The Green Bay Packers are 2 1/2 point favorites on Super Bowl Sunday. While this seems like a slight to the Steelers, the media tells us this is proper. After all they are the hotter team, right?  Well... no, not really. In truth, the Packers have played inspired football at times, but other times during this playoff stretch their play has been erratic. Like the Steelers however they have played well when they have needed to and are here in the Super Bowl. The real reason the Packers are favored in this game has less to do with Green Bay, and much more to do with the Steelers. That reason is actually two...New Orleans, and New England.

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     As I watched the Steelers battle their way to a 3rd Super Bowl in the last six years, I was finding myself in a very curious mood. The Steelers were not only taking out the Jets, but in some strange way I also saw it as a blow to the Patriots. You know, those Patriots, who trashed opponent after opponent the final half of the season, making their 2010 campaign look eerily familiar to their 2007 team. Just like 2007, they were the big bad bully who had no idea how to react after someone dared to punch them in the nose.

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     Seconds after Flacco's last incompletion of the game, I did a victory lap around our local sports bar. The triumph of victory was too sweet to take standing still.

     Among many thoughts, I have are the following:

1. With a crumbling offensive line and the feel free to tee off on Big Ben attitude the referees seem to now favor, was their any QB in the league that could have pulled out a victory given the circumstances? This game was classic Roethlisberger, and an example of why for all his flaws, he remains the perfect QB for the city of Pittsburgh.

2. The referees missed a brutal helmet hit on Heath Miller tonight. I have no idea how they missed it, as it was in plain sight. With the storm surrounding Harrison, it is inexcusable  for he referees to miss his. I think the league office has some explaining to do after this game. For the second week in a row Ben is unnecessarily brutalized as well. Ben also took a helmet slap from Suggs on the touchdown drive. It was minor, but you can't hit the QB in the head... again it was missed.

3. Is their any way we can hide Bryant McFadden? He seems to be getting worse by week.

4. I defended BA earlier this week, but after tonight, I'm struggling. His play selection inside the 5 on the drive that produced their second field goal was simply awful. I felt that the play selection offered no chance for us to get 6 in that situation.When Sanders failed to get up and finish off that catch with a TD that set up the first and goal, I correctly predicted two running plays that would net us zip, with Ben having to make a play on third down if we were going to score. As it was, if  Wallace had  taken his man outside I think he could have scored.

5. James Farrior had a great game tonight, good to see the old man come up big when we need him.

Great win tonight. We will celebrate this one. Yes, the Steelers/Ravens= best rivalry in the NFL. After tonight, it's not close.

I missed the first quarter tonight, so I can't comment on that. That being, said there were still some interesting things I witnessed.

 Stupidist thing I heard all night: After Charlie Batch made a couple of nice plays resulting in a late TD, Troy Aikman says something to the effect of  "Now Charlie Batch has put himself in the middle of this QB situation" .

Some things that I think were cemented tonight.

#1: Our starting QB is going to be Byron Leftwich. DD had his chance, and he simply didn't deliver. Some may focus on the int's which were bad, but he looked like Checkdown Dennis tonight. He looked better after halftime, and got no favors from that awful BA call on 4th down, but he simply didn't look good enough. Dennis, you had your chance, and you didn't take advantage of it.

#2: Goodbye Stefan Logan. Logan, who was one of the best stories of last years camp, needed to have a big game to keep his roster spot alive, IMO. Other than a real fine special teams takedown, I think he hurt his stock. The fair catch with a ten yard cushion was infuriating to me, the out of bounds penalty... His job is to return, returnable punts, and he takes too many fair catches. I think Antonio Brown secured the PR/KR spot tonight.

#3: Markice Pouncey appeared to play very well. There should be no doubt about him being the starting center in game 1. The line looked pretty competent with Pouncey in there, and miserable when Hartwig was handling the snaps. I'm not saying that was Justin's fault, but it's hard to overlook how much worse that second string line looked when Pouncey was replaced by Hartwig.

#4: I didn't like Emmanuel Sanders game at all tonight. he looked like a guy who won't be contributing much this year. His route running, and lack of fight for the ball contributed to some of DD's poor play, IMO.

#5: I tried to watch Tony Hills, and I came away feeling he's going to make this team. he looked pretty solid keeping his man in front of him, and had no penalties.

#6: Jonathan Dwyer may have saved his bacon tonight, although, I still think he's PS bound. He had some nice runs,and showed some strength, but clearly blew it on one missed handoff that Leftwich simply had to throw away.

#7: Lawrence Timmons looked really active out there tonight. he may be ready to breakout.

#8: I personally saw nothing from Ziggy Hood. There has been alot of positive talk about him during camp, but I'm still waiting to see his presence on the field.

The Steelers didn't play well tonight, but I'm not getting worked up over it. I think they can survive the the 1st quarter of the season without BB.

With the rapid progression of Markice Pouncey, it has occured to me that the Steelers are in a very interesting position.

1. Could Pouncey immediately upgrade the offensive line? Right now, it sure seems possible. An upgrade could ease the time without Big Ben.

2. Ziggy Hood becoming a defensive presence. It's clear he won't start, but he will be the 4th Lineman, and should see major playing time in the rotation. If he is the pass rushing force he's being billed as, then his activity should be significant.

3. It's clear the coaching staff is expecting/hoping for big things from Lawrence Timmons this year. This being his 4th year, he has not exactly been a disappointment , but I think we are all still waiting for "boom" to happen with him. He's been pretty good, but this could be the year he becomes really, really good. Pro Bowl good. We are waiting Lawrence, please show us how good you can really be.

4. While Rashard Mendenhall had a productive 2nd year, I wouldn't yet say he has arrived. Will he become more of a focal point for the offense? Will he be more consistent from week to week? Part of his problem is he is playing in the shadows of a couple other early picks, Chris Johnson, and Ray Rice. Can Rashard take the next step up, and become a dominant running back rather than just a productive one?

These questions interest me, because I can't remember a time where we had 4 talented 1st round picks who seemed to be ready to explode into prominence all in the same year. All four ridiculously talented, and seemingly on an upward trajectory. You're thoughts are appreciated.

I was able to watch most of tonight's game. A few of my thoughts:

1- Markice Pouncey may have been a steal where the Steelers drafted him. Giants announcers were wondering why their 2nd string was getting whipped up front. Exhibit A, Markice Pouncey. I'm guessing the coaching staff is even surprised by how good he is.On numerous plays I saw him take out two defenders. He looked quick and in control. He's earned a shot with the 1st string next week, dontcha think?

2- Has Antonio Brown cemented a roster spot? He was impressive again tonight. Hate to say it, but Logan's days are numbered here.

3- I saw Worilds in there, but only because I saw the back of jersey. I know it's early, and he's had some injury issues, but I haven't heard a single positive thing about him. The other two linebackers we drafted are making a names for themselves, and both could potentially make the team. I know Worlids won't get cut, but is he this year's Kraig Urbik?

4- All three QB's looked good. I don't think anything that happened tonight will change the Dixon/Leftwich order of things, although I will say Dixon looks like he has improved over last year.

5- Anthony Madison is a goner isn't he?

6- Isaac Redman was impressive again tonight.

7- Still concerns over that starting O-line. they gave up some huge penetrations early on.

All in all, this game gave me a similar feeling to the 1st game. The Steelers looked good enough, and do look good enough to survive the early going without BB. I'd like to hear some other input on what happened tonight.

I can't follow Training Camp like some of you can, and I was curious about the progress, or lack thereof from our draft picks this year, and our picks last year. I have heard that Ziggy is coming along well, but after that I'm a little lost.

What about last years corners? Burnett and Lewis, any progress there? Kraig Urbik? What about the progress of Dennis Dixon? If he can't beat out Leftwich, than does that mean he is not quite what we hoped he could be? Any input would be great, Thanks.

It seems like there is a feeling that staying put is the right thing to do. I know there will be alot of good players for us at 18, but what about moving up to get an almost can't miss? I know there is no sure thing, but there are a few guys in that top 10 that I feel will be big time players for the next 8-10 years. 

Would this years, and next years #1 be worth it for Eric Berry? If he pans out as predicted, he and Troy prowling the secondary for the next three or four years? I bring this up, because I think we have about a three year window right now ( probably true for everyone who has playoff talent). We have alot of 30+ year old guys in key positions. In a couple years this team is going to have a very different look. I would like to see us go up and get a stud who can help us as soon as possible in our most vulnerable area. We all saw what happened last year when the secondary was missing Troy, and in my opinion that should be our #1 priority.

Before anyone gets all bent out of shape about " another Big Ben post " , let me simply say that this is not designed to talk about guilt, or innocence. dirtbag, or unfortunate target. If you wanna jump on this and say he would never be traded, please, don't bother.

Any good organization would keep there options open in a developing situation such as this one, and I believe the Steelers are doing that. Don't get me wrong, I think it's unlikely they trade him away anytime soon, but if the right offer comes, they would be foolish not to listen.

With no controversy, BB would certainly command two 1st round picks + a solid starter, if not more. Considering the circumstances, he would be worth at least a little less. Interested to see what Steeler Nation thinks

     Am I the only one who is highly confused by the signing of Antwaan Randle-El ? What is he coming here to do ? Certainly not be the #3 reciever, we already have someone who is better suited to that then Randle-El ever was. Does this mean goodbye Stefan Logan? Limas Sweed?

     It's pretty clear that the Steelers have had a shift in philosophy since MT has taken over, and I for one am a little concerned by it. Signing a Ryan Clark to a lucrative deal, and now bringing back Randle-El suggests the Steelers are no longer holding to the philosophy of player turnover like they did in the past.  The Steelers have been successful the past 20 years precisely because they did not hold an emotional value to their players once they got into their thirties. They lost players, and they replaced them, that's the way it was.  Sure, once in awhile we said goodbye to a player who still had good years left (Rod Woodson), but more often then not, it saved us in the long run, and allowed us to remain a constant contender.

     I had faith in the Steelers FO when they adhered to this strategy. It allowed them to be flexible, and somewhat youthful. They now have the appearance of an aging team, and seem to be embracing it. This has not been what the Steelers have been about, and I don't think this philosophy will succeed. In my opinion, 2 superbowls  the last 5 years have clouded the Steelers path.

     Nothing against Randle-El, he was great to have in his prime, but that prime has passed.