The Packers travelled to Heinz field to take on the slumming Steelers. What a game that turned out to be. The Steelers’ defense played a mediocre game and by the end they were just getting worked. Tyrone Carter blew a few tackles, two huge ones with Jenning’s TD and Driver’s 30 yard reception. Hopefully Polamalu will be back next week.
The offense showed up so much so that Woodson (arguably one of the best cornerbacks in the league even if he’s getting a tad old) kept getting penalties because he kept getting burned. Mike Wallace gets a bomb thrown to him and he has to stop to get it because Big Ben didn’t throw it far enough and spins around for the first touchdown of the game with a 1-play, 60 YD TD pass in :02. Crazy. Mathews is a beast of a defensive end and he just worked our left tackle Starks. I felt sorry for him. Lots of pressure on Big Ben but he managed to stay on his feet and get 503 yards and 3TDs… the most yardage of the year for any QB and a franchise record. Holmes, Wallace, Ward, and Miller were all equally thrown to and stepped up with very few errors.
Many have criticized Tomlin’s decision for an onside kick with a little over 4 minutes in the game and up by only 2 points. I applauded him since it was a win/win situation. Firstly, our defense was running backwards in the fourth quarter. Had we kicked it deep they would have ate up the clock and scored anyways (FG or TD) giving us no time left to rebut. So giving it up at the 39 isn’t a horrible scenario as we’d have clock to work with and we’d need only one score giving us the win. Secondly, had the onside worked we would have most likely scored and ate up the clock while being up TWO scores and essentially cinching the game. It ALMOST worked had Ike Taylor waited one extra bounce as no one was really that close. Too bad.
It was the last 2 minute drive that impressed. Flags on both sides kept it tense. Going down to fourth and ten makes it moreso. I’m holding my breath as he lasers one into Holmes hands between two defenders. It looks like a pick but no! I see Holmes take a mad dash to the sidelines and I cheer! Few more plays gets it to the 20 yard line. 1st and 10 but with so little time it’s all or nothing. Throw it away once when Ward was coming across and he didn’t see. Put it in the back of the endzone but too high. :03 seconds left, only one play left. The ball is hiked and Ben waits. He’s watching and a lineman breaks through and grabs him. Everyone holds there breath as the game is over as the time is out and he’s wrapped up. But wait! Being Big Ben he works his miracle and steps out of the tackle and steps into the pocket. He spies Wallace running post and shoots a quick one to where only Wallace can catch it but only if he lays out and toe taps in a la Holmes and Super Bowl XLIII greatness. The rookie does just that and pulls it in for an amazing touchdown to tie the game and Reed finishes with the point after. First time a game has ended in the score 37-36. An amazing finish to a great game.
This was an important win. All the wildcard teams are .500 now giving us a legitimate shot if the numbers fall right. Finishing out the season by beating the Ravens and Dolphins should eliminate them. The Broncos can fall, they just lost to the Raiders and they have to travel to Philly to take on the red hot Eagles. It ain’t over yet! Not to mention that Troy Polamalu should be back to lead our defense.
