Tebowed!

Just when it appeared that that the NFL had caught up with Tim Tebow - Denver lost their last three regular season games with Tebow pretty much stinking up the joint - the Steelers and their #1 ranked defense coached by the sainted Dick LeBeau showed up at Mile High and pretty much laid down and died against Tebow and the Broncos yesterday afternoon.

Blame can be spread all around for yesterday's loss to Denver, but the brunt of it falls on the statistically best defense in the league that allowed the statistically worst quarterback in the league to shred it for 316 passing yards on only 10 completions. (Lies, damned lies, and statistics.) And while his teammates said all the usual we-lose-as-a-team cliches afterward, the goat horns for this game fit clearly on the head of Ike Taylor. Ike may have had a great season, but everything was negated in one thoroughly awful performance yesterday.

Here is a phenomenon that I don't understand. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians will continue to be roasted by critics, and while the offense has much to answer for yesterday, they DID overcome 14 and 10 point deficits in the fourth quarter to force the game into overtime. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will continue to be lionized by the yinzers. Why is that? It was LeBeau's defense that never even gave Ariens' offense a chance to get on the field in the revamped Playoffs OT rules. It was LeBeau's defense that didn't get one sack of Tebow yesterday. Yeah, I know about the injuries, but isn't the standard still the standard?

And speaking of the defense, where was James Harrison yesterday? The only time I heard his name yesterday was when he was called for - surprise! - a personal foul.

So ends a weird season for the Steelers. They sported a 12-4 record that never really felt like it was that good. Perhaps the loss to Denver was merciful, because I don't think a game in New England next week would have been pretty at all.

So, what is it now? 37 days until pitchers and catchers report to Bradenton? Let's go Bucs!