Rich's Sports Beat

Much will have been said and written about the Steelers loss to the Ravens this past week and most of it will likely be true. Plenty of blame to go around for what happened at Heinz Field last Sunday and all of it justified. Penalties are inexcusable and uncalled for. Oh sure, penalties are going to take place. That is just the nature of the beast. But mental penalties, like false starts, are not justified. If you are an offensive lineman or someone on the line, it is your responsibility to know the snap count and not jump before the ball is snapped. Plain and simple. But this loss could have, and should have, been avoided. The offense could have played better, as could have the defense. Jeff Reed will have gotten his share of the blame, as well he should, and the ultimate insult is losing at home, which the Steelers should almost never do. I have never been sold on Heinz Field being an advantage for the Steelers like Three Rivers Stadium was. There is no deafening noise ra...

As was hoped and expected last week, the offense came out its slumber and put big points on the board as the Steelers jumped all over Tampa Bay and made a statement that they are going to be reckoned with as the season moves along. Charlie Batch started and threw three touchdown passes (two to Mike Wallace and one to Hines Ward), Rashard Mendenhall rushed for another and the icing on the cakes was Brett Keisel’s 79 yard interception return for a touchdown. This is what the team and the offense needed to cure the woes of the first two weeks. While it may stir a minor controversy, Charlie Batch has to start this week versus the Ravens at Heinz Field. Despite two interceptions, he did nothing to warrant being returned to the bench. This week is the key game of the first four. It is the first division game, at home, and will set the tone for the division and the rest of the season. These two teams simply do not like each other. While there is grudging respect, I think both teams wo...