Iron City is now the official sponsor of Steelers in Hoboken.

The regular season is over.
The playoffs are here.

Pittsburgh winds up traveling to Denver, which upon first glance, looks like a mistake.  A 12-4 team with the top ranked defense almost across-the-board (Ranked #1 in points-against per game with 14.2, total yards-against per game with 271.8, passing yards-against per game with 171.9 and #8, once again holding teams under 100 rushing yards-against per game with 99.8) is going on the road to take on an 8-8 team that was mired in a three-way tie of mediocrity and won the division by virtue of a complex mathematical solution?

That's the price of losing twice to a divisional rival, and simply throwing away another huge game.  In fact, I can't remember a season when just four losses included two that were this costly.  The first contest vs. Baltimore in Week One was simply an old-fashioned shellacking.  Fair enough.  The same could be said about the decisive loss vs. Houston.

However, losing the rematch to the Ravens was unacceptable.
The field could have been a thousand yards long and it didn't look like the Steelers could have stopped them from scoring that touchdown.
The loss in San Francisco was the biggest wasted opportunity in recent (or distant) memory.  When you simply don't put your healthiest players on the field, you don't put yourself in a position to win.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the fifth seed, and that's what they deserve.
Well, here's hoping that the Steelers can repeat the amazing drive they put together in 2005, winning three playoff games on the road to reach the Super Bowl - a feat matched by the defending Super Bowl champion Packers.

Oddly enough, the Steelers can still host the AFC Championship game if the sixth-seeded Bengals reach the title game.  I don't know about you, but if I root for the Bengals (and Browns) any more than we did this season, we're all going to need some serious counseling!

First things first:
The Denver Broncos might come into the post-season at 8-8, but they've got a ferocious defense, as well - and if you haven't noticed, the Steelers have had their problems with scoring points as of late.
Tim Tebow is not a gunslinger.  The Steelers have lost Rashard Mendenhall for the rest of the season, among a myriad of other assorted injuries.  Take the under in this one.


Pittsburgh Steelers (5) at Denver Broncos (4)
Live from Invesco Field at Mile High - Denver, CO
Sunday January 8, 2012 4:30pm EST


Texas Arizona will be open at 11AM -

It's an OPEN HOUSE!

GET THERE EARLY!

The Giants play at 1pm.  Nothing against the Steelers' NFC in-laws, but you don't want some Big Blue backer in your seat for a playoff game!
Get in, settle and watch the first game as a warm-up for the main event!

The smoke has cleared.  Only the best teams remain to play.
It's time.


Ray 'Post-Season Lunatic' Powers
President, Steelers In Hoboken
'Strength In Numbers'
www.steelersinhoboken.com
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