As the curtain of the NFL 2008 season has fallen for the last time (not including the Pro-bowl which garners as much interest as C-Span re-runs) we are left pondering an incredible finish to a Super-bowl which gives the Pittsburgh Steelers an unprecedented Sixth Championship ring.
Kudos and congratulations to the Steelers, its coaching staff, the Rooney family and the city of Pittsburgh.
With the sixth Superbowl win, Pittsburgh now holds sole claim to the team with the most victories in the Big Game. The greatest team in NFL history? If the sole criterion is number of SB victories then of course The Steelers have to be on the short list. One could not complain if such claims were made by the Pittsburgh faithful and pundits far and wide.
Kudos and congratulations to the Steelers, its coaching staff, the Rooney family and the city of Pittsburgh.
With the sixth Superbowl win, Pittsburgh now holds sole claim to the team with the most victories in the Big Game. The greatest team in NFL history? If the sole criterion is number of SB victories then of course The Steelers have to be on the short list. One could not complain if such claims were made by the Pittsburgh faithful and pundits far and wide.
Now I see there are writers, who obviously have nothing left to write about, crowning the men of Steel as the greatest Team of this decade prying the Patriots away from the top spot.
The decade began in 2001 ( not 2000 as the rest of the world would like to mistakenly believe) and still has two years to NFL seasons to go before it is over. Since the 2001 season let’s begin with the most obvious facts:
1. The Patriots have won 3 Super-bowls the Steelers have won 2. The Pats won back to back titles.
2. The Patriots have been to 5 AFC Championship games of which they won 4. ( Only loss was to Indianapolis). They also appeared in 4 Superbowls and won 3.
3. The Steelers have been to 4 AFC CHampionship games and went 2-2 in the same time span. Since Heinz Field has opened the Steelers are 1-2 in AFC Championship games.
4. Of the 4 AFC Championship games won by the Pats, 2 were won against Pittsburgh IN Pittsburgh. The second win was a blow-out by the Pats.
5. What a difference a year makes; last year the Pats went 18-0 before losing to the Giants in the SB and The Steelers bowed out of the Playoffs in the first round to the Jaguars.
6. OH yeah- let’s not forget the regular season........ in 2003-2004 the Pats won 18 games in a row- in 2006-2007 they broke their own record by winning 19 in a row, This accomplishment after the Pats had lost Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis- the Defensive and Offensive coordinators through the 2004 season.
7. Since 2001 season the Pats have won 97 games in the regular season- a winning percentage of 76% and the Steelers have won 85 games or 66%.
1. The Patriots have won 3 Super-bowls the Steelers have won 2. The Pats won back to back titles.
2. The Patriots have been to 5 AFC Championship games of which they won 4. ( Only loss was to Indianapolis). They also appeared in 4 Superbowls and won 3.
3. The Steelers have been to 4 AFC CHampionship games and went 2-2 in the same time span. Since Heinz Field has opened the Steelers are 1-2 in AFC Championship games.
4. Of the 4 AFC Championship games won by the Pats, 2 were won against Pittsburgh IN Pittsburgh. The second win was a blow-out by the Pats.
5. What a difference a year makes; last year the Pats went 18-0 before losing to the Giants in the SB and The Steelers bowed out of the Playoffs in the first round to the Jaguars.
6. OH yeah- let’s not forget the regular season........ in 2003-2004 the Pats won 18 games in a row- in 2006-2007 they broke their own record by winning 19 in a row, This accomplishment after the Pats had lost Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis- the Defensive and Offensive coordinators through the 2004 season.
7. Since 2001 season the Pats have won 97 games in the regular season- a winning percentage of 76% and the Steelers have won 85 games or 66%.
8. The Pats have made the post season 6 times with as record of 14-3 while The Steelers have gone to the post season with an 8-2 record.
The best team in NFL history? The Steelers have won the most SB’s and should be considered the elite franchise in the historical context of the league- but this decade? Puh-lease can we wait until the end of the decade and objectively look at the numbers. Right now The Pats are without question, still the Team of the Decade.
PS- For all the "Patriots Cheated" readers let’s remember that the Steelers of the 70's have already been "outed" as to using steroids- perhaps all teams used steroids back then. But at the same time we know many teams also illegally videotaped other teams.
- Steve
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