More Than a Feeling

All last week I had this sense of calm about the game.  I chalked it up to a letdown from The Cleveland Game.  You know, the residual feeling of loss and sadness after such a horrible letdown, losing a game that on paper you should have won easily.  But despite the numbers, I never felt good about that game.  But this wasn't depression or apathy.  This was confidence.  This game - this, of all games - felt easy.  I had no rational or logical basis for the feeling that this would be the game.  And, of course, it wasn't.  But it was damn close.

Now that we've all had some time to think about it, let's all agree that of course we won the game.  We played Pitt.  Of course it was going to be a defensive battle.  And, really, have you seen our defense lately?  I don't care how many turnovers we had last year or how many injuries we have this year.  I will take THIS defense over last year's any day.  Why?  Oh, I'm not going to throw around a Jammal Brown or a Charles Grant excuse here, although I would still argue that the money tied up in those two positions contributed to failings in other areas.  That aside, no one can argue that this defense is more solid, more consistent.  It's the defense we dreamed when our offense was firing strong.  And now, we have it.  Despite the injuries.  Despite having to play their asses off when the offense isn't cutting it.
These guys rock.

Unfortunately, our offensive line isn't producing the same kind of consistency.  A running game might have been nice, but I understand we're trying to make holes against the Steelers.  That's a tall oder for any line.  And yeah, I understand Bushrod's blocking Harrison, but if we have to continuously load that line with extra guys in every game (not just these tough ones) you can just get used to this kind of nerve-wracking ending.  No more 8 minute drives to eat up the clock.  Forget those days.  They're done.  For now.

In lighter news, have I mentioned lately how much I love Malcolm Jenkins?
'Cause I do.
Big ol' bunches.