Ahh, what the hell…I wouldn’t place a $100 bet on it, but I’ll toss it out as a season prediction anyway:
Yeah yeah, but I’d stake a beer on this:
of Manning’s INTs > # of Roethlisberger’s passing TDs, assuming the same number of games are played.
Hmmm…Ok, let’s assume both QBs play 16 games. I’ll call Manning’s pick total…oh, 14 for the season. Roethlisberger managed 17 passing TDs last year, a number I think will drop, but not by too much.
Hurm…let’s call this one a tie. 
Well, that is why I made a point of adding two-and-one. You are right, of course, about Neil O’Donnell. I’m sure, however, if he had managed to put it in his own receivers hands in the end zone, they wouldn’t have had as hard a time holding on to it as some other team’s receivers. 
Well, sure. But that didn’t happen. Instead, y’all get to cry in y’all’s Arn City because your QB was a dumbass. 
Robin
I’ll take that non-bet. I’ll even put up 6 cold frosty Iron City beers on it. You should know, in his best year, Plaxico still came up with just over half (7) of Hines Ward’s total TD receptions (12), and was only one better than the combined total for Randle El, Mathis and the tight ends (6). The only caveat I’ll put into place is that the bet is off if all the other Giants’ starting receivers have lost their arms in a terrible mass threshing accident.
14 more hours and it’s on. The Flaming Thumbtacks are about to start their season off with a humiliating and humbling defeat. And I will be watching every minute of it with a huge grin on my face.
But, where are your running backs?
Who needs 'em?
TOUCHDOWN! Anybody still think Roethlisberger was a fluke? 5/5 passing and a touchdown on the opening drive to three different receivers and a few completed on the run. He dug them out of a 1st and 25 and threw a great pass on a 3rd and long that he shouldn’t have been able to complete.
Yeah, I think he’ll be just fine. The Thumbtacks should be scared shitless. Once the defense asserts itself they’ll be history.
See what I mean. Travis Henry fumbles. Pittsburgh, 1st and 10 of the Titans’ 40. It’s only a matter of time.
TOUCHDOWN! 63 yards from Big Ban to Randle-El!
17-7. The rout is on!
20-7 at the half. The defense has been stifling since the first touchdown and both Ben and Willie Brown, the third-string running back, have been all but unstoppable. No punts, two takeaways… yeah, I think they’re for real. Undefeated isn’t out of the realm of possibility this year.
First second half drive: 75 yards, Parker goes over 100, Roethlisberger has a 158.3 passer rating, and the score is 27-7.
How could it be any better? Sorry for the constant updates, but this is a thing of beauty: the total dismantling of a team that was favored to win against a subpar Steelers team. That, I think it’s safe to say, was not a good call.
Bring on the Patsies. I think we can stick a fork in this game.
See, now I kinda wish I was watching that game instead of the Broncos game. But the Broncos are my team, and besides, to watch the Steelers game I’d have to be back in Pennsylvania and I don’t know if I could take another year in Pennsylvania. Besides, it’s just the not the same if you can’t listen to Myron.
OK, for the wrap-up. The entire 4th quarter was garbage time, the Steelers called off the dogs and put in the second string. And they still got a sack and a pick. Parker went for 163, Roethlisberger went 9-11 (!) for 212, 2 touchdowns, and a perfect 158.3 passer rating, the defense generated 3 turnovers, the offensive line allowed no sacks, and nobody coughed the ball up. The Steelers scored the first six times they had the ball until they let up towards the end of the third quarter.
That was as near to perfection as I have ever seen. Come on, haters. Look at the numbers and quake in fear. The Steelers ain’t no joke.
That was absolutely beautiful. I said to my wife before the game that Parker was for real. Against Buffalo last year, he really impressed me, but not as much as he did today…damn is he fast! Ben was flawless today…perfect passer rating, made smart decisions, accurate throws, commanded the field. Defense made the big plays, but we REALLY need to work on our tackling skills this week.
The last quarter and a half, run every down…beautiful. When the 4th began, I noted that 3 runs and out = 11+ minutes of clock time for the 4 possessions Tenn needed to win, so I pretty much knew it was over after the 3rd ended. Great job all around. If we can keep this up, it’ll be quite a season!
Hey, I figured they were gonna be strong this year. Today’s RB situation was a little bit of a surprise. Can Parker keep that up?
No one’s quaking, tho. Several games last year showed the “Any given Sunday” axiom to be alive and quite well.
Ouch! People say goddamn!
I thought Roethelisberger would play a bit better than he did in pre-season, but perfection? I figured Parker would run well, but I thought that he would have to carry the load for the passing game.
Hitting the tight ends for big gains and touchdowns. Running like wild. A good defense (let’s not give up opening drive touchdowns on a regular basis, guys).
Tennessee won’t be the best team they play all year, but the positive side is that the Steelers are not a team that usually puts away lesser competition. Usually they allow teams to hang around with them, even in their best years.
I was in the kitchen making one of QtM’s “Guilty Pleasure” sandwiches when Tennessee scored that first possession touchdown.
“Heh-heh,” I thought. “Way to start the season, Titans!”
I hadn’t put the top on the sandwich when the Steelers returned the points.
I then spent a most miserable afternoon except for dozing through the 3rd quarter.
~Trampled in Nashville~
And let’s just check in at the half to see how things are going for that underrated superstar of superstars, the player the Steelers were too stupid to keep, Plaxicoooo Burrrrreeeeeeeessssssssss!
(12:48) E.Manning pass to P.Burress to NYG 27 for 8 yards (A.Wilson, A.Rolle).
(10:49) E.Manning pass incomplete to P.Burress.
(8:17) E.Manning pass incomplete to P.Burress.
(3:56) E.Manning pass incomplete to P.Burress.
(11:28) E.Manning pass incomplete to P.Burress.
(2:34) (Shotgun) E.Manning pass intended for P.Burress INTERCEPTED by K.Dansby (C.Okeafor) at NYG 31. K.Dansby to NYG 29 for 2 yards (D.Diehl).
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to see the game, so I don’t know what really happened on any of these plays. However, having watched him play for his whole career until now, I have a fairly good guess.
We can hope that he comes out in the second half and tears things up. And it is only one game.