I agree entirely. If the D could only figure out how to come out and shut people down on their first drive, they’d be giving up even fewer points than they do. At least they seem to be able to make adjustments quickly, and I remain blown away by the play of our secondary.
Willie Parker is an idiot. Who loses the handle on the ball that many times, yet goes lunging into a pile and stretches out for no good reason? Also, he did get some yards running up the middle, but I remain perplexed as to why they don’t try to run him outside more often.
This game reminded me of just how much Michaels and Madden are assholes who have a hard on against the Steelers. It was very reminiscent of the Superbowl, where they just couldn’t see holding or pushing off against the Seahawks no matter what. The first time the ball came out of Parker’s hands, even watching it live, it shouldn’t have been called a fumble in the first place. It couldn’t have been more clear that his ass hit the ground and that in doing so, it sling shot the ball out. Yet these two numbnuts acted like Parker really got away with one, and it set Madden off on a tirade against replay and for old time football, and how it’s getting to the point that all they do is watch for anything to make it not be a fumble. (Nevermind that they just got done saying that Tomlin never wins challenges and the ref in question has the lowest percentage of overturning calls on the field.) This was clearly a time when replay worked properly, but these two pieces of shit went the rest of the game tallying that one up as a job against the Bengals. That kind of shit does nothing but cement in the heads of stupid fans that all the calls are going in favor of the Steelers.
I thought that the second review regarding a fumble was pretty close, and wouldn’t have been surprised either way, although the replay showed how the ball was still in Parker’s hands, yet away from his body, when his knee went down. The final one was clearly a fumble.
It was nice to see flashes of Roethlisberger getting back to his regular level of performance. It also helped to actually go ahead and call five and 10 yard pass plays instead of having him take 7 step drops every goddamn pass play. We will need him to be sharp if Parker is going to continue to be Parker.
As senile as Madden has become, he was right on one point. The fumbles were mostly attributed to those stupid sleeves Parker insisted on wearing. Not a good idea in the rain.
I agree. Don’t players wear those to prevent scrapes and burns, especially on carpet? Why would you need them on sodden grass anyway?
I don’t want to go through a big local debate like we did about Ben’s gloves a few years ago. Get the moron to take them off, for crying out loud.
Just to go back to the Madden/Michaels thing. I understand why Madden would hold a grudge - as successful as he might have been during the 70’s, they only won one Superbowl, and we were a big part of that lack of ultimate success. That, and more specifically the fact that on his deathbed, someone will still ask him about the Immaculate Reception.
What I don’t get is Al Michael’s stupidity when it comes to the Steelers. Any ideas?
But getting out of control and causing 35 yards worth of penalties on the kickoff only diminish your cause. That Hail Mary could have been good with an extra five yards.
I never thought I would say this, but I really really hope we lose to the Pats next week.
Since the road to the Super Bowl will go through Foxboro, I’d much rather lose to them during the season. Because beating the Patriots once would require playing at 200%. Beating them twice would require divine intervention.
I do see what you are saying, but losing once would also be better than losing twice, too.
I was hoping to see the Pats lose, but I was also afraid that the Steelers would be facing the Pats on their bounceback week, instead of now being in a position to hand them their first loss. I guess you just gotta go beat them, and if it comes to it, beat them again.
Clearly, it can be done. They are beatable, and looking moreso each week.
I gotta tell ya, this run at an undefeated season is pretty nerve-wracking. I’m not complaining, mind you, but every single goddamned game has tremendous significance, in that regard. If the Pats had a 10-1 record going into last night’s game, it would have been a throwaway. Instead, Don Schula is in the press box. (he’s a dink, btw, and very disingenuous retracting his snarky comments about the Pats), it’s got as much hype as a playoff game, and the Ravens played like it was the goddamned Superbowl. I’m just amazed and blown away by the talent of this team.
Am I worried about the Steelers? Hell yes. I’m always worried about the Steelers and like it was mentioned upthread the teams may meet twice before we’re all done.
Hey, that reminds me - I was always a big fan of this French comic about this little Gaul guy with a winged helmet and his big buddy. What was the name of that comic again?
Yeah, I’ll be on the lookout for a guy wearing Patriots gear so new that it still has tags on it. If you hear someone you don’t know say hello, that will be me.
Maybe Asterix should be the mascot for the Patriots for this year.
I didn’t think so, but I guess if you take the whole thing about the Patriots success having an asterisk tied to it very, very personally, then perhaps you might see it that way.
Oh, you may not feel it, but it’s there all the same. The need to find some reason, any reason, to avoid admitting that the Patriots are just really good this year, it smells of desparation.
And I am nothing resembling a fan of the team, by the way. It’s just getting comical the way the number of people yelling “asterisk” and explaining away every good thing the team has done increases with every Patriot win.
