The old adage of “if I had a nickel for every time someone said…”

I remember my parents saying something similar to that when I was younger; a time when I was taught that if I didn’t have anything nice, that I should probably refrain from saying it at all.

If only some fans would take the same advice.

Now, I’m not insinuating that people cannot criticize, or have an opinion. However, those opinions border on dangerous and illogical at times.

Following the largest Steelers loss in the Mike Tomlin era (and since 1989, which even predates Bill Cowher‘s era) many of the so-called Steelers faithful went on a rampage. Radio shows had callers, and social media had comments, that went far beyond crossing the line.

The Steelers world was on fire.

Among the things I had heard or read a week ago:

• “They should cut Le’Veon Bell… he’s a distraction.”
• “Ben is washed up and should retire.”
• “Tomlin and Haley should be fired.”

So on, and so forth the comments spewed, like an overflowing toilet of irrational comments from upset “fans.”

I can sympathize, at least somewhat, with what some of these people were feeling: they were disappointed with their team’s performance.

I get it. I truly do.

However, that doesn’t give someone the right to say some of the things they had. We all know of the ugly comments typically made toward Ben. None of us understand what happend with Le’Veon Bell, nor will we, if ever. (Because of how tight-lipped the NFL is about their testing policies.)

Just because a team loses, it doesn’t give anyone the right to say many of the ugly and obnoxious things they were saying.

Fast forward one week, and everything is roses. The Steelers nearly do the exact opposite: the late garbage time touchdown from Travis Kelce closed the gap on what was, to that point, the largest margin of victory in the Mike Tomlin era.

The defense forced turnovers and pressured the quarterback.

Ben Roethlisberger nearly posted a perfect quarterback rating.

Le’Veon Bell ran wild in his return.

Everyone is happy.

At least for now.

What happens next is anyone’s guess, but I may suggest some decorum for fans to follow. Everyone has a bad day; and when you work as a team, and several people “decide” to have their bad day at the same time, then the team suffers.

It’s going to happen. Every team doesn’t win every game. (Unless you’re the 1972 Miami Dolphins.)

Therefore the way in which this team rebounded correlates with their ability to face adversity. Instead of trying to pour dirt on their grave, we should instead embrace what we have, while we have it. Other fan bases would kill for the success Pittsburgh has had over many decades. (Okay, maybe an overstatement with “killing” but you get the point.)

That’s why this tale of two games is so important: it shows that one week can be the absolute worst, and right behind that dark day, a bright one closely follows (with a week that’s the absolute best.)

It’s a tall order to expect perfection week-in and week-out, but if I have learned anything from watching the Pittsburgh Steelers, they’re going to give it their best each and every time they step on the field.

As fans, we should raise the bar for ourselves, and do the same.