0 Colts Win NFL-Record 22nd straight as they beat the Broncos 28-16! Posted by DieHardFans | at 10:36 PM

Brandon Marshall of the Broncos may have broken an individual NFL record Sunday in Indianapolis, but the Colts set a team record. In beating Denver, 28-16, the Colts established a new standard of greatness by winning their 22nd consecutive regular-season game. That breaks the previous NFL record, which was held by Tom Brady's New England Patriots. Interestingly enough, the Patriots and Colts along with the Steelers have been the most dominant teams of this decade. What the Colts do in the postseason, however, will define their ultimate legacy much more than this record. They've "only" won the Super Bowl once, while the Patriots have three rings and the Steelers have two. "It does [feel good]," Colts linebacker Clint Session said staying unbeaten and breaking the consecutive regular-season wins record. "I'm a part of history right now, so it feels real good. It's something we can tell our kids and grandkids that we did something no one else had done. It's definitely a great accomplishment."

On Sunday, they stormed out of the gates, jumping to a 21-0 lead within the first quarter and a half. The Broncos were able to climb back into the game on the strength of the sensational Marshall and an uncharacteristic three picks from Peyton Manning. When Marshall caught a touchdown with 9:49 left in the game, the Colts led by just five, 21-16. What happened on the ensuing drive shouldn't really surprise anyone who has followed the NFL for the past decade.

Manning methodically took the Colts 80 yards in 14 plays, eating up more than seven minutes. The drive concluded with Dallas Clark's third touchdown catch of the game and it was Manning's fourth TD pass. Yes, just another Indianapolis Colts win. They are now 13-0 and have clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Rookie head coach Jim Caldwell is still undefeated in his career, and the team is now 88-21 since the start of 2003. Sunday's victory also gave them the NFL record for most wins in a decade (114), breaking the previous mark held by the 1990s 49ers. If nothing else, the Colts are synonymous with winning in the regular season. And they are working to shed the last little caveat there, which is why you're likely to see them resting regulars in spots for the last three regular-season week.

0 Gradkowski grabs winning TD to cruise past the Steelers! Posted by DieHardFans | at 2:33 AM

If the Steelers season was fading following their three-point loss to the Ravens last week, this loss to the Oakland Raiders officially puts their year on life support. For what seems to have been the theme of the 09 season, the defense again was letdown in the fourth quarter, as they allowed Bruce Gradkowski to carve them up for a touchdown drive with 9 seconds left for a 27-24 loss. “You know, really not a lot needs to be said in regards to how that game ended,” Mike Tomlin said. “I’m not going to make any excuses for it. We didn’t make a play. We didn’t make a play to win that football game defensively.” You can say that again. The defense allowed big plays one after another, and in the end, they had a chance to easily win it but rookie DB Joe Burnett dropped an easy interception that would have bailed out the Steelers against a team that is simply not that good. Instead, they now have lost four straight for the first time since the 2003 season.

They have four games left, but right now the playoffs look like light years away. Tomlin, who in his second year led the team to the Super Bowl, now has to answer the question about how to keep the team together amid all the issues they are having on and off the field. The Steelers looked to have the game won when Ben Roethlisberger threw an 11-yard score to Hines Ward with 1:56 left to take a 24-20 lead. The defense allowed Oakland three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, this after allowing just two field goals in the first three quarters. Roethlisberger was 18-for-24 for 278 yards with two TD’s and another end zone pick. Rashard Mendenhall ran for 103 yards and a score as well. Now, the 6-6 club will be in Cleveland on Thursday.

0 Steelers suffer a stunning OT loss to the Chiefs 27-24. Posted by DieHardFans | at 2:47 AM

Call it a trap game. Call it a lack of focus. Whatever you call it, the Steelers 2009 season is now officially in a world of trouble. That was the case after Sunday’s 27-24 shocking overtime loss to the formerly 2-7 Kansas City Chiefs. The Steelers are now 6-4, and in big trouble when it comes to even thinking about playing in the post season. The team dominated the game from the stats standpoint, and after they allowed an opening kickoff for a touchdown took charge, scoring 17 straight points. Then turnovers took their toll, as first a pick from QB Ben Roethlisberger that bounced off the shoulder pads of Heath Miller early in the third quarter led to a KC touchdown.

The Steelers then had another shot to rally and put the game away, as they marched to the KC 20, but Roethlisberger threw a pick in the end zone that Andy Studebaker took back 94 yards. That’s when things went wrong. KC marched from their own 9 and went 8 plays, including a pass play of 30 yards then another of 47 yards to get to the Steelers 13. The Steelers, who had over 500 yards of offense total, were unable to get past midfield, and were forced to punt. The Chiefs tried a play, but then downed the ball and the game went to OT. More bad news.

The Pittsburgh Steelers got the ball first, and seemed to be moving the ball well. They got to the KC 49, but then on a run Roethlisberger was kneed in the head, and had to leave the game. His status for next week’s game is still questionable. Then though backup QB Charlie Batch came in and made a big play, hitting Santonio Holmes for 17 yards to the Chiefs 43. The Chiefs got the ball at their 20, and quickly struck. After three plays, Cassel hit Chris Chambers, who caught the ball in stride and went down the sideline for a 61-yard gain to the Steelers four.

The next play Ryan Succop put the Steelers out of their misery with a 22-yard field goal to make it the 27-24 final. Pittsburgh had outgained the Chiefs in regulation 463-206. The Chiefs stayed in the game with a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the contest. The Steelers also held the ball for 19 more minutes. Roethlisberger was 32-for-42 for 398 with three TD’s and two picks.

0 Steelers Kick Coverage may break the record... In a Bad Way! Posted by DieHardFans | at 2:34 AM

If you're a Steelers Die-hard fan, then you should know that their kick coverage has been putrid, but considering how bad the Steelers coverage teams over the years have been, it's easy to not realize just how rank this year's special teams are. Thankfully, the Football Outsiders are able to give it some perspective. In the 15 years of stats the FO guys now have data for; the Steelers are coming up on a very dubious record. The 1995 Bills have the record for the worst kick coverage unit of all time.

They are so bad that the difference between them and the second worst team is as much as the difference between the second worst and the 53rd worst unit. But now the Steelers are not far behind the 1995 Bills for putridity. And it's not just the kick coverage. Jeff Reed's kickoffs have been the worst in the league, significantly worse than anyone else, which is another argument why they should be OK with bringing in another kicker next year.

Football Outsiders ranks the kick coverage units by points. The Falcons are the best in kick coverage at 11.1 points. The Lions are second worst at -12.8. Pittsburgh is sitting at -26.2. Only three teams in those 15 years have finished worse than -20 with the Bills' -31 easily the worst since 1994. It's unlikely that the Steelers will catch the '95 Bills. It's hard to keep being as bad as they've been in recent weeks, but it is a good reminder that this unit isn't just a group that's having a couple of problems, it's a group that is one of the worst kick coverage units you'll ever see.

0 Second half Surge Lifts the Steelers to a Big win Denver... Posted by DieHardFans | at 11:05 PM

I think it’s safe to say that the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS are officially back. After a slow start to their Monday night matchup with the Broncos, the Steelers exploded in the second half, outscoring the Broncos 21-7 as they walked out with their fifth straight win 28-10. For the Steelers, the first half could not have been any uglier, except for the score. They did nothing worth talking about in the first quarter, running 11 plays and gaining 20 yards while Ben Roethlisberger was sacked twice.

The second quarter was as much of the same till Carter picked off Orton about three minutes into the second quarter, and took it back untouched for the defensive score that put the Steelers up. It was after the half that the team started to finally assert itself. They started fast, going from their 17 to the Broncos 33, when the last negative play of the night happened for the Steelers. Roethlisberger was under pressure, and stripped by Kenny Peterson. The ball rolled around until Robert Ayers picked it up and went 54 yards for a score to make it 10-7 Denver.

The lead would be short lived for the Broncos as the Pittsburgh Steelers responded right away; they needed just two minutes to go the distance. A pass to Mike Wallace went for 18 yards, and then Rashard Mendenhall went 24 yards. A deep pass to Santonio Holmes went for 35 yards to the Broncos three. One play later the team took the lead for good, as Big Ben hit Hines Ward for a three-yard TD to make it 14-10. The game stayed tight till midway through the fourth quarter. Then came a big play from a huge playmaker (Troy Polamalu) who picked of Orton to set the Steelers up at the Broncos 25. On third down Roethlisberger extended the play, and threw deep to Wallace, who beat Brian Dawkins for a score to extend the lead to 21-10 with 7:03 left. Then the defense started to pounce.

Orton and the Broncos were unable to do anything, and quickly went three and out and were forced to punt. That’s when the offense put the finishing touches on the win. Led by Mendenhall, who had 155 yards on 22 carries, the team marched to the Denver three, when Roethlisberger hit Ward for a second score to close out the game at 28-10 with 1:22 left. Roethlisberger was 21-for-29 for 233 yards with three scores and a pick. His QB rating was 116.0. Orton was under stress for most of the second half. He was just 23-for-38 for 221 yards with three picks. The Steelers amassed 375 yards of offense, holding Denver to 242 yards. After a first half that was not so hot, the team held the ball total for 33:03 to 26:57 for the Denver. The defense also held Denver to zero first downs rushing, and just 27 yards on the ground while the Steelers put up 173 yards rushing.

This win sets up a big North showdown with the fellow first place Cincinnati Bengals Sunday at Heinz Field. Both teams will enter the game at 6-2.

0 Defense steps up a notch as the Steelers sweep the Vikings of their Feet... Posted by DieHardFans | at 12:42 AM

Steelers defense storms past Vikings to steal a convincing win!

It may have been a long time coming, but the infamous Steelers defense, and their trade mark big-play, has finally paid off. The side came out victors on Sunday afternoon, after a hard fought game in Heinz Field.



They cruised back to form, stopping the Vikings in their tracks with a pair of huge fourth quarter plays in a 27-17 win to move to 5-2. It was the first time since 1998 that the defense had scored two TD’s in a game. The points were crucial, as the first made it 20-10, whilst the second sealed the win to make it 27-17. Favre threw an important pass that Chester Taylor couldn’t contain. It bounced off his face and shoulder pads, falling directly into the Pittsburgh Steelers laps. Before they were unable to say “we’re still undefeated” the game was over.

They achieved not one, but two defensive touchdowns in the last six minutes! The Minnesota Vikings made up important yards, and controlled the time of possession. However, it was those key plays that proved to be the final nail in an imminent coffin for the Vikings. They have certainly improved their pass rush defense and secondary play and it is certainly safe to say that the offensive balance between Favre’s vertical passing attack and Peterson’s ground game is bang on!

However, the critics have been out in full force of late, many accusing the Vikings of giving up throwing away important touchdowns. The Vikings don’t appear to be lacking in discipline on the training pitch, but the results appear to be disagree.

They may well be looking at the blip as a blessing in disguise. It is the difference between being good, and being elite. With a little more concentration and hard work, the boys may still pull through this season!

0 Steelers strengthened by the return of Polamalu and Parker... Posted by DieHardFans | at 4:37 AM

The Steelers have been strengthened by the return of 2 previously injured players this week, with safety Troy Polamalu and running back Willie Parker, both back for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field.

However it would seem the coach has been left with a selection nightmare, with just one of them set to start. Polamalu, who missed four games with a sprained medial collateral ligament, has been in training all week. He is due to make his comeback and will start against the Browns, wearing a protective brace.

Parker on the other hand, who missed the past two games with a toe injury, is expected to be replaced again in the starting lineup by Rashard Mendenhall, despite the fact he had been present during training all week. Meanwhile, Mendenhall returned to practice today after missing Thursday's session with flu. The Steelers are without any pre planned rotation system for Mendenhall and Parker, meaning the flow of the game will ultimately determine whether Parker gets a run out.

0 Steelers dealt a costly blow as Aaron Smith is sidelined with injury. Posted by DieHardFans | at 4:32 AM

The beleaguered Steelers have been dealt a hefty blow in the form of yet another injury. This time it’s 11 year veteran DE Aaron Smith. He received a knock so severe, commentators predict he will be sidelined for the foreseeable.

33-year-old Smith has recorded 44 sacks and 385 tackles in 150 career games with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Speaking at Tuesday’s press conference, head coach; Mike Tomlin said he had suffered a torn rotators cuff in his right shoulder during Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions.

Smith picked up the injury in the third quarter but soldiered on to play the remainder, only missing a handful of snaps here and there. The Pittsburgh ace will undergo surgery late next week. The loss of Smith couldn’t have come at a worse time. He is widely regarded as the best 3-4 end in the entire league, known for his ability to create gaps for the linebackers to make plays.

Prone to injury in the past, Smith tore his bicep in 2007. This proved to be a significant factor in their decline that season from top spot. The real test will be their match up with the Minnesota Vikings! Ziggy will replace Smith!

0 Steelers hold their ground to play Chicago off the park! Posted by DieHardFans | at 12:08 AM

For the first time this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have clinched a convincing away victory, after playing Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears off the park. Roethlisberger was the hero of the hour, throwing three touchdown passes toward the end of 3rd quarter. The Pittsburgh defence was just too good in the fourth, holding off the Detroit Lions for a 28-20 win Sunday. Corner back William James intercepted a bad ball, allowing him to create a damaging field goal in the second quarter.

The Detroit Lions had the chance to take the game in overtime in the fourth quarter against the defending Super Bowl champs. However, it wasn’t to be as the Steelers held it together, spurred on by thousands of black-and-gold clad fans chanted "DE-FENSE!"

Quarterback Dante Culpepper threw one interception and was sacked seven times, including three successive plays on the Lions’ final drive. But it was none other than the offensive line who helped Big Ben move around in the pocket and complete throws for big gains. The performance truly was reminiscent of their Super Bowl victory in 2006 at the same stadium.

0 Troy Polamalu’s Injury Posted by DieHardFans | at 11:23 PM

This might be the first time Troy Polamalu is happy to hear that an injury will keep him out from just few games and not the entire season. The 2-Time ALL-PRO injured his left medical collateral ligament that occurred during a scramble for the ball on a blocked-field goal attempt Thursday against Tennessee Titans.

After medical scans, the doctors have decided that he wouldn’t require a surgery on his knee. The condition could have been worse but he feels blessed that he wouldn’t have to undergo a surgery for this injury or miss the whole regular season. Pittsburgh Steelers will definitely miss his presence on the field and the way he used to adapt to different plays.

His ability to be a pass defender makes him one of the NFL’s most versatile players. But no worries for Pittsburgh Steelers! They’ve got a backup – Tyron Carter; we all know that nobody can stand in Polamalu’s shoes, but Carter will do the job. Troy Polamalu is expected to recover from this injury within 4 to 8 weeks.

0 Steelers Defeat Titans in Overtime Posted by DieHardFans | at 3:06 AM

The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to wear the seventh ring on their finger with their defense-oriented game that was hard fought and well played.

The true strength of the Steelers was one-handed interception by Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu and Big Ben Roethlisberger, who proved his mastery of the two-minute no-huddle offense hooked up with receivers Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward. The fact that Steelers were on their home ground, did not help them much, as Titans did prove to be a good stone wall against Steelers running backs.

The Steelers tied the game with just over 2 minutes left in the game on a 32 yard field goal with 2:57 left on the clock. Pittsburgh won the toss in overtime and Roethlisberger moved the Steelers down the field on 3 pass completions setting up Jeff Reeds 32 yard game winning field goal. The win, however cost the Steelers defensive leader Troy Polamalu, as he suffered from a knee injury on a blocked field goal.

It seems that Steelers’ fans are not getting enough of customized Roethlisberger jerseys, bags and totes as more and more NFL fans are seen sporting bags and totes with number ‘7’.

2 Steelers vs. Titans Posted by DieHardFans | at 5:37 AM

Today the Steelers are going to take on one of the best teams from last year, the Titans. Of course, Steelers are at home and are considered favorite, and the fact that Titans had crushed them in the game played down south in December, 08 adds to the spice of this game. Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to play this game with a vengeance. They are looking super strong and they have Rashard Mendenhall to top it up.

This game means a lot to both teams. For the Steelers, this game means finishing with the best record in the conference. For the Titans it means getting closer to the best season in their history. For both it will do a lot to determine who earns home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The difference here is that the Steelers defense is much better, ranking first in many categories of defensive statistics. The Titans have struggled in a few games and haven't faced as many high caliber offenses.

There are definitely going to be more Pittsburgh Steelers caps and jerseys around today and Tim Mc Graw and Blck Eyed Peas are going to rock! The performances are said to be a part of the celebration to kick off the 2009 season and to honor the six-time Super-Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the city of Pittsburgh.

If I had to bet, I would certainly put all my money on Steelers, whaddya think?

2 Welcome to The Ultimate Football Fans Posted by DieHardFans | at 5:22 AM

You may be wondering why one more blog for football… Well, I believe the answer lies in football fans craving! We fans never settle for less and so here’s one more blog, something that is beyond the game. The appeal of reaching out to the world and fellow football fans is way too much to resist and blogging is a good way to dish out thoughts, discuss matches and boast about memorabilia collection.

Football fans such as yourself, myself and countless others need a source to let out their emotions, blame the managers for losses, swank about wins, (use curse words at times) and brag about football statistics! This blog is meant for all these and more. This blog is not for modern football wannabes but ultimate, die-hard fans who eat, live and dream football.

Whether you are from New Orleans or New York, Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, San Francisco or San Diego, you will feel right at home here as I will keep all the bases covered. This blog is not meant to sing praises about one team but to celebrate an American religion, we call ‘Football’.