We could go ahead an overanalyze Sunday’s AFC Championship game to no end. We could talk about every single player on both sides, every past matchup, and run computer simulations of the game 100 times and average the outcomes.

But after a lot of thought, we’ve decided to spend 10 minutes making a list of politically incorrect stereotypes about Baltimore and start an Internet war a while looking at the one matchup with the most significance: Big Ben vs. Joe Cool.

Looking at this game, the thing that will obviously stick out is the play of the defenses. Pittsburgh and Baltimore have the two best defenses in the NFL. Any QB going against one of them is going to have his hands full. Baltimore has forced tons of turnovers. We love to poke fun at Ray Lewis, but he’s a warrior and we respect his play on a football field as much as anybody. Same goes for Ed Reed…we’re even on record saying that we’d have voted for Ed Reed as NFL MVP. This guys are gamers that nobody wants to see lining up across the ball.

But…and this is a big but….the Steelers defense is no slouch either. In fact, they are actually better (GASP!) A lot of the talk this week has been about how the Ravens defense could will Baltimore to a Super Bowl. That’s nice and all, but the Steelers boast a unit that has been better from week one. They put up better numbers and won more games. They are also playing at home and healthier than the Ravens.

So we’ll be kind and say that the defenses cancel each other out. You can believe that if you want.

That leaves the game up to who has the better offense. Neither is particularly impressive, and we think that the whole game will most likely hinge on QB play. With a pair of nasty, turnover-seeking defenses, the QB who is smart with the ball and makes a few plays will most likely be walking out of Heinz Field with the Lamar Hunt trophy.

So which QB is going to play better?

Two more wins.

There, I said it.

This was an impressive win over a good team, but if the Steelers don’t win next week, nobody will care.  Once your team makes it to the AFC Championship game, all bets are off.

Us and fellow bloggers always overanalyze things, but now it’s getting pretty simple. Beat Baltimore, beat another Bird Team and the Pittsburgh Steelers are Super Bowl champions.

If the thought of Mike Tomlin handing a trophy to Dan Rooney doesn’t give you chills, you are reading the wrong blog.

But before we proceed full speed ahead to what Baltimore will bring next week, let’s look at the good and bad of the San Diego game and Mike Tomlin’s first playoff win as a head coach.

This recap is a little different than the others. The new format is more of just a list of some different stuff. Thoughts are always appreciated in the comments.

Observations

1. The beginning of the 1st quarter had half of Steeler Nation on the verge of a heart attack. I won’t lie, the demons of past Steeler failures at home were at the top of my mind when DUI Jackson scored the first touchdown. All of a sudden, Chad Scott and Dewayne Washington were patrolling the secondary again. In the end, it really was just a bad dream as the secondary rebounded and played reasonably well. The secondary wasn’t tested much during the 2nd and 3rd quarters which were totally dominated by the Steelers’ defense, but they tackled well when the game was still competitive and didn’t pull a choke job like some of the past teams.

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If I’m guessing right, I’m not the only Steeler fan who loses sleep over playoff games. I understand this is childish, sad, and will probably ruin a marriage someday, but it’s a charge I can’t deny. Reading opinion after opinion about the game doesn’t make it any easier on us fans, so Blitzburgh Blog decided to fix things by…throwing in our own two cents. We made a list of things worth worrying about and things that aren’t going to be a factor in Sunday’s showdown with the Bolts - cause if you’re gonna lose sleep, might as well make it worth your while.

Don’t worry about LT.

This is the biggest non issue of the entire game that people insist on talking about. Nobody wants to say it, but LT is done…history. He’s already getting old in running back years and has never been impressive against the Steelers. LT’s  games against Pittsburgh look like this in terms of rushing yards: 57, 36, 62, 91. At this point, I’m infinitely more afraid of Le’Ron McCalin than Tomlinson. He’s just not that effective against the Steelers, even when healthy. If he wants to go out there and try to shred the best Steelers defense since Blitzburgh on one leg, James Farrior and Co. will gladly welcome him.

Worry about Antonio Cromartie.

Rodney Harrison. Rashean Mathis. Ben has thrown some devasting interceptions in the playoffs that have been hard to shake. Only the Seattle Seahawks give up more passing yardage than the Bolts and Ben shredded them during the team’s earlier meeting, but in a close game all it takes is one misplaced throw and a guy like Cromartie can score 6 points. If Ben plays a smart game, he could have a field day though.

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We haven’t been around for a bit because of Christmas, New Years, and such…but we’re back for a preview of every team in the NFL playoffs. Thankfully, the Steelers have a week to sit and watch games like us, but one or more of these teams will be going toe to toe against Pittsburgh before you know it. Onto the previews…

Falcons 11-5

What a surprise. It seems like yesterday that Mike Vick was leading the Falcons into the NFC championship game and trying to prove a mobile QB doesn’t suck in the NFL. But Mike Vick is ancient history after Matty Ice led the Falcons back to the playoffs this year. It would be easy to say that the offense leans heavilly on Michael Tuner, but Matty Ice has thrown for over 3,400 yards and had a better season than Big Ben. The defense could be a liability, but ball control by the Falcons offense could make up for an average D. Still, a defense allowing nearly 350 yard per game and a rookie QB don’t get you to the Super Bowl.

Ravens 11-5

You know all about the Ravens by now. Their defense has been nasty for years and they finally seem to have found a competent QB to run the offense. If we had an MVP vote, Ed Reed would have gotten it. A lot of people might quickly look at the Ravens and say that they have no offense and beat a dead horse. But having played them twice, Steeler fans know that they are capable of running the ball and Flacco is already years ahead of Kyle “I Should Have Been A” Boller or Anthony “Never” Wright. The Steelers barely won both games against the Birds this season and if there is one team I’m not wanting to see against Pittsburgh, Baltimore is it. I don’t think anybody would want to face these guys.

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Most wonderful time of the year? Not quite.

The Steelers have been on a roll and surprised everybody by getting a shot at home field advantage Sunday, but the Titans were having none of it and handed the Stees their worst loss in over a year (h/t).

No complaining…this game isn’t going to be an excuse come playoff time so don’t whine. One seed isn’t going to determine whether or not the Steelers win the AFC. That type of thinking is garbage, especially with a porous offensive line and a turnover-prone QB, there are bigger things to worry about.

Onto the painful recap…

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I’m so glad I’m not old. Not like 30s or 40s old. Like at least 60 years old. I think I’d already have a few heart attacks under my belt this season with all the close games the Steelers are in. My voice is already sore after the games. Why can’t they just blow teams out of the water? Don’t they care for their fans? Come on Steelers, I thought you were better than that.

Anyway, I knew this game wasn’t going to be any different, especially when you write the recap after the game is over. But these two teams are similiar in so many ways: both have unbelievable defenses, both have mediocre offenses, both have linebackers that can kill people (though only one has actually attempted, I’m looking your way Mr. Lewis), and both of them you don’t want to face in the playoffs.

Oh, we don’t forget.

Enough messin’ around, on to the game!

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Sometimes people ask us why we watch sports.

Why waste time with something that you have no control over, they say.

The reason jagoffs like that don’t understand sports is because they would have shut this game off after Gary Russell got stoned on 4th and 1.

There some moments in life that are only possible because of sports; times that make you feel nothing in your heart except pure joy.

It didn’t matter if you had 7 final exams to study for, a root canal on Monday, or just found out your best friend was banging your girlfriend…when Deshea Townsend intercepted Tony Romo’s pass Sunday, you’re life was amazing. Nothing else mattered, even if it was only for a few seconds.

That’s why we watch sports. That’s why we love Steelers football.

Now, onto the rest of the game.

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You can talk all you want about Spygate and how the Patriots are cheaters, but the fact is, they’re good. Even without Brady they’re an offensive force. And their D is just as tough. Actually, I’m kidding.

The Pats are just OK. Yeah, Cassel has had back to back 400 yard games and they’re 7-4 but let’s see who they’ve played. Chiefs, Jets, Dolphins, 49ers, Chargers, Broncos, Rams, Colts, Bills. Come on. The Colts and Jets are the only decent teams on that list. Let’s see how they stack up against a real contender shall we?

Game time!

Stees start off with the ball and get it rolling. Well, until Ben throws a pick trying to throw a screen. This gives the Pats the ball basically in the endzone. A few plays later, Sammy I-can’t-rush-for-more-than-2-yards-on-a-carry Morris slams it home. 0-7 Patriots

A Pats fan. I don’t even have to write a joke in this caption. The picture says enough.

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Cincy is 1-8-1 and already dusting off their sleds for something to do on those lonely January weekends.

The Bengals are absolutely terrible at football and there’s no way they should beat the Steelers. Not this year.

But the Steelers have blown a lot of games they should have won this year. And the Bengals have looked mildly competent the past couple weeks.

Could their be an upset brewing? Would TJ Douchemanzadeh get a chance to clean his spikes with the Terrible Towel again?

Let’s do it.

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Both teams have something to prove today.

The Chargers need to prove they are actually a playoff contender, and can turn their season around.

The Steelers, well actually Ben Big, needs to prove he can step up in big games and stay on top of the AFC North.

This game is going to be interesting if anything, cause it looks like crap out on the field.

A shot of downtown Pittsburgh

Game Time!

FIRST QUARTER

13:33 - The Charger get their passing game going early, hitting Gates and Chambers early.

12:58 - Troy picks off the play, but it obviously hit off the ground with an unbelievable catch! I am stunned that he got his hand underneath it. Greatest catch ever.

12:15 - Big Benny hits Hines for a nice gain of 16. Looks like Ben’s shoulder is okie dokie.

11:42 - Ben makes it a point to show us his shoulder is OK by ripping it deep to San Antonio. But no dice.

11:06 - On 3rd and 600, Ben hits the league’s best dumpoff man, Mewelde, to get it into Jeff Money’s range.

10:16 - Miss. Damn. It was from 51 yards. I’ll let it slide. For now.

10:08 - Tomlinson gets probably his longest run of the year for like 16 yards. But he’s a joke and gets nothing on the next play.

8:22 - 3rd and 4, Rivers hits Manulialfdafaoa for a first for too many yards. But they keep trying to run Tomlinson. And boy does he suck this year.

6:50 - A terrible call on Ike. Usually any call on Ike I just accept it because he’s retarded, but this one was stupid. It was a bad call and now they’re in great field position

6:46 - LaDanian can at least run a few yards, and gets into the endzone. I want to punch someone in the throat. 0-7 Chargers

Commercial Note: I’m surprised I haven’t heard the “Saved by 0″ Commerical yet. It plays at least 10 times every break. Plus, I can’t believe how many Christmas ones there are already.

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