Week 17, Brownies come to Steel City for regular season finale

Once again, the reason for Steeler’s 31-14 loss was the very bad play of Big Ben (or should it be Little Benny), as he throws 2 picks & most importantly fumbles inside the Titans 3 yard line just when we’re about to get the game’s first points & make Tennessee come from behind. But, NO – Benny couldn’t keep the ball to himself, he decided to share it with the Titans. It’s a shame if the Steelers don’t go deep in the playoffs with the great Defense they have, big big shame. Last year, Big Ben had record numbers in the passing game - & this year, he’s below the middle of the pack in QB stats. Hopefully, a bye week will help them bring their running game to full speed. A healthy Willie Parker (something we may never see again) will be the tonic we need, a bigger dosage of speedy/home run hitting Willie means less of below average Benny.

With our AFC seeding already set in stone (#2 with a bye week), #1 being Tennessee, there is no reason to play starters this week against the Brownies. Lone goal maybe to get the reserves some playing time & numbers wise to get Hines Ward 1,000 receiving yards. As for the Brownies, well they’re season has been in the Toilet for quite some time. They had high aspirations to be an AFC power house or at least a playoffs team after last years surprise season. Unfortunately this season was not meant to be their year. QB Derek Anderson was benched for 2^nd year QB Brady Quinn, both are out for the season due to injuries. TE Kellen Winslow Jr has been hurt & played like a dog all year, 43 catches for 428 yards. WR Braylon Edwards, big down season after last year – 54 catches for 868 yards (leads the league in dropped passes). Without a passing game, hard to run the ball – which was bad news for RB Jamal Lewis. Jamal has an outside shot of getting 1,000 rush yards (currently at 908), but averaging 3.5 yards/carry is pathetic and only 4 Rushing TD’s. Team has no Defense & going on your 4^th QB, no matter who you are – that just isn’t gonna work. 1^st there was Derek Anderson, 2^nd Brady Quinn, 3^rd Ken Dorsey, & now possibly starting this week #4 Bruce Gradkowski. Yup, things are bad in Cleveland.

I don’t think Browns have much of a chance against a Steelers team if the Steelers were a hungry team. But since they’ve got nothing to play for, their playoff seeding already in the bag – this should be a Steeler reserve unit vs. the Browns wretched team. With bad weather & many non starters playing, I see a sloppy game in which hopefully the Steelers have a good lead heading in the 4^th Quarter & can keep it for a win – going to 12-4. Not a bad season, not bad at all. Next big step, the 1^st playoff game at home in Pittsburgh with a healthy Willie Parker – a bye week, will go a long way to mending his injury woes.

A ripped/muscular Willie Parker below, can’t seem to shake the injury bug.  Steelers need him healthy to provide the breakaway speed/home run hitting ability he brings & no one else can replace.