Steelers make history!

Pittsburgh became the first team in NFL history to enter the playoffs as a wild card and defeat the third, second and first seeded teams all on the road in order to advance to the Super-Bowl. The difficult and seemingly impossible path the Steelers took doesn't leave much doubt about the fact that they deserve to be in the big dance. More suprising than the victories was the play of "big" Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers tough signal caller has transformed from someone who steers the ship to someone who flat out wins games with his big arm, and heady play. Number seven exposed a Bronco's defense who is stout against the run, but needs a lot of extra bodies to rush the passes. Cedric Wilson, Hines Ward, and Antwain Rendle El all had big games receiving. It was Hines Ward who made the play of the game early on. On the Steelers first possession they faced a third down and three from their own 44 when Roethlisberger tried to fire a quick pass to Ward for the first down. Bronco's star corner back Champ Baily jumped the route and nearly intercepted the pass if not for a brilliant job of breaking it up by Hines Ward. Ward not only tipped the pass away from Baily, but he also managed to catch the pass he batted forward and pick up a steeler's first down. This seemingly insignificant play actually changed the entire game for both teams, if Baily picks off that pass he scores easily and Denver leads 7-0, instead Ward plays defensive back, gains the first down and helps Pittsburgh take a 3-0 lead on their first possession. On the Bronco's insuing possession Jake Plumber is sacked by Casey Hampton and fumbles the ball giving it back to the steelers at the Denver 39. four plays later Cedric wilson hauls in a 12 yard touchdown pass to give the Steelers a 10-0 lead. Pittsurgh lead 17-3 late in the second quarter when Jake Plumber put the final nail in his own coffin. With only 1:55 left in the half Plumber was picked off at his own 38 yard yard line, and five plays later the Steelers heart and soul made Denver pay. Down to the last fifteen ticks in the second quarter Pittsburghs leader, Hines Ward, runs an exceptional route and hauls in a 17 yard TD to put his team ahead 24-3. Denver fought back in the second half, but they were never really in it. Plumber, who was under intense pressure, tried to do too much. Plumber's effort was noble, and at times his escpaes and attempts were almost superhuman, but in the end a one man gang is no match for a team that stand together as one like Bill Cowher's Steelers.
The only thing Pitt has to worry about is it's pass rush. We know they can stop the run, but they will have to get more pressure with four than they usually do, otherwise Hasselbeck will pick them apart. If the steelers use heavy blitzes in the big show, the Hawks offensive line will give the very intelligent Matt Hasselbeck enough time to find the right receiver. The Steelers wont have to worry about it's powerful running game, although the Seahawks defensive line is good at rushing the passer they can be bullied in a power style running game, which should take a lot of pressure off of the recently battle tested Roethilisberger.