U mad, bro?: After beating the Bucs, 'How do you like us now?' is the theme from Steelers fans

The Pittsburgh Steelers finally won for the first time in a month, and the “How do you like us now?” crew is out in force.

At least that’s what my inbox and Twitter feed is showing me.

Now, they may not know what the heck they are talking about. But they are coming at me “lahd ’n’ prahd.”

As you will see in this week’s “U mad, bro?”

Larry thinks I’m too negative about the Steelers.

“Your [sic] a good writer but why most of the time so negative. I’ve been following the Steelers my entire life and you and your paper in general seems to dwell on the negative over the last 5 years or so.”

You’re right, Larry. I should focus on all those great seasons and playoff wins they’ve had over the past five years.

It’d also mean posting a blank page on the website. But that’s a minor detail.

Someone with the Twitter handle “@PitYinzer” sent me a similar message after the Steelers upset the Buccaneers last week. He must not be a fan of mine.

“I’m sure you’ll find something negative to talk about.”

I did. It wasn’t hard. I was watching those two offensive sequences at the end of the first half.

Were you?

More sports

• Minkah Fitzpatrick heads to adopted home to face former team when Steelers play Dolphins
• Tim Benz: If Kenny Pickett is cleared, Mike Tomlin is right to start him — for 2 reasons
• WR Diontae Johnson talks about spat with Steelers QB Mitch Trubisky: 'We squashed it'

Here’s an exchange I had with a guy named Kevin about the quarterbacks. He was unimpressed with Mitch Trubisky’s efforts in relief of Kenny Pickett against the Buccaneers. So he didn’t like the fact that Mark Madden and I had a discussion about who should start this week in Miami during this week’s podcast.

“Let’s fabricate a QB controversy so we have something to talk about this week”

— Kevin (@kc4tweets) October 17, 2022

It’s NFL season. A team that looked dead a week ago just pulled off a big upset. The Penguins’ season started. The MLB playoffs are underway. College football is in full swing. There’s lots to talk about. Are we “fabricating a QB controversy,” or are you fabricating anger because someone may have a different opinion than you?

Pickett inspired the entire team. The team made Trubisky look good/play good. Trubisky can’t inspire that type of play from his teammates.

— Kevin (@kc4tweets) October 17, 2022

So — despite being totally uninspired by Trubisky — the offense went on an eight-play, fourth-quarter touchdown drive and a 10-play drive that killed the clock and won the game? I guess inspiration doesn’t mean that much then, huh?

Pickett’s play is the reason we won. He inspired them. Trubisky just rode the wave created by Pickett’s play.

— Kevin (@kc4tweets) October 17, 2022

If I’m understanding you right, no matter what, “Pickett is inspiring, it’s all him.” But “Trubisky is uninspiring, so no matter what, it’s never him.”

Got it. I know the rules now. I will start crafting my columns accordingly now that I’ve been made aware of this information.

Mike shares an opinion about Tampa quarterback Tom Brady.

I think his impending divorce is messing with his head. He might realize what a bad idea it was to come back this season and how much it's going to cost him. If it would patch things up with his family he should quit right now

— Mike Zinza (@ZinzaA) October 18, 2022

That’s very noble of you, Mike. Caring so deeply for Brady’s happiness and the well-being of his family and all.

It’s nice of you to put thoughts of his personal tranquility out front and not at all advance an agenda of finally driving him out of the league after torturing the Steelers for more than two decades.

You’re a good man, Charlie Brown.

Paul is very confused. My best guess is that he is trying to trash-talk me about a prediction that Mark Madden made in our “Madden Monday” post after the Steelers lost 38-3 in Buffalo. Mark said, “They are going to go into the bye 1-7. There is no doubt about that.”

I’m assuming Paul wants me to eat some crow on Madden’s behalf after the Steelers beat Tampa Bay on Sunday.

“‘No doubt Steelers will be 7-1.’ Well maybe some doubt.”

Paul, don’t you mean 1-7? I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t be emailing me to gloat if they won seven of eight to start the season.

And didn’t you mean to email Mark? That was his prediction. Not mine. In fact, in the very next paragraph, I wrote, “I’ll bet against that. Just by virtue of how the NFL works, the Steelers will stumble into a victory they shouldn’t get.”

I think upsetting the Bucs when they were 10-point underdogs qualifies as exactly that.

But aside from inverting the team’s record and sending your email to the wrong person, you were spot on.

Finally, Jerry emailed me about the Pirates.

“With the 2022 ‘season of auditions’ ending, will 2023 be another filled with ‘Not Ready for Prime Time Players?’”

Well, Jerry, “Not Ready for Prime Time Players” was the original name for the cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 1975. That show’s streak of being on-air has continued for 47 years.

The Pirates’ streak of not appearing in a World Series is up to 43 years. So your analogy may be even more accurate than you realize.

I don’t expect either streak to end any time soon. However, from the SNL side of things, I know even fewer people on their roster than I do the Pirates these days — and I watch even less frequently.

Is “The Church Lady” still on?