It would take the moon, the stars, the sun, all the planets and galaxies and 4 TEAMS winning....

.... For the Steelers to make it to the playoffs....

Hey Y'all it's your FAVORITE SportsGal89 Innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn the Buildin! I am here bringing you one exciting "Any Given Sunday!" Today, December 29, 2013, the last Sunday of the year and the last Sunday or gameday that many NFL teams got to play today. Today was the day for the WildCard chase and despite a shotty start to this season and a rocky comeback, the Steelers still had a glimmer of hope when they woke up this Sunday morning.

That glimmer rested on 4 teams, one of which was themselves.

So let me recap... In order for the Steelers to have a shot at the 6th Seed in the AFC, the Bengals, the Jets, the Steelers and the Chiefs NEEDED a win.

So let's talk about today.... 

   1:00pm Game Schedule

      Bengals in Cincy against Baltimore

      Jets in Miami 

      Steelers at home against the Browns

      KC in San Diego (with no real need to win or lose)

So let's talk- I am starting with the games that ended early and set me up to having one of the most interesting of Sundays.

  Jets remarkably take a win in Miami with whack Geno Smith at the helm (1 down)

  Steelers do their part (had they lost, we would have been out anyway- 2 down)

  Miraculously, Bengals pull out the upset against Baltimore (3 down- to be honest, this would have made my day. I wouldn't have cared one bit about the playoffs or anything else)

  ** But once it came down that we were only ONE GAME away from actually seeing a playoff spot, something inside me changed. It wasn't just a longshot, we actually HAD a shot at being a 6th seed and if anyone remembers the last time we were a 6th seed 

  (This guy got the BEST Homegoing and a ring!!!!)

But let me not get ahead of myself.

So it's now 4:25 EST KC and the Chargers are up to play... 

The Landscape: All of the starters (or for the most part, a majority of them are benched) Not mad at Reid at all for making that decision. His team regardless of having a #5 seed are in the playoffs. There is no need to cause injury to any of his players, when there is honestly nothing to lose. 

So the Chargers- they are also in the hunt for the 6th seed- it comes down to those 4 elements above for the Steelers, but it comes down to a tie or a win for the Chargers to secure their spot--- many less moons, stars and others to align. 

  Chargers playing their first string giving it all they have to stay in it. 

The game: Being in NY was horrible because the game I actually cared about was not on TV- New England dominated on this coast (yuck!) but thanks to some great streaming skills I have, I was able to watch the game that mattered to me. I am sure like the Steelers themselves and the many fans around the country and world, we were all tuned in and for 2hours we were all part of #ChiefsNation

The game was a battle. Chiefs taking the lead and holding the Chargers 24-14 into the third quarter. Then the Chargers got some steam eventually tying the game 24-24.. Watching the time wind down literally gave me heart problems... Here I am watching this game and getting more anxious then if my team had actually been playing ( as a SportsGeek I probably say this a lot, but this was a little different feeling). So alright, it was okay that the Chargers Tied, there was still some time left for the Chiefs to make a nice drive. 

 It all came down to kicker Succop and he muffs the kick.. HE MISSED! I have NEVER screamed as much as I did following that kick (and I am saying this was louder than the scream and shock I was in when Tebow aired that ball last season ripping away our playoff chances then too!). This placement was perfect for Succop to kick a nice little 41 yarder between the poles, and he muffs the kick.

Overtime comes and I am praying we still have a shot, and it looked as if we might have with a defense that ripped the ball out of one of the Chargers hands- but a Ref calling forward movement and the first down ruins any excitement I had. Chargers kick a field goal and the Chiefs are unable to answer.

With that the Steelers season comes to a close and while today was one of those exciting moments, of we can do it.. I will say this- The Steelers, and any team for that matter, can only rely on themselves when it comes to this sport. You can't put wishful thinking and hope on others to do what you should have done from day one. I love my team wins or losses. This one isn't bitter sweet, but if the Chargers blow their gift, the "what could have been" woes will definitely creep.

That's all she wrote folks... Come back for my playoff predictions later this week! 

And an Early Happy New Year to you all! 

What if women liked football more then men....

Ha! Hey Y'all It's your FAVORITE SportsGal89 Innnnnnnnn the Buildin'! I come to you with a little gem that a friend passed along to me. While it is hilarious, I am also thinking about what the "flip" side of this video means. Are you actually saying that most women act like the guys do in this video? I mean I get it that yes, there are definitely women out there who don't get the wonderful world of sports. I appreciate meeting some of those women, because I think there is something that I could obviously learn from them considering that I am a little rough around the edges.
   However, while watching this short film, I wanted to laugh, but I also was frustrated that the reality is just because you flip it and say that men don't like football, the fan side is very much gendered and that's written all over this video regardless of the fact that who the "typical" fan is there are definitely undertones of what the opposite will do and what they will be more invested in.

For now I am done with the rant because the baseline of this film is to poke a little fun so don't take my word for it watch it for yourselves:
http://guylyf.com/women-liked-football-men/ You can excuse the blurb above the video.

That's all she wrote.....

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!

ONE: the only game that matters (Steelers finally get a W)

Hey Y'all it's your FAVORITE SportsGal89 INNNNN the Buildin'. I am coming to you as one happy camper. This past week I got the chance to go home to NY for a much needed family visit. But not only did I get to go home, I also went to my first Steelers game of the season and the ONE that mattered! Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, I was there when the Steelers won their first bringing their record to 1-4! FINALLY a win!
   It was a great day in the Meadowlands if you were a Steelers fan, and this Steelers fan was excited to be there and watch her team finally dig themselves out of the rut they had been in..

  I will say this the one rule I had was, I can't pay the good money I paid for a crappy show by my team. With seats in the Endzone 14 rows up, it was definitely a day I didn't want wasted. And thankfully the boys did not disappoint!

I can't remember or speak on every play so instead I am going to share photos from Game day!

Week 7: Predictions reality and more

Hey Y'all! It's your favorite SportsGal89 IN the buildin'! It has been a while since I have posted and my apologies, but there have been some awesome games in all areas of sports that have distracted me from my writing. I apologize.

I wanted to make sure I came back with the Week 7 Predictions before kickoff so here we go

Game                                  Keesha's Pick                                      Reality
 SEA vs. ARI                         SEA                                                    
 BAL vs. PIT                          PIT (duh 1-4 BABY! Ha)
 TAM vs ATL                        TAM (the way the Falcons have been playing- woof)
 CIN vs. DET                         CINCY
 BUF vs. MIA                        MIA
 PAT vs JETS                        PAT
 DAL vs. PHI                        DAL
 CHI vs DC                           CHI
 STL vs. CAR                        CAR
 SD vs JAC                            SD
 SF vs TEN                            SF
 CLE vs GB                            GB
 HOU vs KC                          KC
 DEN vs INDY                       DEN

MIN vs NY                            NY
(one of these teams is going to do well, this might be the game the Giants need)

See you back here Monday night with the reality!

Another week of disappointment--- What is going on in Pittsburgh?!

Hey Y'all so this week I failed and didn't get my Week 4 predictions up and that's okay.. because I can focus on my team and the horrible season that has been happening in Pittsburgh.

It's your FAVORITE SportsGal89 In the Buildin' and I am about to go OFF on my team- well not really.
 I have said it a few times in these latest posts that I have not been holding my breath for a fabulous season with my team. Going 0-4 in the preseason, and now 0-4 in the regular season! UGH! This is boo boo! Not to mention that this is the first time since 1968 that the Steelers have gone 0-4! Now I knew that our 2013 season was going to be a little rough, but this just stinks.

I thought maybe with the return of Le'Veon Bell and a change in location with our game overseas that the team would rally and come back. But no, this was the STRUGGLE.

Here is the thing. Our QB is older, not only is he older, but the Ben that entered the league in 2004 is not the same in his mobility as he was then. The years of being beat up, sacked etc are wearing on him. I mean Ben has been notorious for staying in the pocket too long, or moving around and taking the hits and when he came debuted, as a fan we loved it. It was exciting to see a QB as mobile as he was, but after a while with as many hits as he has taken and the injuries in the last few seasons, it is just so tough to watch and see. I think for the last two seasons alone, I have talked about how weak we are in our O-Line.. They aren't able to protect him the way he needs to be-- some of that is with the fact that he moves around too much or not enough, but the other part is that at least this season with injuries among our key front men, we are really lacking in support of our QB.

It doesn't make it any better that we have injuries in what is supposed to be the strongest part of our team- The Steel Curtain. What is left of this decade's defense is dwindling. James Harrison in Cincy, Foote injured, Casey Hampton gone, we are just FALLING APART!

It's so frustrating- there is no comeback that can take away from my team looking sorry this season. I mean "Sixburgh" can only get you so far , when the threat of the next two teams close to six are themselves having a shakey season, but son WHAT  is going on?!

I think I have to give the Steelers the NFL Whack Award.. I can't... Even when we haven't gone to the big game, or haven't had a season where we know we are going to succeed in the playoffs, at least the team has it's character and identity.. Right now our character and identity is not what it used to be. And not that I expect them to be, but we are searching for who we are now and who we are in that process is SORRY!

Hopefully this bye that is coming up, gives us the time to figure it out. Otherwise I am wasting money watching my team lose on October 13 when I take my nephew to the Jets vs. Steelers game.. We better get it together!

That's all she wrote!