ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

Coming off a historic weekend in the AFC North where two division teams battled in the conference title game, here is what's on the mind of ESPN.com readers.

On the Pittsburgh Steelers...

Markiyan from Kiev, Ukraine writes: Hey James. What a game! It would have been a perfect slugfest but for the referees. Horrendous officiating. Bad calls went both ways, I could name quite a few of them off the top of my hand - including, of course, the weird reversal of the Holmes TD (catch, fumble, recovery for TD) non-existent pass interference that led to Ravens' first TD, non-existent roughing the kicker penalty, a non-call on an obvious face make by a Ravens player (that caused a push from Kemoeatu and a 15-yard flag), finally, the Clark hit. I'm not sure Clark mean to lead with his helmet, he seemed to have lowered his shoulder to meet McGahee in the open field, but so did McGahee, and the helmets crashed. It's a pity that this accident marred such a great ball game! Hopefully, the officiating will be much better in the Super Bowl. Speaking of which, I can't wait to see the matchup of two so much different teams!

Casey from Atlanta writes: What's up, James. I'm a Falcons fan through and through, but as a passionate football fan, the Steelers play with a sense of history of their franchise and a passion for pure, unadulterated football that I adore. They don't scheme or stategize for a certain opponent: you must adjust to what they do for 60 minutes. Aside from having two surefire Hall of Famers in the Unflappable Big Ben and the B.S.M. (Ball-Seeking-Missile AKA Troy Polamalu) and a man's man for a coach, how do they manage to play the historic brand of Steelers football every week, every month, every year, every decade? Except for Parker, who is the antithesis of a Steeler Halfback (I want more Moore in the Bowl), everyone on their team fits, and I truly appreciate their mixture of smashmouth and brilliance. These guys could put on pink uniforms with no names, and I couldn't mistake their style for any other franchise. They have no more or less turnover and adjustments every year than the average stable franchise as far as execs, coaches, personnel, and injuries, so how do they do it?

Steelergurl from Laurel, Md. writes: Hey James - did I really sound silly when I said ask the ladies about Hines ward being most loved or hated? I'm not just a woman who loves Hines for his winning smile, but more for the catches he'll make and the blocks he'll put on you. Point is, Ward is a great WR. So much so that he's willing to "take one for the team" and worry more about winning the game than he is guaranteeing his spot at the Football Hall of Fame. (Like others, ahem, TO) That's really what I meant. (But I am sure the ladies will still vote him a favorite!)

Ricardo from Pasadena writes: Everyone can stop looking for what to name today's version of the Steel Curtain. I have their nickname, at last: "Monster Zero". It came to me while shaking my head in embarrassment over a "Mecha-Steelzilla" cartoon the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran yesterday. I'm giggling thinking about all of the Monster Island clips on the Jumbotron after every Woodley and Harrison sack. Roar! Boom! Zap! Squish! Fun, fun, fun. Oh, well... at least I'm having a good time.

Terry from Boulder, Colo. writes: James, this is for Chris in Cleveland who say people in Pittsburgh and Baltimore don't know what it's like to root for a losing team day in and day out. Excuse me? Have we heard of the Orioles? Or, even worse, the PIRATES? I realize this is a football blog, but any fan of the Pirates can tell you their only consolation after another miserable season is rooting for the Steelers.

On the Baltimore Ravens...

Parth from Baltimore writes: Just like to start off by saying congrats to the Ravens for an unbelievable season. Hats off to the Steelers, but no one thought we would be here. That being said, I know losing Rex Ryan is huge, who do you think will replace him? Being a huge Ravens fan, I know losing him is one thing, but losing Ray Lewis also is another. Yes people say he is old now, but he makes this defense click. I don't see how they can let him go.

Mike from New Jersey writes: James, i am a die hard ravens fan n i am mad that they lost the AFC title game to the Steelers, but the thing that really made me mad was that cheap hit from Ryan Clark. It was helmet to helmet n he should've been penalized for it, for example when the jets safety hit anquan boldin helmet to helmet he was penalized, suspended and fined. Should the same thing happen to Ryan Clark?

Keith from Austin, TX writes: James, Ravens are good, Steelers are better :-(

Josh Williams from Owings Mills writes: I'm calling for Flaccos head. He played like junk this post season. His stats this season are comparable to Bollers his 1st two seasons, and boller didnt have a derrick mason or mark clayton at the time. Joe also had a more consistent rushing game during his rookie post season run. I'm scared Flacco is going to end up like Boller down the stretch, lets get rid of him now before its too late.

On the Cincinnati Bengals...

Brandon from Philadelphia writes: Here is what I will say about your Bengals naysaying in regards to next year. The AFC North champion typically doesn't repeat. What if Pittsburgh loses Woodley, Harrison, and Polamalu for a significant period of time next year. Joe Flacco goes down, and where are the Ravens? Bottom dwellers like the past few years. No one expected Cleveland to be what they were last year either. So to count them out so soon, especially before the draft, isn't very objective. Also, a question. Isn't there a way fans/a team can ask the NFL to step in when it is apparent their owner isn't keeping them at all competitive? Kind of like a child declaring emancipation from their parents.

On the Cleveland Browns...

Nathan from Lancaster writes: It's laughable how many people (Steelers fans, Browns fans, many media luminaries) consider the Ravens the "old Browns." The only thing the Ravens took from the Browns was the players, who were awful, and the owner, whom everyone in Cleveland hates anyway. Everything else stayed in Cleveland, an honor not shared by the old Colts records, which should still be in Baltimore. The point is to root for the accomplishments of a city, not of a franchise. I'm a Baltimore Colts and Baltimore Ravens fan, even if they aren't the same franchise. If Browns fans want to claim a part of Stover's (awesome) accomplishments, fine. That's all they have a right to. If Steelers fans want to call the Ravens the "old Browns," they're just flat out wrong, since this is obviously not the same team, colors, logo, city, stadium, or anything else having to do with the Browns.

Dave from State College, Pa. writes: To Chris from Cleveland, us Pittsburghers know what it's like to have a team where little hope is left and have had 16 losing seasons in a row, they just don't play football. And the reason for consistent losing for both of these teams is bad ownership/management.