Crazy Rebel(l)s
Thema drucken
15.02.2019 08:49
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The late Pittsburgh Steelers Womens T-Shirt , great Dan Rooney placed team cohesion at the top of his list of qualities that distinguish NFL champions. And in the wake of recent Steelers’ seasons marred by the discord of Le’Veon Bell’s seemingly endless contract dispute or Martavis Bryant’s extended soap opera, how refreshing it is to witness the Black-and-gold currently playing perhaps their best football of recent years in a renewed atmosphere of camaraderie.Whether it’s the Band-of-Brothers unity between Ben Roethlisberger and his outstanding offensive line, the equally brotherly affection displayed among the Steelers’ receivers, or the newfound confidence in a revamped and improving defense, Pittsburgh may be on the cusp of yet another remarkable and memorable football story. The sea change in this team’s overall performance since it started the season at 1-2-1 has been truly exceptional, culminating in last Thursday’s wipe-out of the Carolina Panthers at Heinz Field. As if they needed any further incentive, the Black-and-gold will face off in Week 11 against their arch-rival and nemesis of the 2017 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars, in next Sunday’s game in northern Florida. What better way to extend the momentum they’ve built during their current, 5-game winning streak than to go into the house of the 3-6 Jaguars and potentially knock them out of the playoffs with six weeks remaining in the 2018 regular season? Given the embarrassing and costly nature of the Steelers’ two previous meetings with Jacksonville, this is a game that could serve as a springboard into the postseason. Just as they did last week, this game presents another opportunity for the Steelers to affirm their status as a rising and dominant NFL team. In the three games following Sunday’s tilt against Jacksonville (facing the Broncos on the road Pittsburgh Steelers Hats , the Chargers at home, and then the Raiders in Oakland) Pittsburgh will have an opportunity to continue building a head of steam for the final three regular-season games against the Patriots and Bengals at Heinz Field, and the Saints in New Orleans. In particular, the December matchups against New Orleans and New England will speak volumes about how far this team has come.But if the Steelers can continue to display the type of cohesion — and pure joy of the game — they’ve demonstrated in recent weeks, their new attitude might be the factor that gets them over the hump this season. We’ve certainly seen a much more consistent group lately, and one that can be absolutely dominant at times. Perhaps more than any other single factor, the confidence and trust these players are developing in each other with each successive game are the qualities that increasingly separate them from the pack.For a time earlier this season, everyone was wondering exactly what the Steelers’ brain trust was up to in terms of a long-term strategy. But now I think we’ve discovered Mike Tomlin and his staff were far more patient and focused than we were as fans. The issues we never thought would be fixed earlier in the season (e.g. running back, the secondary and linebackers) have been substantially addressed, and the Steelers appear likely to go into the postseason with the wind in their sails.Undoubtedly, some disappointments will await on the road ahead. But the Steelers team now taking shape before our eyes appears to be a group capable of overcoming adversity. Now that they’ve moved beyond their previous personnel issues, the Black-and-gold has the look of a team poised for a strong championship bid. The Falcons were struggling again Pittsburgh Steelers Womens Hoodie , and quarterback Matt Ryan was looking for something to spark the team.Ryan got just what he wanted from his teammate, linebacker Deion Jones."That was awesome to get us going," Ryan said. "I felt like the energy that really got everybody into it, and from that point forward we played really well."Julio Jones made an acrobatic touchdown catch on a pass from Ryan, Deion Jones returned an interception for an early score, and Atlanta snapped a five-game losing streak with a 40-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.Playing their final home game of the season, the Falcons (5-9) forced three turnovers and sacked Arizona quarterbacks seven times, a single-game season high for both teams. Arizona (3-11) has dropped two straight and five of six under first-year coach Steve Wilks."I want to start out by saying I take full responsibility for what you saw out there tonight," Wilks said. "It was unacceptable, not even close."Julio Jones caught six passes for 82 yards, all in the first half. His 22-yard score in the closing seconds before intermission put the Falcons up 26-7. Jones beat Patrick Peterson's bump-and-run coverage down the left sideline, turning the cornerback around and twisting around him to make a diving catch.Ryan ran for a 1-yard score early the second quarter and finished with 231 yards passing in his 100th career victory. Matt Bryant added two short field goals Womens Customized Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys , and Tevin Coleman had a 43-yard TD run in the third quarter as Atlanta won for the first time since Week 9 at Washington.Grady Jarrett had two sacks for Atlanta, and Arizona's run defenses allowed 215 yards to the NFL's worst rushing attack.Playing behind a makeshift offense line that has lost six players to injured reserve, Arizona's Josh Rosen was under duress all afternoon and finished with a 38.4 passer rating.The rookie quarterback got the Cardinals off to a fast start with running back David Johnson catching two long passes to set up a short TD run that made it 7-0, but Arizona was essentially done after Deion Jones scored a touchdown for the third time in eight career interceptions.In his fourth game back after spending most of the season sidelined by a foot injury, Jones forced a 7-all tie in the first quarter, snagging Vic Beasley's batted ball from the air in the flats and running 41 yards for Atlanta's second defensive TD of the season.QUESTIONS IN THE DESERTIt feels like a couple of months have passed since Arizona enjoyed a season highlight under Wilks, a 20-17 win at Green Bay two weeks ago.The Cardinals were flat last week at home against Detroit and gave themselves almost no chance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Even with so many injuries, the performance was so uninspiring that Wilks might be wondering if he will return for a second season.Arizona showed why it began the day with the league's worst scoring offense, worst passing attack and second-worst ground game."Obviously on the road, you can't spot people points and turn the football over like we did today," star receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. "It was just an avalanche after the start."KEY INJURIESJulio Jones injured his ribs on the TD catch and only played a few snaps in the third with the outcome all but assured. Jones missed practice one day this week with flu-like symptoms.Cardinals cornerback David Amerson and left tackle Joe Barksdale each left with concussion symptoms and didn't return. Amerson collided with Falcons receiver Mohamed Sanu in the first. It wasn't clear when Barksdale was hurt.Injured Atlanta running back Devonta Freeman likely won't return this season, but he was on the sideline cheering on his teammates. Tight end Austin Hooper did not catch a pass and was only targeted once as he played through a sore knee he hurt last week at Green Bay.Johnson www.steelerscheapshops.com , playing with a sore quadriceps, ran 11 times for 33 yards and caught three passes for 68.EYES ON THE PRIZEThe Falcons had a respite from season-long difficulty in creating takeaways. Brian Poole had an interception and combined with Jarrett on a strip-sack fumble recovery. Bruce Irvin had his best game with Atlanta, finishing with 1陆 sacks and three QB hits."It was good to come out and have a good showing on defense today, get a couple turnovers, a couple forced fumbles," Jarrett said. "Deion Jones got a touchdown. So it was good to come out and make some stuff happen on D."ALL DOUBT ERASEDBeginning the game with a less than 1 percent chance of making the playoffs, the Falcons were mathematically eliminated."You make your bed throughout the year, and today was a good day for us as a team, but obviously not playing in the postseason is disappointing," Ryan said. "But we'll enjoy the win today and try to win these next two."UP NEXTCardinals: Host the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.Falcons: Visit Carolina next Sunday. Custom Cleveland Browns Jerseys |
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