Sure is Steelers’ playoff weather
There鈥檚 a scene in 鈥淭he Green Berets鈥� where Captain Nim, played by George Takei, looks skyward to miserable, rainy, monsoon-like conditions and comments, 鈥淭his sure is Charlie weather,鈥� alluding to perfect enemy strike conditions.
The same can be said for the Steelers about Sunday鈥檚 predicted forecast for the wild-card playoff game at Heinz Field. Temperatures are expected to barely slip into the 20s for the scheduled 1:05 p.m. start for the Miami Dolphins-Pittsburgh Steelers opening-round playoff game, although the upside is the sun is going to make an appearance for most of the game to give the look of a warmer afternoon.
Tradition holds warm weather teams don鈥檛 generally fare well when Canada releases all of its pent-up frigid air. The temperature for the next couple days in south Florida is to be in the 80s, although during Sunday鈥檚 game the high is expected to slip into the 60s.聽
Though not quite the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, Heinz Field won鈥檛 be the most hospitable place, especially since it鈥檚 surrounded by all those soon-to-be-frozen historic rivers.
The Dolphins and Steelers have met in the NFL playoffs three previous times, and the winner of all three advanced to the Super Bowl.
The first meeting was in 1972, the game after Franco Harris鈥� 鈥淚mmaculate Reception.鈥� The Dolphins eked out a 21-17 victory in the conference championship and then capped their perfect season with a 14-7 win over the Washington Redskins.
The Steelers opened the 1979 playoffs with a 34-14 victory over Miami on their way to their fourth Super Bowl crown of the 1970s.
Led by quarterback Dan Marino, the Dolphins defeated the Steelers in the AFC Championship, 45-28. Miami then lost Marino鈥檚 one-and-only Super Bowl appearance, a 38-16 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Steelers were cruising right along when they traveled to Miami in mid-October, sitting at 4-1. The Dolphins鈥� season was going the other way at the time at 1-4. Then, against the odds, Miami, behind Jay Ajayi鈥檚 204 yards rushing, handed the limping Steelers a 30-15 thumping on an oppressive, muggy afternoon.
That rookie linebacker Tyler Matakevich finished with a team-high eight tackles says a lot. Nothing against Matakevich, but the defense was without Ryan Shazier and Cameron Heyward. The defense has evolved with players forced to play because of injury and is hopefully hitting stride for a four-game ride to a seventh Lombardi Trophy.
Big Ben was not so sharp in the loss and was even less sharp after finishing the game on a tweaked knee. That knee needed surgery, but, true to history, Roethlisberger came back earlier when the experts said he wouldn鈥檛 be able to.
Yes, the Steelers are frustrating to their faithful, a lot. But, winning means not having to say, 鈥測eah, but.鈥� Fortune smiles on winners, especially when your all-world wide receiver had the presence of mind, while his facemask was being spun around his head, to extend the ball to the extent of his arm鈥檚 reach.
The Steelers are winners of seven in a row, bookended by victories over the Browns. (At least you don鈥檛 root for the Browns. To the untrained eye (me), the Steelers 鈥� and the officials 鈥� looked like they mailed it in and the Browns STILL lost.)
They鈥檙e about as healthy as can be. All the parts of what might just be the most prolific offense in the league 鈥� Roethlisberger, Bell, Brown, Green, the line, Nix, etc. 鈥� are in place. The Miami defense should have to contend with Sammie Coates, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Green and Eli Rogers crunching their way around Heinz Field.
The defense hasn鈥檛 been that consistent, but with Stephon Tuitt back in the lineup the line is in better shape, which should have a positive ripple effect throughout the defense.
So, if you go to the game, dress warm. If you prefer the safety of inside, doesn鈥檛 matter. Just enjoy the game and hope the Steelers extend their season one more week.