Sometimes there is more to the game... Rivalry Part 2

Hey Y'all it's SportsGal89 INNNN the buildin'... This week in sports, I enter into what I am calling #RivalryWeek. Thanksgiving night was the matchup between the Steelers and the Ravens and this upcoming Saturday will be the matchup between THE Ohio State University and Michigan (YUCK!!)

After a solid win by the Steelers in their last matchup against the Ravens, I was definitely excited to watch them play. Not only would they be playing on Turkey Day, but their game was the Thursday Night Football experience. Yes they, were playing the Ravens at home, but the odds are not so much stacked against them.

Both teams were going into the game 5-6 battling for a coveted wild card spot. And while I am not concerned at all with the Steelers having a playoff chance, I am very much concerned with their ability to beat the Ravens, because when it comes to bragging rights, as much as Superbowl Championships mean something ( I mean we still lead the league with the most-- SIXBURGH STAND UP) the reality is, when it comes to Rivalries the bragging rights last for years and through families etc.
  So here it is Thursday night football and I am more than excited. Celebrating Thanksgiving with a massive feast and getting to sit down to watch football, and not just any time, but my team. The game, from the Steelers side started off slow. And by slow I mean NO points through the first half. Despite having several long drives, the Steelers couldn't deliver. The first non-delivery came at not being able to convert in a 3rd drive. The second non-delivery came at the feet of kicker Suisham who has not had horrible games, but for some reason was just off tonight. He had a failed kick and when I say failed, he missed it. He went too fast for the ball and missed the snap and the handler holding the ball. The second failed attempt was the whack onside kick he tried to get. He just kicked it all kinds of sloppy and good thing there was a call for offsides, otherwise that could have ruined us.

Then shortly after the half, the Steelers found their rhythm in Le'veon Bell,  Emmanual Saunders, Jericho Cotchery,  Antonio Brown, Heath Miller. The Rookie Bell  has been a beauty to watch when he finds his gaps and can run like the wind. He's been dominating as a rusher and it's been beautiful to watch him bounce find a cut and run!

Saunders is nothing new to the Steelers, he and Ben when they are on are on. Saunders tends to be a little inconsistent this season, but as mentioned when he is on, you don't want to miss out on him- and to be honest in Fantasy points he did great this game.

Jericho Cotchery, had a really slow start with the Steelers in his first year. He was injured and is coming back to healthy now. When Ben needs something done, he goes to Cotchery and number 89 has not disappointed.

When you are needing that long drive- Downtown Antonio Brown is all you need!
What can be said about Heath Miller, he is a classy guy and one of the best tight ends. When Heath is healthy you know that he and Ben can make magic happen!

So when the 2nd half began the formula was there for the Steelers to have a comeback and comeback they did.. gaining 14 points and closing the gap on the Ravens lead. The Ravens hadn't really scored by a TD since their first drive in the 1st and all points after came at the foot of Kicker Justin Tucker (Thank you for my fantasy points!)

Late in the 4th with maybe 2 minutes to play, the Steelers drive for the endzone. Heath makes an attempt and is stopped short due to his knee being down. Going for it again, Le'Veon Bell drives to the endzone. He lands right on the endzone, but not before his helmet flies off in one of the most BRUTAL hits that I have EVER seen.

Let me take a moment, the heart of why I wanted to write this blog and the reason for the title- He [Bell] and Jimmy Smith of the Ravens collided as Smith attempted to make the stop. Bell's helmet falls off and in the fast speed of the game, what first looked like it could be a fumble, turns into the hardest two minutes to watch. Bell falls hard to the ground, his head snaps back and forth after it hits the ground and still holding on to the ball, Bell falls back down to the ground. seconds later the ball falls out of his hands and there Bell lays for 2 minutes not moving.

Next to him is Jimmy Smith equally shaken by the hit. Players on both sides crowd into a huddle praying for their fallen teammates, the stadium which was loud as Ravens fans always are, goes silent. 2 minutes later Bell stands up, still shaken, unable to walk straight and clearly going to be out due to a concussion.

Steelers eventually connect for the touchdown with Ben tossing to a wide open Cotchery. But after watching that hit, the steam and energy of the game was over for me. Which is interesting considering it is a rivalry match. But here is the reality, a comment I have made a few times before, what is a sport if you have no players to cheer for?

I don't know if Smith could have done anything differently and it will be interesting to see what the NFL decides later, if Smith will get fined etc. But I know as a fan there is nothing more scary than watching a great player cut short. So I can only imagine if those 2 minutes were tough for me, how tough were those 2 minutes for their families. So waking up this morning after a loss, brief recap- Steelers finally made the touch down they needed with Ben connecting to Cotchery- this brought the game up 20-22. The Steelers made an attempt for a 2pt conversion which resulted in an incomplete pass and a failed attempt as mentioned earlier, by Suisham for a onside kick.

So in this battle, the Ravens took the W- 20-22. Most mornings after a loss to the Ravens, I am probably a little sour, but today after this loss, I am actually at peace. A hit like the one Bell and Smith had reminds you that if the players are not there to play then what and who will we cheer for.

And that's all she wrote folks!

RIVALRY: Where you put it all on the line

HEY Y'all It's your favorite SportsGal89 Innnnn tha Buildin'! Hope you are doing as well as I am!
 I am coming to you with a gem. In the sports world, Rivalries matter. It's where the fans get to go all out and support their team knowing that even though EVERY game means something, in the grand scheme of honor, RIVALRIES last a lifetime and are the epitome of a sports match up. Rivalries are things that have been instilled within the culture and overall fabric of the sport. Children are born knowing and understanding these great battles in the sports world. Rivalries like the Yankees vs. Red Sox; Celtics vs. Lakers; Ohio State vs. Michigan and THE STEELERS vs. RAVENS.
   I have grown into a sports fan that knows as much as I love purple, I can NEVER get down with the Ravens and seeing purple in the jerseys on a Sunday hurts my heart, my head and my stomach.
  Now while this Rivalry is fairly new- remember the Ravens are still a younger team in terms of the Steelers history- and maybe that's another reason why I can't stand the Ravens (When Cleveland lost it's football team, I was still living in Ohio); but regardless, I have grown up knowing that the Ravens is the team that no matter what happens for the rest of the season the Steelers need to come out with a win.
   I can best equate this to last year's Ohio State Buckeye's season- while we went 12-0 last year, we couldn't enter any championship games. It didn't matter so much as long as we #BEATMichigan. Right?!
  So, no matter how crappy my team is playing the game that matters the most is against the Ravens.. We were home and we played MARVELOUSLY!!
  Now the game wasn't this huge beating, but what that scoreboard said at the end, was that the Steelers won it all! 19-16 and another win against the Ravens was all that mattered!