Wow, it really couldn't have gone much worse for the Pittsburgh Steelers against their biggest rival, the Baltimore Ravens. As I sit here in shock, beer in hand, it's kind of amazing to me that this team actually made it to the Super Bowl last season. With that offensive line? With that defense? Against a team the Steelers beat two times just a year ago? There were hardly any major changes during the off-season. Why? Why?
Of course it's only the first game of the season blah, blah, blah. The Steelers are blessed with a decently easy schedule coming up -- but will it matter? If they lose against the Seattle Seahawks next week and to the Peyton Manning-less Indianapolis Colts, it will be safe to say that the Steelers won't be going for ring #7 this time.
Side note: I'm writing this with four minutes left in the game, and I had to change the headline from six turnovers to seven. That ties a new Ravens record. It was the first seven-turnover game for the Steelers since 1995.
This has been one of the most pathetic displays of football I've ever seen from the Steelers. Not quite as bad as the 51-0 beat-down by the Cleveland Browns back on September 10, 1989 ... but pretty damn close. You never want to lose against your most fierce rival 35-7.
Super Bowl loser hangover? I'd definitely say so.
This is their first opening day loss since 2002, snapping the longest streak in the league. Kordell Stewart was the starting quarterback. Yes, it was that long ago. And 35 points is the most points the Ravens have ever scored against the Steelers.
After seeing Hines Ward get owned multiple times, Troy Polamalu getting beat in the endzone, watching Ben Roethlisberger throwing interception after interception, both running backs, Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore, fumbling, the Steelers offensive line looking like they have never played together ever in life, the Steelers defense completely forgetting they were top-ranked just a season ago, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed looking so damn happy, Joe Flacco connecting with 800 receivers for TDs, Ray Rice racking up over 100 yards and 2 touchdowns ... it's a really tough day to be a Steelers fan.
And might as well end the game with a Terrell Suggs sack.
The Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars game is more exciting than Steelers vs. Ravens. Wasn't this game supposed to be one of the most hard-hitting, explosive match-ups of the season? I only kept watching just to see if it could get any worse ... and it did.
Ben Roethlisberger ended up with 246 passing yards ... oh yeah and three interceptions and two fumbles. My profound apologies if any of you had him on your fantasy team. Joe Flacco had 17 completions out of 29 attempts for 215. It was his first win against the Steelers when Big Ben was the starter.
The Ravens even faked an extra point attempt just to give a big middle finger to the Steelers. There was absolutely no reason to do it except to give Steelers and their fans a giant F-you. Punter Sam Koch got the snap and walked into the endzone completely untouched.
The Ravens started the game with a 66-yard scoring drive in three plays. Three. They also started the second half by causing Rashard Mendenhall to fumble the ball, recovered by Haloti Ngata, who had an awesome game. The way both halves started pretty much set the tone for the entire game. It was pure football torture. So many division leaders, the Steelers, Colts, Falcons, and Chiefs, all got completely embarrassed today.
There isn't much more to say about this one. Hopefully the Steelers can bounce back next week instead of digging themselves out of a 0-2 hole.