The Ravens had so much potential this season, but close losses put them in the back end of the AFC playoff picture and two losses to Cincinnati ruined Baltimore's chances of winning the North division. As for the Steelers, they had repeat on the minds of the Steeler Nation, but failed to play anywhere close to those expectations. Pittsburgh also fell to the Bengals twice, which had not happened in 400 years. They were not the best team in the AFC this season by far, but they could have been one of the scarier teams if they made the playoffs because Troy Polamalu was set to return.
There are a ton of quarterbacks who should be considered for league MVP this season: Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and even Tony Homo and Felipe Rivers. You could also throw in Chris Johnson and Darrelle Revis if you want to. But if you were to go with the player truly most valuable to his team, you might even have to choose Troy Polamalu. Seriously.
This guy started and finished four games. The Steelers were 4-0 in those games. The defense let up an average of 13 points in those games. Polamalu had three interceptions and seven passes deflected in those four games. The rest of the Pittsburgh defense combined for four interceptions in those four games. Plain and simple, Troy Polamalu just comes to play every game, every down. The rest of the secondary, however, is a different story...
In the other twelve games, the Steelers were 5-7, the defense allowed an average of 23 points per game and the Polamalu-less defense had five interceptions IN 12 GAMES! For goodness sakes, the entire cornerbacking crew did not have an interception until Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend picked off balls at Miami last week. This included a drop by Joe Burnett vs. Oakland in the final minute that would have sealed the game in the Steelers favor and one by Ike Taylor on a deep ball at Kansas City that would have clinched the win.
Although the Ravens, Texans and Jets wins in week 17 sealed the Steelers fate for the 2009 (kind of 2010) season, it would have been a real treat to see what Pittsburgh could have done in the postseason with the best safety in the NFL back on the field. But we will have to wait until next year to see what Troy Polamalu has in store. Hopefully Pittsburgh can draft some young talent in the secondary or grab a free agent, because we need some safety valves (no pun intended) in case our starters get hurt or suck out loud, like they did this season.
This guy started and finished four games. The Steelers were 4-0 in those games. The defense let up an average of 13 points in those games. Polamalu had three interceptions and seven passes deflected in those four games. The rest of the Pittsburgh defense combined for four interceptions in those four games. Plain and simple, Troy Polamalu just comes to play every game, every down. The rest of the secondary, however, is a different story...
In the other twelve games, the Steelers were 5-7, the defense allowed an average of 23 points per game and the Polamalu-less defense had five interceptions IN 12 GAMES! For goodness sakes, the entire cornerbacking crew did not have an interception until Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend picked off balls at Miami last week. This included a drop by Joe Burnett vs. Oakland in the final minute that would have sealed the game in the Steelers favor and one by Ike Taylor on a deep ball at Kansas City that would have clinched the win.
Although the Ravens, Texans and Jets wins in week 17 sealed the Steelers fate for the 2009 (kind of 2010) season, it would have been a real treat to see what Pittsburgh could have done in the postseason with the best safety in the NFL back on the field. But we will have to wait until next year to see what Troy Polamalu has in store. Hopefully Pittsburgh can draft some young talent in the secondary or grab a free agent, because we need some safety valves (no pun intended) in case our starters get hurt or suck out loud, like they did this season.
Kissing the season goodbye...
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