Rich's Sports Beat

I was about to write about the Steelers not wanting this game bad enough, based on how the first half unfolded. I was more concerned with how injuries were going to affect the outcome of this game. Then I had to remind myself that this is the Steelers and the Ravens. This is not a football game. This is a street fight, an alley brawl, and it is not going to score any style points. This is all about who wants it more. At the end of the game, the Steelers wanted it more and went out and proved it. Ben Roethlisberger went into the game with a specially fitted boot to go over his bad foot. Turns out that was the least of his problems. On the first series, taking a paw to the face, he got his nose bloody and battered. No flag, no penalty, and a minimal fine. Later in the game, Heath Miller took a vicious shot that would have decapitated most men. He walked off the field under his own power, albeit with a concussion. A mere immortal among mortal men. Go figure. Most men would ha...

Now, that’s more like it. I was glad to be wrong. Not about the result. About the score. I thought the Raiders would have made a better, and closer, game of it last week. After they kicked the opening field goal, the Steelers responded with 35 unanswered points. After the debacle last week two weeks ago against New England, the Steelers answered the bell and came out swinging, figuratively and literally, against the Raiders. The physical nature of the game brought back memories from the days of yore. Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes and ran for another. Rashard Mendenhall rushed for another touchdown and was the only running back to account for 11 rushing touchdowns . Isaac Redman scored his first NFL touchdown in garbage time and effectively put the icing on the cake. Yet, the Steelers can do better and they must do better as they head down the stretch. Coming back after the New England mess was a sign of pride and character. However, the penalties were a h...