Last night I got to experience my first ever live NFL playoff game. I did some extra work for my employer and my payment was a pair of tickets to the Steelers vs. Jaguars playoff match-up. How could I pass it up? It’s an NFL playoff game and a chance to finally see Fred Taylor play in person. At the same time I was expecting to get to see them routed by 30 points by the run happy Jags.

My girlfriend and I walked into Heinz Field at 7:45pm and I was in my own private hell; surrounded by happy-go-lucky Pittsburgh Steelers fans. We went to our seats which were amazing; 1st level about 30 rows back on the goal line. The stadium filled up slowly and the atmosphere was highly disappointing at first as I expected a much rowdier crowd. The Jags came out to a chorus of boos and I chuckled, especially since my Steelers fan girlfriend said, “That’s not very nice, they are booing them.” It’s even funnier to think about it this morning, she’s very sweet and it was her first NFL game. Northcutt was last to come out and my blood boiled. I wanted to be in the front row bitching at him about his 2002 drop. I was not a happy camper.

Next up was the introduction of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The crowd let out a massive roar and being that I was with my girlfriend and surrounded by work friends it took all I had not to cry. It hurt so bad sitting in that stadium knowing damn well the Browns should have been in the playoffs. I felt like I put a new puppy and someone came over, tied it up in the street and ran over it with an eighteen wheeler. It was the worst feeling I’ve had in awhile. Somehow I managed to keep my composure. My anger took over and I thought, “you assholes are going to get crushed.” Webster’s Dictionary would define that as envy.

The kick-off came and the Steelers walked right down the field for a TD and I thought, “no, what did I do to deserve football hell?” Then on the ensuing kick-off Maurice Jones Drew ran 95 yards to the one and the stadium popped. I finally got to see my first ever Fred Taylor carry, a 1 yard run for a touchdown against the Steelers. It was a beautiful sight. For the sake of my girlfriend and the fact that 63,000 drunken hillbilly yinzers would have killed me on the spot, I kept the spectator role and just smiled. The next few series my smile got even bigger as I got to see a nice defensive game. Then a wondrous sight from the heavens occurred, Rasheen Mathis took a horrendous Roethlisberger pass and turned it around for 63 yards and a touchdown. He took it right down my side over the goal line I was staring at. It was a wonderful sight; pissed off Steelers fans. The ensuing drive got even better. Ben threw Mathis a second TD return. I was elated until the red flag. Rightfully so he was down and I was disappointed – until Garrard floated a pass over the LB head and Drew ran by everyone for a 43 yard TD. My dreams were all coming true. Halftime arrived and it was 21-7 Jaguars. Dejected Steelers fans were booing their playoff team into the locker room.

The 3rd came like a bad flashback. A pass right to a linebacker in the zone on the second play of the half. This was the first time since the opening drive that Steelers fans got life in them. I was thinking, “Del Rio – run the damn ball!!!” The Jags D held strong making it 21-10. Then the Jags then put together a beauty of a drive going towards the opposite end zone. I had the perfect view of the hand off to Drew on the 10. The hole to the left was a perfectly straight diagonal line to the end zone. The blocking was amazing. 28-10 and I was all smiles.

The 4th quarter started with a Pittsburgh 4th and 12. I was very happy because the Jags don’t miss tackles. Ben made a great read on the safety blitz and hit Holmes in stride 8 yards out. Then what never happens, happened. The DB missed the tackle and once I again I suffered through Steelers fans on a respirator. As a football fan, I had to commend Big Ben and Holmes on the read and execution. It was beautifully done. As a Browns fan I wanted to beat someone’s head in.

For the next Jags drive Rob Chudzinski took over the play calling. A poor QB with an 11 point lead allowed throw 3 passes in a row. What the hell was that? I felt shell shocked. You could feel the momentum shift. I was feeling a little sick inside. The Steelers walked right down the field for the TD. Ladies and gentleman, we have a game. The Browns fan in me was distressed, the football fan in me was loving the hell out of an amazing game. A glimmer of hope shined down, the ignorant Steelers coaching went for 2, got a penalty and were dumb enough to go for 2 again! Prior to it I turned to my Steelers fan friends and said, “This is going to cost the Steelers the game if they don’t get it.” The next drive, bad QB play struck once again. Garrard threw a gift to Ike Taylor who took it deep into Jags territory. The Steelers get to 3rd and goal and throw a fade on the opposite goal line of where I’m sitting and I see Hines Ward pull the DB into him and the flag come out. My reaction was, “Ward pulled him into his chest and rode him into the end zone, that’s on the Steelers.” Sure enough it was called the other way. My best friend confirmed it this morning that I was correct and Ward pulled the DB into him. The Steelers scored the go ahead TD and missed the 2 point conversion. My premonition was coming true but my heart was breaking a little because the Steelers were winning and the crowd was rowdy.

By the way, that rowdy crowd was small. Only 63,000 out of a possible 65,000 fans showed up to the game. Steelers fans are not fans at all. In fact they are horrible fans who don’t love their team like they claim. They are a bunch of posers. A playoff game 2,000 short of capacity? Come on. Losers.

The next drive involved a 3rd and 13. This time Northcutt caught it. 5 years too late ass clown! The Jags then punted.

Steelers ran the ball to run out the clock and Northcutt made me smile. A 16 yard return to midfield. Then more flashbacks of the Browns - wide open WR for a big gain and Garrard short hopped it. No one was in the area on coverage. From my angle I thought it was a catch, obviously I was wrong. 3rd and 2 and Garrard misses Lewis for an easy conversion. The envy and anger were mounting. Though I did turn to my Steelers fan friends during the challenge and say, “You know what’s great about this? I’m seeing an amazing game and I don’t feel like I want to throw up.” He laughed and said, “I sure feel like I’m going to.” 4th and 2 and Garrard drops back and I thought I’d have to deal with happy fans, then he took off up the middle and under my breath pumping my fist I was saying “Go, go, go…” Thirty-two yards to the 11! I was psyched! Bad QB's that scramble can make up for bad play and he did it at the right time. The next play Drew got leveled. The hit was awesome. Great for any football fan to see. Drew just missed a TD getting to the 2 and it was 4th and 1. The Jags let the clock run out for the delay, and Tomlin once again proved he’s a bad coach. He accepted the penalty. Why not make the kicker get the ball up quicker? Having a guy like Holmes on the bench and allowing a straight line runner in Davenport to return the kicks also blew my mind. Going for 2 without necessity was another boneheaded decision. Frankly I’m happy Tomlin is their coach, he’s not very good. The Jags made the field goal and kicked off. The Steelers got the ball, Big Ben got sacked and fumbled. Jags recover. Heinz Field in sheer silence. You could hear a pin drop and the squeak of my smile.

I walked out of the stadium with a great feeling sparked by the greatest sound ever; a Steelers fan shouting, “Let’s go Penguins!”

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