At the beginning of this NFL season, I made the unconscious decision to become a more passionate Steelers fan than I ever have been. Maybe it was because they seemed poised to be the unstoppable force this year, the team to beat. Unfortunately, each season in Steeler Nation is like another roller coaster, and it seems as though I've amped up my passion for the most turbulent ride yet.
We came out strong. Despite the fact that Bell stupidly got himself suspended, DeAngelo stepped up when the team needed him and upheld the great running game that he showed off during the previous postseason. Ben looked great, handily defeating the Redskins and coming out on top of a tough game against Cincinnati. (I was there... it was awesome.)
Then, week 3 came around. I had originally planned on getting out to Philly to watch among enemies. I was bummed when that didn't work out, but as it soon became apparent, everything happens for a reason. Instead, I set up the armchair in my common room, threw on my Franco Harris jersey, grabbed my Terrible Towel, and started watching the game in the comfort of my dorm. As the game wore on, my watching style changed from full visual, to drive chart combined with radio, to just drive chart, to nothing at all. I was embarrassed for my boys, and I actually made myself physically ill with the stress the game was causing me. (Like I said, I decided to become a super fan, so I get pretty worked up.)
The game continued without me, I sat in bed and pictured the beating taking place in Philly, and I cried. I actually cried. It was a dark time for Steeler Nation and Steelers fans everywhere.
Sure, we recovered the following week as Ben nearly broke an NFL record against the Chiefs, throwing five touchdowns and for over three hundred yards. I was however, saddened when the Chiefs busted our blowout and ended the game with a touchdown in garbage time. But, eh, we won and made up somewhat for the previous week.
Then we whopped the Jets, to the disappointment of many of my New York friends. And we were poised to give the Dolphins the same treatment... but the Steelers have to do what the Steelers do best: let the underdogs win.
There is a disappointment that you have to come to terms with as a Steelers fan. I felt it week 3 against the Eagles, and I felt it week 6 against the Dolphins. Tomlin has an unfortunate record against under .500 teams, and it's surely showed this season. To top it off, this season has already stripped us of Shazier, Heyward, and Big Ben himself, leaving us at the whim of Landry Jones for the loss to the Patriots. (We like to count that loss, in Steeler Nation, as a moral win, because we didn't get whopped as badly as expected.)
After the bye, Ben should be back, the defense should be almost at one hundred percent, and there's even a whispering of Ladarius Green making his long awaited debut (though I'm loving Jesse James). But I can't say anything more, because in Steeler Nation, anything can happen, even when you least expect it.
It's not easy hanging onto a team as unpredictable as the Pittsburgh Steelers, but I am glad that I was christened a fan. Each game will be suspenseful, the Bengals to the Browns, but I am ready to stumble through this season with the rest of them. I still have faith... #StairwaytoSeven.
