First thread I read there doesn't square with your assertions:
http://forums.stillers.com/forums/default.aspx?g=posts&t=4527.
Maybe it's different on the other threads, but.... this one's all about the state of denial.
Yeah, there's some nitrous-huffing going on in that post, but there's also:
"You people are delusional. The Pats threw for 400 yds...we couldn't stop 'em and we won't in the playoffs either."
and
"Man, I'm kind of with you on this. We just got our ******* doors blown off. I can't get into the "gosh golly I'm proud" *********** right now. Some would say that we are not even as good as our 1st half performance and that we were lucky to keep it as close as we did for 2 quarters considering how we looked in the 2nd half.
Our secondary was exposed .... and right now I'm not sure if it was the personnel on the field or the system we use when it comes to the Pats.
They have our number ... that's indesputable."
And this gem:
"Because winning is all that matters in football. Not second, not third, not "good" games that we tried hard.....winning championships. Ask Terry Bradshaw about it. He was boo'd out of Three Rivers Stadium because he refused to grasp this concept, and even he admits that he DESERVED it. I'm never proud of this team after they lose, which is what makes the older Steelers fans in this world so great.....they simply refuse to accept losing. Other teams in the NFL and their fans do accept losing, which is why they are not the Steelers.
What gives us the right to demand a winner? We pay the salaries of the players and the coaches, not Dan Rooney. When you pay $60.00 for a ticket, you buy the right to stay at your seat and cheer anyone you want or boo anyone you want. If you want to cheer that pathetic piece of **** performance we had today, have at it, just don't expect the MAJORITY of Steelers fans to agree with you. **** that ****, it was unacceptable, I don't care if we played God's team."
and the last one:
"last time I checked those are still yards. As much as it pains me to say the PATS are an exceptionally talented team with some great calls. I dont like them but I'm not going to be some whiney **** and not show some kind of respect to what they can do. FORGET about what their offense did...What did ours do? Thats where the real problem lies."
Sounds pretty grim to me.