Broncos, Steelers, and the AFC Championship

[fishwax]

I'm pumped for next Sunday's AFC Championship game. Both teams shocked the experts this weekend, the Broncos by beating the NFL's greatest dynasty, and the Steelers by beating the "unbeatable" Colts.

A little history on the teams:

Broncos lead the all time series: 14-8-1
Last meeting (2003): Broncos won, 17-14 in Denver


Last playoff meeting (1997 AFC Championship in Pittsburgh): Denver won 24-21, and went on to beat Green Bay to win their 1st Super Bowl Championship.


The Steelers last win in Denver: 1990
The Steelers last playoff win in Denver: 1984

Here's to a great game next Sunday :toast:

[KitchenWitch]

1. Should be a good game!

And unlike the Colts, the Broncos are not going to take the Steelers for granted.

[fishwax]

2. or curl up when the steelers hit 'em in the mouth

(or blame their offensive linemen when they have a poor day throwing the ball :rofl:;))

[KitchenWitch]

3. No shit

:rofl:

[hfojvt]

32. expletive deleted

it seemed to me they had a bad day throwing the ball because they gave up on the run. It is alot easier on the defense when they know they do not have to worry about the run. I did not see the whole game, and it quickly became too sickening to watch. Maybe they tried running and it was not working, but it worked pretty good on their 98 yard drive in the 1st half.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

4. Here's to a Stillers victory!

I say let's introduce Jake Plummer to a little Blitzburgh!

Poamalu is Polynesian for "Pleasejeezussdontletthatdudewiththelonghairhitme!"

One for the thumb!

On edit: Aw, hell! I misspelled Polynesian! Jeeeeezussss! :blush:

[liberaltrucker]

5. Sir, I beg to differ

The Broncos O line will not allow the all-out blitz, and neither will the Steelers. Gonna be a helluva game:woohoo:

[GrpCaptMandrake]

10. Aw, gosh, but I must disagree

The Colts o-line was a machine. And Peyton even got bitchy after the game.

But the Stillers really *wanted* this game after the Monday night fiasco. We'll have to wait to see their motivation for the Championship.

But the Poamalu translation remains the weird little song that will run through Plummer's nightmares.

And Jerome Bettis will be in search of redemption. And the Bus has to go through Denver to get home to Detroit.

[liberaltrucker]

12. See post 11.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

16. Got it n/t

[fishwax]

21. peyton got WHINY

"I'm trying to be a good teammate :cry:"

:rofl:

I'm sorry, but what the Steelers did to the Colts today was hilarious :rofl:

And I loved every minute of it: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4592162

But I would be very surprised if (Paoamalu or no) they were as thoroughly dominant against the Broncos.

I'm expecting a classic game ...

[fishwax]

6. lol

poamalu was a monster today! :toast: (but I don't think Plummer will throw three passes into TP's midsection :))

[GrpCaptMandrake]

8. If Peyton did, then Plummer can

Jake Plummer doesn't have half the brains of Peyton. He's just slightly more mobile and eminently more flusterable.

[fishwax]

9. good luck rattling jake in denver

the way you rattled peyton in indy. And Jake threw fewer interceptions this year than peyton did.

You're not getting overconfident, are you :D

[GrpCaptMandrake]

13. Not at all

Just comparing apples to apples.

And this isn't some sissy dome team, either.

[liberaltrucker]

11. Maybe so, but Jake has the best OC in the NFL

Gary Kubiac. Not taking anything away from Bill Cowher. Oh, did I mention that otherwise, I'm a Steelers fan?

[GrpCaptMandrake]

14. Cowher is the Chuck Noll for the 21str century

His coaching won't win this game. It damned near lost the game today. I loathe a coach who starts trying to hang onto a lead and run out the clock with the 2nd half kick-off!

[liberaltrucker]

15. Good point

Pissed me off, too:grr:

[GrpCaptMandrake]

18. You can't help it

You're from Alabama. We play ball till they make us stop. :evilgrin:

[liberaltrucker]

20. You got that shit right

I'm also a long-suffering Auburn fan.

[Wetzelbill]

17. yeah, but Manning played the whole game scared...

he was gyrating and jittery as soon as he took the ball from the center. He's not nearly as tough as Plummer, when he gets hit a few times it gets to him. Plummer is much more in control nowadays, and not just slightly more mobile, but light years moreso. Peyton is a much better quarterback 99 percent of the time, but not when he gets hit and taken out of his game. That's why he's never been able to win the big one, in college or the NFL. When it truly counts, Peyton can't get it done. Plummer's toughness might be just the asset he needs to win next week. Not saying that Denver will, but it could be a factor in how Plummer performs.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

19. The real knock on Peyton

is that he's an old school QB in a New QB world. It's not so much that he can't get it done, but rather that he's not disigned to get it done. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

Plummer's success this season lies more in Shanahan's ability to coach him into not *losing* the game. Learning to throw the ball away instead of forcing it. Taking the sack instead of the interception.

Stillers will definitely be underdogs, if only because of the thin air.

Like all great Stillers teams, if they win, it will be in spite of the coaching of Bill Cowher, just as it was in spite of Chuck Noll.

I give Dick LeBeau the edge on defense.

[liberaltrucker]

22. Nicely said

Get Peyton out of the pocket, he doesn't know whether to shit or go blind. Also true about Shanahan's coaching. Jake has the innate talent, but Mike is the only coach he's had that can take advantage. As I said, gonna be a helluva game.

[fishwax]

25. and it's taken shanahan a few years

because jake had some frustrating games in Denver the last couple of years.

This year, his transformation has been pretty impressive. He's been outstanding. Showing all of his old skills, but none of the old mistakes :)

[liberaltrucker]

27. Yep, Mike has no qualms about kicking ass

Just ask Elway:)

[fishwax]

I'm not sure I agree with that Peyton evaluation

is that he's an old school QB in a New QB world. It's not so much that he can't get it done, but rather that he's not disigned to get it done. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

I think that lets him off the hook a bit. After all, there hasn't been a "new QB world" quarterback who has won the big game yet. Peyton has all the stats in the world in the regular season, but doesn't win in the playoffs. Just like he couldn't beat Florida when he played for Tennessee.

I'm not saying he'll never win a super bowl, but I think there is an excellent chance that either Jake the Snake of Big Ben will win one before him :D

[liberaltrucker]

26. He's detined to win a Super Bowl

Just as Elway was. Their careers do have a certain parallel. Elway had to adapt to changes in the NFL as they were then. Peyton is professional enough to adapt now, and he will. But for now, my SB prediction: Broncos-Seahawks.

[fishwax]

28. I think there are big differences too

Elway put his team on his shoulders and took them all the way to the super bowl, three different times, when he was a young QB. Now, it wasn't until he was a mature, seasoned QB and he had a talented receiving corps and run game that Elway actually won a super bowl, but Manning has had that since he came into the league.

If those mid-80s Broncos had a running back like Edgerin James or a receiver like Marvin Harrison!? Oy Vey!

[liberaltrucker]

29. Right

It wasn't till we got TD and Rod Smith did we get 2 in a row. Rod's still there, I just wish McCaffree was*alas*

[fishwax]

30. yeah, mccaffree could sure take a hit

:wow:

he was fun to watch :)

[liberaltrucker]

33. Yeah, the guy would get totally cold-cocked.........

and give this "that the best you got?" look. Ah, memories:)

[mvd]

46. Broncos-Seahawks is mine

As for Manning, I'm not sure. I thought he wouldn't choke in the Steelers game. It wasn't just him that didn't play as expected, though, so he MIGHT be another Elway. Steelers definitely deserved to win the game.

I'm still disappointed that the Redskins are out.

[fishwax]

48. That's mine too

that's what I picked when the playoffs began, and I'll stick with it :)

[GrpCaptMandrake]

31. I still say it's a design issue

Payton's 6'6". He has skills to rewrite the job description. He's resilient and can take a lick. He needs a sort of zen-football "knock on the side of the head."

Today was the first time I've seen him get truly bitchy. He's frustrated. He needs a QB coach who can shatter his paradigms. He need the mental football equivalent of Tommy John surgery. Big Ben's not far off the Peyton model.

Maybe Peyton needs to grow a really ugly beard. :rofl:

[KitchenWitch]

7. Poamalu

:rofl: :thumbsup:

[tigereye]

23. It was wild to see Big Ben tackling the runner in that one play

I love how versatile he is!

[liberaltrucker]

24. That's why he shoulda been the MVP

IMHO.

[Frank Cannon]

34. May the best team win

Denver's my team since childhood, but the Steelers are worthy opponents. It's gonna be one hell of a game. There's a phenomenal Super Bowl waiting in the wings, as well.

Go AFC!!! :bounce:

[fortyfeetunder]

35. Heart says Steelers, head says Denver

Heart: I am going to cheer on Steelers all the way. Regardless of the history, this is a new day. I think the Steelers have the tools now to take on Denver and kick some butt.

Head: Mile High Stadium. Denver will be primed. They haven't seen the AFC championship in a few years. They will be ready, and so will Shanahan.

[fishwax]

36. my heart and my head agree

with your head :)

I think Pittsburgh will be ready too, though, and I think it will be a great game. But I think a combination of things: mile high, huge game for excited fans, and i've got to think the effects of a slate of tough road games and such emotional wins will catch up with the Steelers eventually ...

[cathandler]

37. One reason to support Denver -- Jake's a Democrat.

Who's best friend in Arizona was Pat Tillman. Remember when he incurred something like $40,000 in fines for wearing Tillman's number on his helmet for a whole season?

Drives a Honda Element.

[sasquatch]

41. Two: Jerome Bettis is a Repug.

Three: The Steelers biggest celebrity fan is Rush Limbaugh.
Four: Kimo Von Oelhoffen is a cheap shot artist.

[fishwax]

42. I like Jake

I remember when he got fined for that number, and said he didn't care, that it was only appropriate to honor the guy. I can't remember his words exactly, but it seemed to me that they, in a way, pointed out the hypocrisy of typical right-wing "support the troops" talk that isn't backed up.

In case you haven't seen it, here's a good article on Plummer that, while it doesn't come out and identify him as a Democrat, definitely reveals a lot of Democratic and Liberal ideals: http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_3382006

Welcome to DU cathandler! :hi:

[bertha katzenengel]

38. I wish the Colts had beat the Steelers but they stopped being "unbeatable

when the Chargers beat them.

Go, Denver!

Steelers = :puke:

[Roon]

39. The Steelers will get their vaginas kicked eom

[MnFats]

40. do you mean 'greatest CURRENT dynasty? Because I think

you'd be hard-pressed to argue the Pats are the greatest dynasty of all time, yes?

[fishwax]

43. well, I was mostly just echoing media rhetoric, but

I don't think it would be that hard to argue the Pats are the greatest dynasty of all time ... I know the Steelers of the 70s and the Niners of the 80s both won one more Super Bowl, but they didn't have the salary cap to contend with ...

[MnFats]

44. then you got the Packers of old....

I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-g-generation....

[fishwax]

45. oh, that's true

when it comes to dynasties, i tend to forget about anything pre-super bowl, and while the packers won the first couple, their dynasty's decline coinceded with the super bowl, the emergence of the afl, the merger, etc. But as a natural born cheese head, i've gotta say the Packers were great :)

[Awsi Dooger]

47. The Broncos shocked the experts as a 3 to 3.5 point favorite

I know it didn't seem that way. It certainly wasn't portrayed that way on DU. But Denver was very much the betting line favorite in that game and the money actually came on the Broncos all week.

Now, the Steelers that was a legit upset, although in the 1 chance in 4 territory so hardly an alltimer.

[fishwax]

49. definitely true, i just meant the media experts

rather than the betting line, which definitely, as you point out, had Denver as the favorite. Very few people on ESPN, for example, who picked the Broncos. (Wilbon on PTI did give them a 60% chance of winning, and former Denver Post columnist Woody Paige said they'd win, but other than that ...) I actually heard one guy on ESPN (don't remember who) who said: I don't know what Vegas is thinking putting Denver as the favorite. Of course, it was the betting public that put the Broncos as the favorite, and the betting public that, unlike most in the media, was right on target.