troy Polamalu is a guest, and he is coincidentally joined by noted Troy fan and 1960's trophy wife, Betty Draper (January Jones), to whom he gives tackling lessons ...

And, unfortunately, the embedding codes aren't cooperating so you'll have to click on the actual links to see these videos. However, this gives a perfectly acceptable excuse to use file art of the lovely and talented Ms. Jones. Enjoy.

She digs Troy.

Are you ready. . . ? Steelers-Broncos live

2009-11-10T01:36:00Z

8:36 p.m.: Jake Plummer with a beard looked like a rugged outdoorsman, mountain-man cool and dashing. Kyle Orton looks. . . like a wanted poster. From 1879.

Hey, it's no more of a random reference than a pregame show. "Hey," Stuart Scott shouted, "Big Ben, come over here." Oh, yeah, like that wasn't scripted.

8:38 p.m.: If you want a glimpse, a cable-esque view behind the scenes at Hank shooting these ditties, go to You Tube yo-self and search for video of him and the University of Tennessee dance team. Unfortunately, the two statue dudes don't explode when they tape it.

8:40 p.m.: The family of Joshua McDaniel cordially invites you to his Bar Mitzvah, the occasion on which he becomes a man at age 13. . . .OK, so the Denver coach looks 16. Got your permit, dude?

FIRST QUARTER

8:43 p.m.: So far, the Broncos are protecting backup right tackle Tyler Polumbus -- an extra tackle aligning at tight end, a true tight end in the slot in between Polumbus and a split tight end. They fear the Steelers' rush. And the Steelers need a rush because they can't cover Eddie Royal, and they couldn't cover the Broncos' receivers in the Mile High air two years ago, if you recall. . . 8:45 p.m.: Poor Ryan Clark. He's pacing like an expectant father. Expectant of Willie Gay messing up, like that should've-been interception? Amazing stat Ron Jaworski just offered about Gay: 69 percent of passes this season in Gay's direction have been completed. As Jaws said, why not throw in his direction? Broncos get a Royal push to a 3-0 lead. . . 8:49 p.m.: Big Snacks Casey Hampton and Gay need oxygen already? And Jerome Bettis never really had a problem there? Is it a bad sign we're asking so many questions already? . . . 8:56 p.m.: Don't panic just yet. But Ben Roethlisberger didn't look settled on that opening drive. He pumped but didn't get a good look when he had time backpedaling from the rush. He needed to take a chance or throw it away then, when he had a moment before Elvis Dumervil arrived (which may well be often tonight). Rashard Mendenhall looked decent, by the way, though you noticed the Broncos reaching for the ball on him. . . 9:00 p.m.: Keep an eye on that left defensive end position. Nick Eason or helpmate Ziggy Hood have to beat Polumbus, though so far the Broncos' haven't let Polumbus handle a third-team defensive end by himself. . . Wow, an incompletion! That's due to pressure. After all, this is Kyle Orton, it ain't Elway. . . 9:03 p.m.: Mitch Berger, kids! That's all I'm saying about that. After all, he did win a Super Bowl ring. . .

SECOND QUARTER

9:11 p.m.: The Steelers' offensive line has done enough of a job so far. Now it's on Roethlisberger, the receivers and Bruce Arians to put them in position (short outs or underneath patterns, anyone?). . . 9:15 p.m.: Thanks, Jon Gruden, for relating how Josh McDaniel and the Patriots didn't have an answer for the Steelers last season. But he and the Broncos do tonight. . . Of course, just as I type that, Orton rushes a throw feeling the heat, and threw a strike directly to Tyrone Carter, who got his first NFL interception return for a touchdown -- and only his second NFL touchdown in his 10-year, 143-game career. And three consecutive Steelers' touchdowns by the defense? Is that close to an NFL record?. . .Steelers, 7-3. . . 9:24 p.m.: Orton threw a nice ball before being clouted by Deshea Townsend, but the Steelers are getting to him -- with the rush and in his head. It should pay off later. . . 9:37 p.m.: Former Pitt assistant Jon Gruden, who constantly refers to them as "the Pittsburgh Steelers," as if there's no mistaking them with the Farrell Steelers or Pittsburgh Gladiators, pointed out something from film study -- every time Mike Wallace aligns on the outside of the bunch formation, the pass comes to him. Interesting. . . 9:44 p.m.: CORRECTION Carter's touchdown marked the second of his career. He took one back in the fourth quarter of the 2008 regular-season finale, also playing for an ailing Ryan Clark. So, what, that makes two in nine regular-season games for him?. . .9:48 p.m.: So the Boy Coach tried to run down the clock. Doesn't send a great message to his own team. If the Steelers could get a field goal out of this, it could well drive a stake into the Yonkos. . . 9:52 p.m.: Or vice versa, I meant to write. Hey, at least Limas Sweed can hold onto something. Just so happens it was a Denver jersey. Halftime, 7-3 Steelers, who start the third quarter with the ball -- and a chance to maybe run some sweeps, throw short to Heath Miller (remember how he killed the Broncos in the 2005 AFC Championship game?), run the hurry-up. . . .

THIRD QUARTER

10:06 p.m.: Eighteen plays in the first half is hardly ample circumstance to develop a rhythm. Now a no-huddle quickly gets you into sync, but we'll see. . . 10:11 p.m.: Well, ask and ye shall receive. They brought the no-huddle, Denver brought the blitz, and on a slow-developing cross pattern play the ball was swiped from Roethlisberger's mitts. Fifty-four yard fumble return makes it 10-7, Yonkos. A defensive scorefest. . . 10:21 p.m.: There's a quick reply. See how the running game opens things up, and how the passing game opens up the run? By the way, after dancing lessons, shouldn't Mendenhall be able to hip-hop down that sideline better? Anyway, a long Mendenhall run -- gaining almost as many yards as the passing game did in the first half -- and two beautiful Roethlisberger strikes, and the Steelers regain the lead at 14-10. . . . 10:27 p.m.: Orton indeed panicked on that bad third-down pass. Was that a Ziggy Hood sighting? Yes, indeed, the rookie roared in from right end on a two-lineman alignment. Anybody else notice, too, that Gay thought for a second about picking up that bounding Berger punt around the goalline? . . . 10:38 p.m.: Between Roethlisberger and Arians, you got to admit the play-calling has been superb the second half. Varied. Utilizing the run -- the counters, the delayed draw. Just a bad throw by Roethlisberger there in the end zone negated a dandy drive. Gruden talked about a "poorly thrown ball" and lackluster route-running. It's a sign, though. The Steelers' defense and offense are playing better. . . 10:42 p.m.: Don't miss this point -- the Broncos' defense is huffing and puffing. The Steelers have them where they want them. Meaning: on the field most of this half.

FOURTH QUARTER

10:50 p.m.: The spider sense says the defense is going to have to make another play -- a takeaway, a change of field position. . . 10:53 p.m.: Eason and Keyaron Fox caused Orton to hurry that second-down throw. Makes you remember how many front-line players are missing: Aaron Smith and replacement Travis Kirschke, Lawrence Timmons. . . 10:54 p.m.: Sing along: Mitch Berger, kids. A 24-yard punt is something you've seen before somewhere. . . . 10:56 p.m.: Limas Sweed alert, Limas Sweed alert. He was in on that first-down run by Mendenhall. . . 10:59 p.m.: Steelers need to score on this possession to salt the game, or maintain their mojo. . . 10:59 p.m., Part Dieux: How often do you see Heath Miller unable to secure a pass that hits his hands? . . . Still thinking, aren't ya?. . . 11:05 p.m.: See 10:50 p.m. entry. (Hey, it isn't often I'm right. Lemme bask in it for a minute.) Polamalu pick leads to Roethlisberger-using-his-feet touchdown pass to Mike Wallace. Steelers, 21-10. . . 11:10 p.m.: Two-score lead in the back half of the fourth quarter? It's pass-rush time that, in the film room, will become known as "Goodbye Polumbus". . . 11:13 p.m.: You know what those replays really show? That Orton is completely unhinged. Sure, James Harrison glanced Orton's arm while it loaded up. But Orton then promptly threw that ball into his lineman's earhole. . . 11:18 p.m.: Oops, remember that's Aaron Smith, Travis Kirschke, Lawrence Timmons AND Ryan Clark missong on defense tonight -- one-third of the top dozen, give or take. And Mendenhall went out of bounds after that long run? Don't they want to literally run out the clock? Why do I pose so many questions? Why do I pay for checking?. . . . 11:24 p.m.: The Steelers running the football -- 174 yards total, 155 by Mendenhall -- and running down the clock and running over an opponent, that all should look familiar. And check out the half-empty stadium, mostly occupied still by Steelers fans.

A signature. . .

11:34 p.m.: It's ovah.Nice hurdle by Hines Ward. Touchdown on, what, the second pass of the drive? Both to him, by the way. Eleven-play, 74-yard, five-minute drive, all but a few inches of it coming on the ground. And Willie Colon was back, so no apparent concerns about his injury. Steelers, 28-10. . . .11:39 p.m.: A second interception by Carter, matching that Cleveland game at last season's end, and it's complete. A remarkable second-half effort. A fifth consecutive Steelers victory. And, ahem, they closed. Next comes Cincinnati Sunday at Heinz Field, in a divisional biggie. It's often hard for Monday night victors to match their enthusiasm and effort the next Sunday, so we'll see.

Pregame warmup lite, MNF

2009-11-10T01:29:00Z

A trip in the wayback machine. . .

Circa 1973. Before Hank Williams Jr.

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Watch when you have 10 minutes -- the pregame with How-ahd Coe-sell talking about Jefferson Street Joe Gilliam before a Stillers-'Fins Monday Nighter.

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Finally, more recent vintage. See if you can spot the winking knees, a coupla hefty guys and. . . Barry Foster?

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Greatest. Steeler Nation. Tribute. Evah!

2009-11-09T17:53:00Z

Warning: If you play this video, just cash in for the rest of the day because all you're gonna do is daydream about Monday Night Football. One of the best tributes I've ever seen to the borderless 'nation' of Steelers fans. And the song ain't bad either.

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Chatters actually exist

2009-11-05T22:45:00Z

In a post a few days ago, I singled out regular Ed Bouchette chatter Will_from_Freehold_NJ (hometown of The Boss, BTW) for his typically excellent -- read: well written, insightful and topical -- chat questions. Well, turns out you chatters out there do exist, and are not just screen names that pop up on my computer. Will is Will Fernandez, a Steelers fan for 32 of his 39 years, who finally attended his first game two weeks ago against the Minnesota Favres. Here's an email Will sent:

"This is Will_From_Freehold_NJ!! I was surprised & honored to be mentioned in "Blog 'n' Gold" [on Wednesday]! ... I've always seen your name during Ed's chats and I've always wondered how you pick questions out of the hundreds you get each week. Keep up the great work!!

A little history about me: I'm 39 years old and I've been a Steelers fan for 32 years. The very first Steelers game I watched on TV, when I was 7, was Super Bowl 13 (Cowboys-Steelers). Before kickoff my dad told me to pick a team, I said "I'll take those guys in black & yellow." And the rest is history. They won that game, they won the next year (Super Bowl 14) and, well, 26 years later, they won again! It was tough growing up a Steelers fan in New Jersey in the 80's. All my friends jumped shipped on who they rooted for: The Raiders, Redskins, Dolphins, 49'ers, Cowboys, etc, etc. I stuck with my Steelers during those lean years after Terry Bradshaw (Cliff Stoudt, Mark Malone, David Woodley, Todd Blackledge, Bubby Brister, etc, etc). I NEVER EVER thought of rooting for another team, EVER!! I bleed Black & Gold!

I named my son after Ben Roethlisberger. During Roethlisberger's rookie season I mentioned to my wife, "Hey, if we have a boy & the Steelers win the Super Bowl, we're calling our son BENJAMIN!" Although the Steelers lost the AFC Championship to the Patriots that year we still named our son Benjamin.

My wife, Tara, bought us tickets to the 2009 Fan Blitz at Heinz Field this past April, it was my first time EVER in Pittsburgh! I was like a kid in a candy store, I had a smile from ear to ear! A few weeks ago I came back to Pittsburgh for the Browns game, it was my first Steelers game at Heinz Field! I was so proud to be there!! I've attached a photo of myself.

... You guys at the Gazette do a great job! The Gazette website is the first site I visit each and every morning, year-round! Keep up the great work and I look forward to Ed's next chat.

Regards,

Will Fernandez

Freehold, New Jersey"

No, thank you, Will. Best to you, Tara & lil Ben. And here's Will finally making his pilgrimage to Heinz Field ...