Ain't All Sunshine and Super Bowls for Steelers Fans! (Part II)

Argument: In general, and especially in Northeast Ohio, it is harder to be a Steelers fan than that of the Browns. 

Against: In the last two decades, the Steelers have won exactly 100 more games than the Browns.  Boo hoo, give me a break!

For: Let’s get started…

• The Steelers have been postseason participants in 13 of those seasons. 
• The Browns (gone for three of them) have played more than the season’s 16 games only twice. 

This has understandably created the highest of expectations in Pittsburgh.  Draft picks that are seemingly create crowded positions while neglecting others have now been expected to turn out well (see every linebacker drafted).  If the run defense allows a back to go for 100+, it’s a headline.  When Roethlisberger DOESN’T turn a busted play into positive yardage, it’s almost surprising.  I could go on.

When was the last time you, Mr. Browns Fan, watched a Browns game and were emotionally affected more than ten minutes after the clock hit 0:00 because they blew a halftime lead?  The thought process was more likely (and understandably) a gleeful “hey, at least they led at the half!” before going about your lazy Sunday. 

I’ve often had lonely reflections (usually after Steeler losses…so not TOO often) in which I’ve seriously questioned my passion for sports, wondering if it’s some sort of ailment or addiction because of just how much it affects my day.  This spins into further introspective explorations of my far too competitive sports psyche and each time, I frustratingly come to the same conclusion: it’s just sad.  Sad that a bunch of guys in black and gold tights that hit each other for 60 minutes every Sunday in the Fall can sometimes ruin my day and even the next.  Sad that I can feel my heart beat faster, as if in fear, when I even lend a moment’s thought to February 5, 2011 or January 28, 1996.  Sad that I spend my Saturday mornings writing a blog that takes more minutes to write than the number of readers it yields. 

[Sad that I've googled sports obsession articles.  Click here if you are man enough to admit that your obsession might be negatively affecting your life (it's okay, for fear of self-diagnosis, I couldn't bring myself to finish the article either!).]

Ok, enough bellyaching.  After all, I don’t have to do it that often because my team usually wins (63% of the time over the past 20 years)!  In fact, my Sundays are often like Sundays experienced by Browns fans: what happens is what’s expected.  Then, we all go about our lazy Sundays, the Browns having lost to a better team and the Steelers have bested a worse team.  We go about our typical Mondays, neither fan being able to make fun of the other because what happened was what was supposed to happen.  Unless of course the Steelers lost, and Joe Pittsburgh has nothing with which to retort, because either the Browns did what they were expected to do or they actually won!

[This Browns blogger even wonders if Browns fans need their team to lose!]

That’s exactly my point.  When the expected happens, emotions remain steady.  When the UNexpected happens, it’s elation for Browns fans and heartache for Steelers fans.  Since I am a teacher, I’ll attribute it to studying for a test.  What makes failing a test harder to come to deal with?  When you’ve struggled with the material all along or when you’ve been earning good grades throughout the unit? 

THIS WEEK

I felt that this discussion was noteworthy for this particular week’s matchup.  A “trap game” is said to be a winning team’s matchup before or after a game against a rival or what is to be considered a big game.  The team either loses because they are looking past this game or have a letdown after beating the rival. 

The game at Tempe has “trap game” written all over the field.  Pittsburgh has to be looking forward to the true litmus test of the season in hosting New England rather than this underwhelming rematch of Super Bowl XLIII with the Cardinals.  These two teams have taken different directions after that Super Bowl and one of the greatest winning drives in postseason history.

There is absolutely no reason to suggest that the Steelers won’t win this game…unless of course they’re looking forward to the Patriots, in which case Sunday will be one of those days when being a Steelers fan ain't all sunshine and Super Bowls. 

Mike's Picks for Week 7 (a disappointing 6-7 against the spread. With a 30-25 record, why don't I just quit?):
Chicago VS Tampa Bay (+1.5) @London (dumb): The Bears are hot, the Bucs are inconsistent and nobody has homefield advantage, since the NFL isn't satisfied with its native popularity and insists on beefing up its international flavor. However, Chris Farley and George Wendt's "'da Bears" are the 'da better team.
Washington @ Carolina (-2.5): Cam Newton returns to early season glory and is too much for the 'Skins, if perhaps only because Rex Grossman is finally reminding everyone why he has been a backup quarterback for the past few seasons.
San Diego @ NYJets (-1): Not sure why the Jets and their terrible offense would be favored against a bye-rested Chargers team.  The Monday night game performance six days ago?  How quickly we forget Gang Green's opponent. 
Seattle @ Cleveland (-3): Cleveland is FAVORED!  Maybe this goes against the point of today's blog since the Brownies are supposed to win this week.  Their offense, however, is too boring.  This will be the week the Seahawks get to look intelligent for drafting a 6'4" cornerback, since the Browns have no one to catch the ball anyway.
Houston @ Tennessee (-3): The Texans are angry and will rally in their second game without Mario Williams and Andre Johnson and not only cover, but win.
Denver @ Miami (pick'em): I might actually watch a soccer match over this, and that's a strong statement.
Atlanta @ Detroit (-3.5): Intriguing matchup, if we are to now believe that the Falcons are on their way back and that the Lions and Megatron are mortal.  If half-points were possible, I'd call it a push. Since they're not, I'll go with my heart.  Lions.
Kansas City @ Oakland (-3.5): The Raiders will cover and win.  I don't buy the hype that newly (and intelligently) acquired Carson Palmer (whose refusal to play in Cincinnati this year should tell Roger Goodell that the franchise is internally a lot worse off than even the fans perceive) won't play.  They'll win anyway, but by a lot if he does.
Pittsburgh @ Arizona (+3.5): I believe that Mike Tomlin knows how to avoid trap games and that Cardinal secondary is no match for Big Ben.
St. Louis @ Dallas (-13.5): This is an awfully big spread but the Rams are playing awfully bad football.  I'll call it a "close" one, with the 'Boys barely covering the two touchdowns.
Indianapolis @ New Orleans (-13.5): If this was in Indy, I think the spread would be half of what it is.  The Saints are clearly getting more than the typical 2.5 points for homefield advantage, and deservedly so after last week's disappointing loss that will have them ready to route the Colts.
Baltimore @ Jacksonville (-8): What the heck, I'm picking too many favorites here, so I'll go with the underdog in this one, even if it is only because it's the Ravens.