The non-call on the holding that allowed the TD on the kickoff return made a 7 point difference in the game. No, 14 points, because somehow I can know what would happen in a game if a certain event didn’t happen.
Doing things like leaving your feet to make helmet to helmet contact with a quarterback out of bounds kinda will draw the flag every time. Also, bringing a ball carrier down by his facemask in front of the ref will get their attention. Additionally, if you’re the QB and you think it’s a good idea to try to catch the defense unprepared, you better let your own teammates know it, or you’ll get two guys moving at the snap. Also, when you are 7 foot 5 and 500 pounds and in a two point stance, you better stand still. Of course, the refs let the Vikings get away with a lot of pre-snap movement that they didn’t call, and on one of the ones they did call, they let the guy flinch, then lean, and then pinwheel a little bit before they decided to throw the flag. The refs also let Favre get away with going after the legs of a blocker on an interception return. (I was glad they didn’t call that one, actually, because it would have been ticky tack, but still, if we’re going to start crying and tallying things up, let’s be thorough about it.)
But it was that blown tripping call that cost them the game.
Or maybe the Vikings ought to find someone to play offense who can run down the field and tackle someone when they turn the ball over. The 40 year old and the half-ton guys weren’t quite up to it.
Fondest memory of going to the game: the guy that had the Bengals tent with the satellite feed playing the Vikings game kicking out all the bears fans for rooting for the Steelers!
Tied up, it is. We’ll see you beeatches soon. Looks like our offense found itself. Scared you should be…
Bah. 15-1 will still get us homefield advantage. The Vikings were playing without Antoine Winfield, Percy Harvin was dinged up and AD was playing with a tweaked ankle and sore back. They weren’t going to go 16-0. I’m over it. I’ll trade a hundred losses like this to see Favre go crush the Packers at Lambeau next week.
I agree with this. The tripping “call” was total BS.
But, they’re the defending champs. I hate them. My roomie is from Pittsburgh. As the Steelers (or AKA Stealers of Victories), the refs are on their side.
Still. Kiss my butt. You got the call against the NFL’s Golden Boy. Put it in the stats.
Sorry to take the focus of the thread away from the “Steelers rule/Steelers suck” parade (I did watch the game, though!).
I’m a long-time diehard Panthers freak, and have been patiently awaiting the parting of the clouds and the dawning light of epiphany over Charlotte, but since it seems to be long in coming (if at all), I hereby make the statement needing to be made:
Jake Delhomme is done. Yea, he didn’t completely blow the game - the muffed punt return had a hand in that. But 13 interceptions already is enough. He’s done. Fox, of course, will hang on to him for another year or so, sorely testing my love and affection.
Yeah, I agree. I was there. It was ugly. Jake’s a stand up guy and has had a lot of success here, but it’s time. They don’t have anyone behind him (AJ Feely, Matt Moore) that will salvage anything, but he needs to ride the pine.
The best part of that call, was about 2 plays later on Harvin’s TD return, Dugan completely destroyed one of the refs. He was trying to get past Harvin to block the last 2 defenders, and the ref totally got in the way.
I fail to understand why Delhomme is still the starter. Considering how good the Panthers’ rushing game has been despite the total lack of a passing threat, he should have been benched weeks ago. Feeley has already proven he has the ability to perform when there’s talent around him (as in Philly). If it turns out the rest of the Panthers’ offense isn’t very good either, well, it could hardly be worse.
Anyway, I’d just be glad you aren’t the Bucs.
John Fox and Delhomme will both be gone at season’s end (Fox could maybe save his job if the team finishes 8-8 or better, but it won’t).
It almost looked like he shoved the ref out of the way intentionally (I don’t think he did)…and yes, that tripping call was horseshit. Completely altered the complexion of the game given that it negated a touchdown.
No, it was awful all around. Hill looked unsure, couldn’t avoid pressure, held the ball too long, and when he did throw it, the balls looked like shot-putted dead ducks. That was in addition to the current one-yard-and-a-cloud-of-dust running game.
Jimmy Raye’s philosophy seems to be that plays intended to net seven yards or fewer shall be runs, period. Where are the slant patterns? the swing passes? the crossing routes? Where are the counter run plays? How about off-tackle, for Og’s sake?
I was positively shocked when I saw a five-wide, empty backfield set in the second half. I didn’t think something like that was even in the play book.
We at least know that Crabtree can play, and adding that Vernon Davis can catch the ball now, we may be able to convince defenses to respect our passing game.
Smith should be the starter going forward. He’s better at the longer throws that the coaches will continue to insist calling. If he plays well (and I think he will), then we can draft ONLY linemen next year with our two 1st-rounders. One on each side of the ball would be lovely.
You were 3-0 with Hill when the defense was playing well. It’s not his fault that the defense is now playing horribly.
That said, if the defense continues to play horribly, Smith has to be in there because he may be able to win a game or two himself, while Hill just won’t lose any.
