So I missed a few weeks posting to this, I’ve been busy. Nevertheless, the season continues. Through the bye week Pittsburgh is 6-2, with one completely inexplicable loss (Chicago) and one that looks better and better in retrospect (the surprisingly good Jagwaggers). They are running away with the division, helped by the ineptitude of the Ravens on offense and the Bengals in every aspect, to say nothing of the hapless Browns.
I have to laugh about the A.J. Green fight last week. I don’t know what was said and I don’t care, but the Bengals are so terrible that even the most mild-mannered of them, someone who had never drawn even a personal foul penalty, took a guy down by the neck and tried to punch him through his helmet. It’s the Burfict Effect, it turns everyone on that team into a goon. I’d be frustrated, too, if the Red Rocket were Pittsburgh’s quarterback.
Anyway, with the division in hand, it’s time to start thinking about the future. Ben isn’t having the best year, but as long as he doesn’t sustain a season-ending injury they’re a virtual lock for a bye week, with the upcoming Patriots game determining who the host will be. I’m optimistic. The Patriots look vulnerable this year on defense and surely Brady can’t keep this up all year with as many hits as he’s taking compared to previous years. We’ll see. But this is it, this is the last look out the window before it closes, so Pittsburgh better get it done this time.
Today’s game with the Colts ought to be a gimme blowout. Which, of course, means it will be way too close, but still, the Colts are awful this year. I’m truly surprised Pagano hasn’t been fired yet this year. Even with HaleyBall compunding the red zone woes Pittsburgh wins this by two touchdowns.
A scary game to be sure. The only good thing to say is the pass to Brown to get into field goal range for the winning kick was vintage Ben. Moving around in the pocket, a guy tugging on his jersey and he hits his target in stride downfield.
Second unsportsmanlike conduct equals eviction, whether you are Mr. Burfict or not. When you’re Mr. Burfict, however, it also means the dirtiest player on that field is now off that field. Buh-bye.
For an entertaining glimpse into what substitutes for reasoning in Mr. Burfict’s mind see: Vontaze Burfict Says Refs Are Trying to Provoke Him After 1st Career Ejection
So that game was something. Started great, faded back into mediocrity, then the blocked field goal kicked it all off. The second half was what this season should have been all along. They focused on Bell and got wrecked by the receiving corps. I think by now saying that Brown is the best in the NFL is a given, but JuJu is shaping up to be the number two they’ve needed for a while.
Still, that was their first game scoring 30 all year. The Fire Todd Haley bandwagon is getting bigger every week, and last night wasn’t a validation of his offense because all the damage happened when they went no-huddle or hurry-up. Haley’s standard play calling is so stiff.
Anyway, great result. Hopefully it continues. With the rest of the schedule being marshmallow soft home field throughout is there for the taking. Which means they’ll blow it by losing 3 gimmes, because that’s what they do.
I’d argue stepping on a player’s arm on the sideline, then throwing a ref’s arm off him in the ensuing altercation warrants ejection. But then, I said the same thing about Ndamukong Suh when he was stomping around the NFC North. Burfict isn’t the victim, he’s the problem. You’d think he’d learn after his forced vacation earlier this season, but he just keeps doing it.
I don’t think there was anything fairly easy about that one. It was a hell of a game, though.
Dat dere’s a good football team, ya hear? If it wasn’t so easy to dislike or pity the rest of the division, they might even be my AFC favorite. See ya in the Super Bowl (on the highly unlikely chance the Packers still make the playoffs)!