Well, as far as I can see, Palmer didn't look a whole lot better than Ben yesterday. His receivers are 1000000 times better than the Steelers' WRs have been playing, and Ben would've had at least 1 TD if they were able to hold onto the ball. Carson fumbled 3 times, threw 2 INTs, and it's not hard to beat DeShea Townsend for a TD either (I've wanted his *** off the field for years now...we definitely need a better CB than him). Carson looked a lot like Dumbte Fumblepepper for part of that game to be honest with you. He was a turnover machine, and completely incapable of reading the D on the first INT. Unfortunately he didn't look like that all game or we would've won.
If not for 2 fumbles late in the game (muffed punt couting as one of them, Verron's the 2nd) we still win that game. On one of Ben's throws, he stepped on Marvel's foot, so that wasn't exactly his fault. The one in the end zone that would've put us up 14-0 was though, read a quote where he says he didn't see the defended coming from the other side. I can't exactly visualize the 3rd INT right now, and never heard any quotes on it....I just know it was a bad one right at the end.
I am REALLY glad the bye-week is here. Hopefully with 14 days rest, BOTH Big Ben and Troy Polamalu (our 2 most important players without a doubt) will come back healthy and BB will be in rythm with the offense as well. Troy was missing tackles again yesterday, but not as bad as last week where he looked like a guy that should've been cut from the practice squad. I do question Ben's decision making some, but I think he'll come back.
As for Reed's FG kicking, he NEVER has been any good unless it's like 44 yards or less. That first FG in the game was absolutely retarded to even attempt it. 48 yards, INTO a very strong wind, and Reed doesn't have the leg for it anyway. FG blocked, worse field position than if they had went for it on 4th. I saw that one coming from a mile away and was cussing at the TV when I saw them lining up to kick the FG, and wasn't the least bit surprised when it was blocked. VERY stupid decision there!
As for the other Reid, he should be activated and Coclough benched. Coclough also got beat for a TD when he was in at nickle, as well as muffing the punt, so the Bungholes should've given him the game ball. When asked about activating Reid, Cowher said something like "that's something that we'll have to evaluate, we have plenty of time". Hopefully he'll be activated and returning punts....Holmes is doing ok too though, so I don't understand why Coclough was back there anyway. Cowher said he likes Holmes' hands so inside the 10 or w/e they use him. I have no clue why they use Coclough though EVER!
Good things to take away from the game: Awesome pressure on the QB even from our DL, very good run D, pretty decent pass D most of the time....aside from 4 throws, which were all TDs. Palmer only had 193 yards, 58 of those were on the 4 TD passes. So we held them to 193 yards passing, and Rudi to 47 yards rushing with a long of 8 yards. Take away their short field, and we win easily. Most importantly though, my boy FAST WILLIE looked awesome. Granted it was just the Bengals, but he looked to be making good reads, good cutbacks, fighting for extra yardage, etc. Overall, we played well enough, even with Ben not playing well, that minus the muffed punt and Verron's fumble late in the game, we still win....no doubt in my mind.
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