The Steelers are enjoying their blowout win over the Colts but must get right back to work and get ready to face the division-leading Bengals this Sunday.
While the Steelers are working on going up against the Bengals we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Tuesday, Dec. 8th.
Boykin delivers
The moment Steeler Nation was waiting for finally happened on Sunday night when cornerback Brandon Boykin entered the field and even caught an interception. Even more as Mike Prisuta points out, the pass coverage was better than it has been in the past three games.
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The Steelers defense had given up 300+ passing yards for three consecutive games and Sunday night that streak was stopped when the defense only allowed 186 passing yards by Matt Hasselbeck. Boykin’s patience was rewarded and he’s ready to his next shot.
"“I’m a firm believer, what’s meant to be will be. For me it’s been a little bit of adversity but it’s all about how you respond to it. You have to be a great teammate and stay in the mindset that at any moment you could get in. It’s really hard, honestly, but at the same time I’ve grown a ton just from going through a little bit of adversity and excited that now I’m finally able to play.” – Brandon Boykin"
Let him have some fun
Steelers receiver Antonio Brown had one of the most creative touchdown celebrations on Sunday night when after returning a punt 71 yards to pay dirt he leaped crotch-first into the goal post. The leap earned Brown a 15-yard penalty for excessive celebration (for using the goal post as a prop) and set the internet on fire with memes and angry traditionalists who think players shouldn’t showboat.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler suggests that everyone just calm down and realize that this is a world-class athlete simply enjoying what he does. Brown saved this celebration for a point in the game when the Steelers wouldn’t necessarily be harmed by the 15-yard penalty so what’s the problem? Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had a pretty good response about overanalyzing Brown’s celebration.
"“I didn’t see it. But I’m sure we’ll rehash it and rehash it a thousand times in the next six days and suck all the life out of it.” – Mike Tomlin"
Jones out
The spectacular performance by Antonio Brown possibly overshadows the spectacularly awful performance by Jacoby Jones, as pointed out by the PPG’s Gene Collier. Jones fumbled the first play of the game and then fumbled on his next return, which might actually be the last time he’s on the field for the Steelers.
The fumbles by Jones forced Tomlin to put Antonio Brown back at punt returning, where he had his now infamous 71-yard touchdown return ending with the crotch-first leap onto the goal post. If it weren’t for Jacoby Jones sucking so badly, the world would be without the sight of Brown’s one-man Nutcracker. Amazing.
Next: Steelers grades in win over Colts
At any rate, Jones will probably be released at some point this week and it should go without saying but based on Steelers Twitter Sunday night it needs to be said. Just because Jones turned out to be not as good at returning footballs as he used to be doesn’t mean that releasing Dri Archer was a mistake. The mistake the Steelers made with Archer was drafting him in the first place.