January 23, 2005
Blogging Pats-Steelers
Greetings from TiVo land! I'm about 10 minutes behind the broadcast on CBS, but I'll be popping up when it's appropriate.
Like just now, when Phil Simms mentioned something that not a lot of NFL fans know -- that the balls the NFL uses for kicking aren't the same as the rest. To read about the effect the "K-ball" has had, click here:
The NFL's move to the K-ball - which doesn't have as large of a sweet spot meaning they don't travel as far - has led to a reduction in longer field goals, as well.
"We'd try 57-yarders into the wind, because if we missed, they got the ball on the 20-yard line," said Stenerud, who kicked in Green Bay from 1980-'83. "Today, they kick from eight yards back, never have to try a 53-yarder into the wind and have a center who's trained to always give you the perfect snap. That's a good way to kick."
Added Longwell: "I think the K-ball is driving out the longer field goals and a lot of guys are making shorter field goals. Guys are also getting better and there are fewer guys that can do it so you don't see as much turnover."
Meanwhile, back on the field, two Pittsburgh turnovers, 10 New England points. The best capitalize every time.
UPDATE: If the Steelers can just keep hold of the balll, they might actually have a chance to win this game. They're completing controlling time of posession, and not giving Corey Dillon any room to run at all.
FEAR UPDATE: If Troy Palumalu ever gets hold of Tom Brady, it's going to be ugly. If there anybody faster on Pittsburgh's side of the ball?
CAN THE STEELERS COVER DEION BRANCH? Apparently not -- that's twice now he's gotten free deep, this time in double coverage.
In the meantime, it's always a good day when you get to see Bonnie Bernstein. Click here to check in on her fan club.
THE OLD HIGH SCHOOL PLAY . . . seems to have fooled the Steelers, as it seems to fool just about any NFL team these days. 17-3 Patriots. Beginning to look like a snoozer.
FANTASY BASEBALL? How nice of Jim Nantz to diss the product of his network's Internet partner -- CBS Sportsline. BTW -- a little bird tells me things aren't going so well at Sportsline, with key technical staff heading out the door everyday.
STEELERS SHOWING SOME LIFE? Maybe. Who knows, maybe they can keep exploiting the coverage underneath and dink and dunk their way to victory.
GAME OVER MAN! Say it just like Private Hudson my friends (click here for a listen). A rookie quarterback will kill you every time. 24-3 Patriots.
HALFTIME: Gee, is there any reason at all to watch the second half? When was the last time anybody scored three touchdowns against the Patriots in one half of football? Something tells me it's probably been a long, long time.
TIME FOR MADDOX? At least that's what Bernstein is saying from the sideline -- if Ben Roethlisberger continues to struggle. M y question is this: Why wait? Is there any indication that he'll play any differently in the second half? I say put in Maddox now.
TOUCHDOWN PITTSBURGH! So much I know. That looked way too easy, especially for a first drive in a second half against the Pats defense. Now he only has to do it two more times. 24-10 Pats.
PITTSBURGH GETS A BREAK . . . Or do they? The replay seems to indicate that the reciever was down before the fumble. I think they'll retain posession. Stay tuned.
AND THE PATS KEEP THE BALL . . . And score on the first play from scrimmage. 31-10 Pats, and it's real quiet in Pittsburgh. How's that for killer instinct?
PITTSBURGH RESPONDS . . . And Pittsburgh cuts the lead again, 31-14 Pats. Those first half turnovers are looking so huge right now. Right now, they're the margin of victory.
ON THE GIVENS CATCH . . . It's clearly a completion.
AND THE REFS SAY NO . . . And it's a terrible call. The refs really blow it there, and keep Pittsburgh in the game. Remember this play in the 4th quarter.
HERE COME THE STEELERS . . . Jerome Bettis rumbles for the huge gain. And Rodney Harrison is hurt . . .
STEELERS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR . . . As we enter the fourth quarter. 1st and goal from the five yard line.
BETTIS STOPPED ON THIRD AND GOAL . . . And Bill Cowher settles for the FG. 31-20 Pats, and the crowd is unhappy. Hard to argue against the call though. If you're playing the percentages, it was the right call to make.
AND THAT NIKE COMMERCIAL . . . Was kind of whack. Guess this is their answer to UnderArmour.
PATS CONVERT CRITICAL THIRD DOWN . . . And Givens recovers his own fumble.
LEAD BACK TO 14 . . . With about 8 minutes to go. 34-20 Pats.
AND NOW IT'S REALLY OVER . . . After the Eugene Wilson interception. And here comes the challenge flag. Pittsburgh got lucky once . . . They won't get lucky a second time.
PATS NAIL IT DOWN . . . With a late TD. Talking with a friend right now who thinks the Pats will open as a nine-point favorite in Las Vegas. Sounds right to me.
STEELERS SCORE ONE MORE . . . But it doesn't matter. Bernstein reported a few minutes ago that Bettis might retire after this season -- but you have to wonder if that's a negotiating ploy with the way he played this season as he split time in the backfield with Duce Staley. 41-27 New England.
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.ericmcerlain.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/4291
I missed it--what did Nantz say?
Posted by:
at January 23, 2005 08:22 PM
This game is ridiculous...Steelers threatening again....
Posted by:
at January 23, 2005 09:00 PM
"Hard to argue against the call."
EASY to argue against the call. It's late in the 3rd quarter against a very good team, you're not going to get that many more chances, you are 2 yards from paydirt, "there's no tomorrow." You HAVE to go for the touchdown!
I thought, and surely TMQ did too, "Game Over" when the Steelers didn't go for the TD.
Posted by:
at January 24, 2005 08:10 AM
Great post Eric, I did a similar thing on my site for the Eagles/Falcons game.
Incidentally, what was it that Nantz said about Sportsline? We run our baseball keeper league on their site and like it quite a bit, I would be disappointed if it went away. Also, don't they run NFL.com? That alone must keep them afloat.
Posted by:
at January 24, 2005 10:18 AM
My guess is the Pats will be a 5' to 6 point favorite. Nine is too much.
Posted by:
at January 24, 2005 02:30 PM
You didn't capture any of the pain, agony, or torture this game involved . . .
- I am biased but I thought gives trapped the ball.
- I too would have put Maddox in sooner, but understood why Cowher didn't.
- I too would have gone for the touchdown - I can't believe Plax didn't catch that ball.
- Bettis did great this year, but the Steelers are deep at RB. He should either agree to help out and a reduced role again or retire.
Posted by:
at January 24, 2005 02:56 PM
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in,
.
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)
07:11 PM
![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.ericmcerlain.com/offwingopinion/nav-commenters.gif)