Andre Johnson maybe IS the best wide receiver in football. And that kid, Steve Slaton ( WV grad, I think), is proving to be something special at running back.
Fisher is generally a good coach, but what a terrible call.
4.
dbrown
Ravens need to kick butt (or else)
5.
Bubblegum Tate
Last week, I couldn’t watch the Steelers because I had to watch the 49ers suck. This week, I can’t watch the Steelers because I have to watch to Raiders suuuuuuuuuck. Stupid NFL broadcast rules.
6.
r€nato
Fucking Cardinals down 21-0 thanks to two Warner interceptions and an Anquan Boldin fumble.
The 1st quarter isn’t even over yet.
Maybe their game plan is to wear down the Vikings defense by making them run long distances down the field.
But we’re NFC West champs! Woo hoo!
7.
Kathy
It was close, but the Lions managed to pull it out, 0-14 whoo hoo!
While I’m not normally a Giants fan, tonight I am. Anyone else?
8.
dbrown
While the Steelers are the best in the AFC (I am a Ravens fans first) if the Ravens don’t win this they don’t deserve to get into the playoffs, so this is really there first playoff game. So, Ravens kick butt.
As a long-suffering Browns fan, I can say with ease that I despise the Steelers, but absolutely hate the Ravens with a deep-seated passion. Maybe Invisible Jessica can show up again and give both QB’s something fun to look at instead of more dropped passes.
From a strictly NFL-fan perspective, this is another awesome year for the AFC North, and the AFC in general.
Losman should be under suicide watch – fumble for a defensive TD, then throw an interception on the next play? And all the Bills had to do was hang on to the ball for the last two minutes of the game to win it.
About the only time I have a problem finding some one to root for against the Ravens is when the Cowboys are involved. I think I might root for GW Bush against the Ravens, maybe…
Alternatively I could just switch channels to Sirius Blues an ignore the existance of either.
Last week, I couldn’t watch the Steelers because I had to watch the 49ers suck.
Suck? They freaking won. What game were you watching? You can always get NFL Ticket too.
Gotta say the Niners are starting to look like a team again, aside from their allergic reaction to the endzone. I’ve got some high hopes for next year if Singletary and crew hang around.
Raiders on the other hand, I have a hard time believing they could beat a high school team.
Yes indeedy. Especially if you are a Jets fan. : )
Am sort of watching the Baltimore – Pittsburgh game…
19.
Crusty Dem
Thanks for the link Cassidy, even if I do expect a threatening email from NFL lawyers tomorrow. I was stucking watching the Broncsuck as well. Are they the worst 8-5 team of all time? They have a decent D and a truly mediocre offense, Cutler is a poor man’s Brett Favre (circa 2008, not 1998).
I cheer for anyone over the Ravens. Even the Cowboys (though it does hurt).
UGH! Brutal inter-fumble suckthrow from Ben…
20.
Josh E.
Roethlisberger has really regressed this season.
21.
DarrenG
The Steelers offense makes me want to hurt myself. Is there someone I should call?
22.
Comrade Kevin
and out here we are being subjected to the Raiders again. They are hideous.
23.
dbrown
Boy, a real slug fest but scoring? Defense is not exciting football except to see who is the last man standing. Not Monday Night football material.
24.
lonesomerobot
man the steelers absolutely need to get a new offensive coordinator. arians’ play calling is awful. 3rd and 1 and roethlisberger in the shotgun? and last week that goal line stand was terrible.
I’m going start just watching the last ten minutes of Steeler’s games since that seems to be the only time in the game that the offense bothers to play.
40.
Bubblegum Tate
Raiders on the other hand, I have a hard time believing they could beat a high school team.
The Raiders are an insult to the game of football.
41.
Roza Hussein
Twasn’t pretty but a win is a win. ;)
42.
stu
so, um, the ball doesnt have to break the plane now?
43.
Adolphus
I thought the call could have gone either way, too. I don’t think an "We wuz robbed!" claim could be made either way. But then I am not familiar with chapter and verse of the rule. I thought the ball had to break the plain. Apparently not.
I thought there was no TD but I predicted the refs would call it one. As a Baltimore native it mad me sad, but I live in Florida now, so Go Gators!!!
44.
Bubblegum Tate
Armchair coaches out there: Say the Steelers’ TD didn’t count, it’s 4th and goal at the 1, score 13-10. Do you kick the figgie and take your chances in OT, or do you go for it?
They shoulda sent it into overtime. The call could’ve gone either way, considering the angles of the footage. And the line ref didn’t appear to have a good view of the catch.
@Bubblegum Tate: I’d have gone for it. The Steelers had more to win than they had to lose. They could have made up for a loss this weekend with a win next weekend and still have the same post season results.
47.
sdstarr
So, the ref said it was a touchdown since the receiver had possession with both feet inbounds. I know that this works if the receiver is falling out of the back of the end zone, but I always thought that in the front of the endzone you had to break the plane. Perhaps in the case of a receiver falling out of the back of the end zone the ball is considered to have already travelled through the end zone?
So, if the only requirement is to have both feet in the end zone and possession, then it was a clear touchdown.
48.
sdstarr
So, the ref said it was a touchdown since the receiver had possession with both feet inbounds. I know that this works if the receiver is falling out of the back of the end zone, but I always thought that in the front of the endzone you had to break the plane. Perhaps in the case of a receiver falling out of the back of the end zone the ball is considered to have already travelled through the end zone?
So, if the only requirement is to have both feet in the end zone and possession, then it was a clear touchdown.
@sdstarr: The footage really wasn’t that great. From the side, the ball broke the plane, but it was unclear if he had possession.
50.
dbrown
The best team won – the catch was totally the right call by the refs; as a Raven fan that was an easy call and no way anyone who is honest could say otherwise. The Steeler’s pulled that final drive off and earned that victory. For the Ravens, maybe next year – they just aren’t ready for the big boys, yet.
Yeah, fuck you. I’m a fan of neither, but I saw the same replays you did. There was no clear footage of both possession and breaking the plane. So take your "honest" schtick and blow it out your ass.
53.
oclib
If I was a Raven fan, I might toss my shoe at the ref….but, since I’m a Raider fan, it’s reserved for Al Davis….
54.
ChrisB
Witten, T.O. and Romo eating popcorn together on the intro to the Sunday night Giants-Cowboys game. So nice to see how friendly they are.
They still have Matt Stover as kicker. Everyone else is gone, even the crumb who moved them.
Go Cowboys.
59.
Bubblegum Tate
Against the #1 defense?
#2 defense, I think (Steelers are #1, aren’t they?), but that certainly does complicate matters. It’s not like you’re playing the Raiders, against whom you could be reasonably sure you could call a triple-reverse FB option and have it work perfectly. It’s a very short distance to go, but it’s hardly a sure thing.
Personally, I’d have gone for the TD. But I always want to go for it.
On another note, TO just dropped an easy pass, and the crowd is booing the shit out of him. I love it.
So they televise Colorado College games now? I wonder if anyone told the team.
Minnesota gets TV coverage of all their games, except ones in Anchorage. Ditto Wisconsin. I think a bunch of Denver games are on. So, CC is on some of the time, though I have no idea if they’re picked up in the Springs.
Come to think of it, Adolf Engelstadt probably donated enough money for North Dakota hockey to have its own private TV station.
I am going to burn down my kid’s school and kill all the teachers.
Not only are they teaching the use of PowerPoint, he has somehow gotten it into his head that an effective presentation consists of regurgitating what is on his slides.
The Steelers would have to score on their own defense? bizarreness. (They have the #1 defense, #1 against the pass, #1 against the run, #1 scoring defense). On a more serious note I think you probably kick the FG there if the call goes the other way. When I saw the replay I thought it could get called either way. I was mildly surprised that the booth overturned the call on the field (I thought they ruled him short). The worse call was earlier in the game when the Steelers had 3rd and short near the 30 yard line. I saw the replay and frankly I don’t know how anyone thought he crossed the 30. The only reason I imagine the ruling held was that they decided there wasn’t indisputable evidence.
The Steelers would have to score on their own defense? bizarreness.
My bad, #1, #2, wtf does it matter to a Browns fan – the Ravens lost, it’s all good. From the way Big Ben was playing coy with the interviewer, it led me to believe the Stillers had something up their sleeve(s) if the TD wasn’t good. They don’t have Randel-El anymore, but I bet that fake-run-left-throw-right to Ward in the ez is still in the book.
The "indisputable evidence" rules took a break today? Most of the time they get it right, but the crew in Baltimore were playing "Who’s The Activist Judge," the refs had to play along, and the Stillers go to the post season.
On a completely unrelated topic, the hit Romo took in the back seems to have vertically fornicated his throwing ability. Cowboys better open up the running game in a hurry.
And it’s always a good day when a Manning gets intercepted. Any Manning.
66.
Comrade Stuck
The "indisputable evidence" rules took a break today? Most of the time they get it right, but the crew in Baltimore were playing "Who’s The Activist Judge," the refs had to play along, and the Stillers go to the post season.
It all started in 1972, when Bradshaw bent over spread his cheeks and fired one out his ass. It bounced around awhile and landed in the Franco breadbasket. They called it the Immaculate Reception, but it looked more like dumb luck to me.
Since I still hold Landry against the Cowboys there’s little chance I’ll ever get over Cleveland/Baltimore considering I’ve been a fan since Jim Brown was playing and Dr Ryan was QB.
Since I still hold Landry against the Cowboys there’s little chance I’ll ever get over Cleveland/Baltimore considering I’ve been a fan since Jim Brown was playing and Dr Ryan was QB.
I have never understood how people in Baltimore so readily embraced the Ravens, whose owner had just done to Cleveland what the Colts did to them.
there’s little chance I’ll ever get over Cleveland/Baltimore
Even my 10-yr-old has that gene, and she wasn’t even fricking born when the team moved. In the whole nurture v. nature discussion about human development, researchers never took into account the NFL.
I’ve come to the conclusion that there are a lot of bad offenses in the NFL.
Watching the Boys get backed up to their own goal line by a false start and then get clipped for a safety by a hyper Giants defense gives weight to your observation.
That’s just plain ugly. Good thing they’re still up by 9.
73.
N M
The Gints ain’t looking too good…
Awesome safety though – massive miscommunication in the Dallas huddle.
Was that the same Giants team that was 11-1 and the best team in the NFL just two weeks ago? Wha’ happun?
80.
AnneLaurie
OT: I am going to burn down my kid’s school and kill all the teachers.
Not only are they teaching the use of PowerPoint, he has somehow gotten it into his head that an effective presentation consists of regurgitating what is on his slides.
No wonder we are fucked as a country.
Sacrilege! What occupation could be more important in the 21st century than ‘Powerpoint Ranger’ ? (/snark)
Burning down a single nest will not be enough; your kid’s teachers are engaged in the time-honored fallback of failing empires everywhere, i.e., teaching outdated/useless skills because that’s what The Powers That Be want taught. All praise the NCLB!… or so say our competitors in India, China, Russia, et al.
81.
Adolphus
I have never understood how people in Baltimore so readily embraced the Ravens, whose owner had just done to Cleveland what the Colts did to them.
I am a Baltimore native who saw his first when his dad took him to see the Colts and Chiefs at Memorial Stadium and flew home just to watch the Ravens win the Super Bowl in a South Baltimore Bar. Allow me to answer that.
1. Not everyone did. In fact there was considerable agonizing by a lot of die hard Colt fans over that issue. Season tickets didn’t sell all that well and only part of that was based upon some seat license scam no one could figure out and even less could afford. It wasn’t until the Super Bowl win in 2001 that the city truly embraced them. Winning trumps all.
2. A lot of people were mollified by the fact that Cleveland got to keep the name "Browns." It may seem like a crumb to you, but very few people in towns who have lost teams and storied names felt bad for Cleveland. We empathized, but at least Cleveland got to keep the name. It matters (mattered). I watched a special on the 1958 NFL Championship "Greatest game ever played" the other night and they kept saying "Colts" but I never heard "Baltimore Colts."
My vote was to name them the Hoosiers and then trade Indianapolis for our name back when they threw a hissie fit. Colts just don’t ring as true for Indy. Kind of like Utah Jazz.
3. Last but not least there is the bitterness factor. People who live in towns that have been ditched for another city and a prettier stadium know that it is all business. Feeling bad because your home town team left another city is like feeling bad because the whore your sleeping with slept with someone else the night before who gave him/her $100. It can be a fun ride, but they’re still whores. I like to cheer for the home town as much as the next guy, but when these kajillionairs tell me how much they love my town, I know that they will pack up in heart beat and move on if their stadium’s sky boxes get five years out of date and the local government won’t use tax money to build them a brand new one. And they will be smiling and saying how much they love that town the next day. That’s how it works.
It’s all about money. It always has been. That’s why the St. Louis Browns came to Baltimore in 1952 and became the Orioles.
Love your team, but don’t believe they love you back. That’s more brand loyalty than they deserve.
I am from the Bay Area, where we have the bizarre saga of the Oakland Los Angeles Oakland Raiders, and I am completely mystified by the current Raiders fans. There are people here who practically worship Al Davis. They are completely insane.
83.
Ron
@GuyFromOhio:
Meh, I didn’t see it, but someone I talked to said that when NBC showed video of the game you can see the ball break the plane in that touchdown. The 3rd down conversion earlier was far more "WTF" to me.
You can blame the Titans’ loss on that hurricane. They couldn’t close the roof because of hurricane damage. Before the game Fisher had the kicker test kicking field goals at both ends of the field. On that end the kicker couldn’t hit from 49 yards, so it wasn’t a no brainer at all. I thought Fisher was stupid for not going for the field goal, but there was logic behind the choice. Football is a game of second-guessing. Fisher guessed wrong.
Niners played a tough game. They had lousy field position all game, in part because their two top kick returners were out. And they played without their best athlete, Frank Gore. In a game that won’t matter in the standings for them. It was a good, tough, entertaining game.
Raiders? It was fun watching the Pats score all those points.
86.
Cassidy the Racist White Man
@ Ron
Like I said earlier, the ball clearly breaks the plane, but there isn’t a clear possession until after he’s out. I think the refs should’ve erred on caution, but oh well. My Cowboys won.
87.
Eric U.
Pretty sure the ball broke the plane, but it that really what it takes? Some of these rules are fairly complicated, like the one that allowed Romo to have one of his feet a yard over the line of scrimmage when he threw the ball. If any part of his body is behind the line of scrimmage, it’s a good throw.
I always hate it when the refs decide the ball is x distance away from the goal line when the only place it could have been was at the goal line. But if the nose of the ball was touching the line, they’d feel stupid not calling that a touchdown, so they move it back.
88.
Bill Belichick
The Fix is in! I’m a little surprised my good friend Dick Jauron would be in on it, but I suppose the league needs the ratings bump that a one-and-out by the crappier of the NY teams would provide.
89.
Mike T
@Adolphus: Correct me if I’m wrong, but I was also under the impression that before Modell moved his team there, the city of Baltimore had done everything in its power to win an expansion franchise, only to be completely snubbed by the NFL. I mean, honestly, is there any reason a city like Baltimore with a rich NFL history should have been passed over in favor of Jacksonville?
I think they made the right call. That’s how they seem to interpret that in general — once it hits your hands, that counts as possession unless you juggle it. It clearly hit his hands over the goal line, so it’s a touchdown.
Steelers were given that game. Nobody commented on the Ravens playing "prevent nothing" defense on the Steelers last drive of the game. Let’s see, the Steelers had no offense the entire game, but managed to drive 90 yards in 1 minute for a touchdown. It’s FIXED!!!!! Why play ball for 58 minutes but the last 2 you play so soft on the line that a high school team could’ve scored on the Ravens. Football is getting harder for me to watch. I should start watching wrestling instead.
Comments are closed.
Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!
D-Chance.
Just finished watching the Texans/Titans game.
Andre Johnson
maybeIS the best wide receiver in football. And that kid, Steve Slaton ( WV grad, I think), is proving to be something special at running back.And Jeff Fisher is a moron.
Cryptic Ned
Do not go, Ravens
John Cole
Slaton is good.
Fisher is generally a good coach, but what a terrible call.
dbrown
Ravens need to kick butt (or else)
Bubblegum Tate
Last week, I couldn’t watch the Steelers because I had to watch the 49ers suck. This week, I can’t watch the Steelers because I have to watch to Raiders suuuuuuuuuck. Stupid NFL broadcast rules.
r€nato
Fucking Cardinals down 21-0 thanks to two Warner interceptions and an Anquan Boldin fumble.
The 1st quarter isn’t even over yet.
Maybe their game plan is to wear down the Vikings defense by making them run long distances down the field.
But we’re NFC West champs! Woo hoo!
Kathy
It was close, but the Lions managed to pull it out, 0-14 whoo hoo!
While I’m not normally a Giants fan, tonight I am. Anyone else?
dbrown
While the Steelers are the best in the AFC (I am a Ravens fans first) if the Ravens don’t win this they don’t deserve to get into the playoffs, so this is really there first playoff game. So, Ravens kick butt.
Just Some Fuckhead
Go Ravens.
GuyFromOhio
As a long-suffering Browns fan, I can say with ease that I despise the Steelers, but absolutely hate the Ravens with a deep-seated passion. Maybe Invisible Jessica can show up again and give both QB’s something fun to look at instead of more dropped passes.
From a strictly NFL-fan perspective, this is another awesome year for the AFC North, and the AFC in general.
J.
Jets won! Woohoo! And am looking forward to the Giants kicking TO’s butt later on.
Ravens – Steelers… TIE. : )
GuyFromOhio
Jets won!
Losman should be under suicide watch – fumble for a defensive TD, then throw an interception on the next play? And all the Bills had to do was hang on to the ball for the last two minutes of the game to win it.
It was a good game, though.
Chuck Butcher
About the only time I have a problem finding some one to root for against the Ravens is when the Cowboys are involved. I think I might root for GW Bush against the Ravens, maybe…
Alternatively I could just switch channels to Sirius Blues an ignore the existance of either.
ninerdave
@Bubblegum Tate:
Suck? They freaking won. What game were you watching? You can always get NFL Ticket too.
Gotta say the Niners are starting to look like a team again, aside from their allergic reaction to the endzone. I’ve got some high hopes for next year if Singletary and crew hang around.
Raiders on the other hand, I have a hard time believing they could beat a high school team.
Cassidy the Racist White Man
@Bubblegum Tate: Yeah I’m stuck with denver. I’m watching the game on PC though.
J. Michael Neal
Gophers/Colorado College is on. What’s wrong with the Tigers?
Just Some Fuckhead
@Chuck Butcher:
Cowboys play the Ravens this Saturday. Mrs. Fuckhead is a Cowboys fan so it will be a tense game.
J.
@GuyFromOhio:
It was a good game, though.
Yes indeedy. Especially if you are a Jets fan. : )
Am sort of watching the Baltimore – Pittsburgh game…
Crusty Dem
Thanks for the link Cassidy, even if I do expect a threatening email from NFL lawyers tomorrow. I was stucking watching the Broncsuck as well. Are they the worst 8-5 team of all time? They have a decent D and a truly mediocre offense, Cutler is a poor man’s Brett Favre (circa 2008, not 1998).
I cheer for anyone over the Ravens. Even the Cowboys (though it does hurt).
UGH! Brutal inter-fumble suckthrow from Ben…
Josh E.
Roethlisberger has really regressed this season.
DarrenG
The Steelers offense makes me want to hurt myself. Is there someone I should call?
Comrade Kevin
and out here we are being subjected to the Raiders again. They are hideous.
dbrown
Boy, a real slug fest but scoring? Defense is not exciting football except to see who is the last man standing. Not Monday Night football material.
lonesomerobot
man the steelers absolutely need to get a new offensive coordinator. arians’ play calling is awful. 3rd and 1 and roethlisberger in the shotgun? and last week that goal line stand was terrible.
Comrade Stuck
No WAY the Browns can lose today!
Zzyzx
Cool that they just switched us away from the Broncos game to this one…
Andy K
@lonesomerobot
Think about it. Just as everyone was saying at the beginning of the season, the Stillers’ O-line stinks.
sdstarr
How many Mummy movies can there be?
Aztec mummies?
Inca mummies?
Space Alien mummies?
Tim F.
Steelers just stopped the run at the line of scrimmage. Hallelujiah.
D-Chance.
Hard to score when you start 90+ yards away time after time. Yawner, offensive-wise, but the Ravens are playing beautiful field-position football.
Last drive coming up for the McBeamers. Good start with two passes.
Tim F.
So they televise Colorado College games now? I wonder if anyone told the team.
Our hockey team could stand toe to toe with the best. Otherwise, us Tigers had better things to do than watch the football team lose.
Zzyzx
Exciting ending here at least.
Tim F.
Ha hahahahaha. Suck it usedtobeBrowns.
Just Some Fuckhead
Great job, refs. Create a controversy when it coulda just been solved in OT.
John Cole
In before the whining from Ravens fans.
In all fairness, that call could have gone either way.
Josh E.
Don’t celebrate just yet. Party-time Jeff decided to give them a shot.
Just Some Fuckhead
Another ugly win with an assist from the refs. Go Titans.
J.
Baltimore was ROBBED.
What footage was that ref looking at?
Feh.
Pittsburgh STOLE the game. Bunch of Stealers.
GeneW
I’m going start just watching the last ten minutes of Steeler’s games since that seems to be the only time in the game that the offense bothers to play.
Bubblegum Tate
The Raiders are an insult to the game of football.
Roza Hussein
Twasn’t pretty but a win is a win. ;)
stu
so, um, the ball doesnt have to break the plane now?
Adolphus
I thought the call could have gone either way, too. I don’t think an "We wuz robbed!" claim could be made either way. But then I am not familiar with chapter and verse of the rule. I thought the ball had to break the plain. Apparently not.
I thought there was no TD but I predicted the refs would call it one. As a Baltimore native it mad me sad, but I live in Florida now, so Go Gators!!!
Bubblegum Tate
Armchair coaches out there: Say the Steelers’ TD didn’t count, it’s 4th and goal at the 1, score 13-10. Do you kick the figgie and take your chances in OT, or do you go for it?
Cassidy the Racist White Man
They shoulda sent it into overtime. The call could’ve gone either way, considering the angles of the footage. And the line ref didn’t appear to have a good view of the catch.
Cassidy the Racist White Man
@Bubblegum Tate: I’d have gone for it. The Steelers had more to win than they had to lose. They could have made up for a loss this weekend with a win next weekend and still have the same post season results.
sdstarr
So, the ref said it was a touchdown since the receiver had possession with both feet inbounds. I know that this works if the receiver is falling out of the back of the end zone, but I always thought that in the front of the endzone you had to break the plane. Perhaps in the case of a receiver falling out of the back of the end zone the ball is considered to have already travelled through the end zone?
So, if the only requirement is to have both feet in the end zone and possession, then it was a clear touchdown.
sdstarr
So, the ref said it was a touchdown since the receiver had possession with both feet inbounds. I know that this works if the receiver is falling out of the back of the end zone, but I always thought that in the front of the endzone you had to break the plane. Perhaps in the case of a receiver falling out of the back of the end zone the ball is considered to have already travelled through the end zone?
So, if the only requirement is to have both feet in the end zone and possession, then it was a clear touchdown.
Cassidy the Racist White Man
@sdstarr: The footage really wasn’t that great. From the side, the ball broke the plane, but it was unclear if he had possession.
dbrown
The best team won – the catch was totally the right call by the refs; as a Raven fan that was an easy call and no way anyone who is honest could say otherwise. The Steeler’s pulled that final drive off and earned that victory. For the Ravens, maybe next year – they just aren’t ready for the big boys, yet.
Just Some Fuckhead
Fuck you dbrown. Choke on a Stiller cock.
Cassidy the Racist White Man
@dbrown:
Yeah, fuck you. I’m a fan of neither, but I saw the same replays you did. There was no clear footage of both possession and breaking the plane. So take your "honest" schtick and blow it out your ass.
oclib
If I was a Raven fan, I might toss my shoe at the ref….but, since I’m a Raider fan, it’s reserved for Al Davis….
ChrisB
Witten, T.O. and Romo eating popcorn together on the intro to the Sunday night Giants-Cowboys game. So nice to see how friendly they are.
God do I hate the Cowboys.
GuyFromOhio
Do you kick the figgie and take your chances in OT, or do you go for it?
Against the #1 defense? Ben wouldn’t say in the after-action report, but I’d wager they had a gadget play to go for six.
Just Some Fuckhead
Pete Carroll is my new hero.
Personal Designation
Is it over yet?
GuyFromOhio
Suck it usedtobeBrowns.
They still have Matt Stover as kicker. Everyone else is gone, even the crumb who moved them.
Go Cowboys.
Bubblegum Tate
#2 defense, I think (Steelers are #1, aren’t they?), but that certainly does complicate matters. It’s not like you’re playing the Raiders, against whom you could be reasonably sure you could call a triple-reverse FB option and have it work perfectly. It’s a very short distance to go, but it’s hardly a sure thing.
Personally, I’d have gone for the TD. But I always want to go for it.
On another note, TO just dropped an easy pass, and the crowd is booing the shit out of him. I love it.
J. Michael Neal
Minnesota gets TV coverage of all their games, except ones in Anchorage. Ditto Wisconsin. I think a bunch of Denver games are on. So, CC is on some of the time, though I have no idea if they’re picked up in the Springs.
Come to think of it, Adolf Engelstadt probably donated enough money for North Dakota hockey to have its own private TV station.
J. Michael Neal
Gopher offense looked like the Steelers.
burnspbesq
OT:
I am going to burn down my kid’s school and kill all the teachers.
Not only are they teaching the use of PowerPoint, he has somehow gotten it into his head that an effective presentation consists of regurgitating what is on his slides.
No wonder we are fucked as a country.
burnspbesq
@Just Some Fuckhead:
Word. As an SC alum (law school), I love Pete for a lot of reasons, but first and foremost because he’s not just a coach, he’s an educator.
Ron
@GuyFromOhio:
The Steelers would have to score on their own defense? bizarreness. (They have the #1 defense, #1 against the pass, #1 against the run, #1 scoring defense). On a more serious note I think you probably kick the FG there if the call goes the other way. When I saw the replay I thought it could get called either way. I was mildly surprised that the booth overturned the call on the field (I thought they ruled him short). The worse call was earlier in the game when the Steelers had 3rd and short near the 30 yard line. I saw the replay and frankly I don’t know how anyone thought he crossed the 30. The only reason I imagine the ruling held was that they decided there wasn’t indisputable evidence.
GuyFromOhio
The Steelers would have to score on their own defense? bizarreness.
My bad, #1, #2, wtf does it matter to a Browns fan – the Ravens lost, it’s all good. From the way Big Ben was playing coy with the interviewer, it led me to believe the Stillers had something up their sleeve(s) if the TD wasn’t good. They don’t have Randel-El anymore, but I bet that fake-run-left-throw-right to Ward in the ez is still in the book.
The "indisputable evidence" rules took a break today? Most of the time they get it right, but the crew in Baltimore were playing "Who’s The Activist Judge," the refs had to play along, and the Stillers go to the post season.
On a completely unrelated topic, the hit Romo took in the back seems to have vertically fornicated his throwing ability. Cowboys better open up the running game in a hurry.
And it’s always a good day when a Manning gets intercepted. Any Manning.
Comrade Stuck
It all started in 1972, when Bradshaw bent over spread his cheeks and fired one out his ass. It bounced around awhile and landed in the Franco breadbasket. They called it the Immaculate Reception, but it looked more like dumb luck to me.
Chuck Butcher
@GuyFromOhio:
Since I still hold Landry against the Cowboys there’s little chance I’ll ever get over Cleveland/Baltimore considering I’ve been a fan since Jim Brown was playing and Dr Ryan was QB.
Comrade Kevin
@Just Some Fuckhead:
Just saw the Carroll story on 60 Minutes, he really is a great guy.
Comrade Kevin
@Chuck Butcher:
I have never understood how people in Baltimore so readily embraced the Ravens, whose owner had just done to Cleveland what the Colts did to them.
GuyFromOhio
there’s little chance I’ll ever get over Cleveland/Baltimore
Even my 10-yr-old has that gene, and she wasn’t even fricking born when the team moved. In the whole nurture v. nature discussion about human development, researchers never took into account the NFL.
J. Michael Neal
Watching this night game, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are a lot of bad offenses in the NFL. And these are the teams with winning records.
GuyFromOhio
Watching the Boys get backed up to their own goal line by a false start and then get clipped for a safety by a hyper Giants defense gives weight to your observation.
That’s just plain ugly. Good thing they’re still up by 9.
N M
The Gints ain’t looking too good…
Awesome safety though – massive miscommunication in the Dallas huddle.
J. Michael Neal
I’m off to bed. Gotta get up early to haul Eddie to the oncologist.
TheFountainHead
I gotta say, listening to Madden mumble through this game is nearly as entertaining as the game itself.
N M
Put those Gints to bed, methinks…
TheFountainHead
The Gints roster was too weak for this game…which is sad considering they’re playing Dallas’ roster…
Cassidy the Racist White Man
I thought Ravens were the #1 Red Zone defense?
And that holding call on Witten was crap.
D-Chance.
Was that the same Giants team that was 11-1 and the best team in the NFL just two weeks ago? Wha’ happun?
AnneLaurie
Sacrilege! What occupation could be more important in the 21st century than ‘Powerpoint Ranger’ ? (/snark)
Burning down a single nest will not be enough; your kid’s teachers are engaged in the time-honored fallback of failing empires everywhere, i.e., teaching outdated/useless skills because that’s what The Powers That Be want taught. All praise the NCLB!… or so say our competitors in India, China, Russia, et al.
Adolphus
I am a Baltimore native who saw his first when his dad took him to see the Colts and Chiefs at Memorial Stadium and flew home just to watch the Ravens win the Super Bowl in a South Baltimore Bar. Allow me to answer that.
1. Not everyone did. In fact there was considerable agonizing by a lot of die hard Colt fans over that issue. Season tickets didn’t sell all that well and only part of that was based upon some seat license scam no one could figure out and even less could afford. It wasn’t until the Super Bowl win in 2001 that the city truly embraced them. Winning trumps all.
2. A lot of people were mollified by the fact that Cleveland got to keep the name "Browns." It may seem like a crumb to you, but very few people in towns who have lost teams and storied names felt bad for Cleveland. We empathized, but at least Cleveland got to keep the name. It matters (mattered). I watched a special on the 1958 NFL Championship "Greatest game ever played" the other night and they kept saying "Colts" but I never heard "Baltimore Colts."
My vote was to name them the Hoosiers and then trade Indianapolis for our name back when they threw a hissie fit. Colts just don’t ring as true for Indy. Kind of like Utah Jazz.
3. Last but not least there is the bitterness factor. People who live in towns that have been ditched for another city and a prettier stadium know that it is all business. Feeling bad because your home town team left another city is like feeling bad because the whore your sleeping with slept with someone else the night before who gave him/her $100. It can be a fun ride, but they’re still whores. I like to cheer for the home town as much as the next guy, but when these kajillionairs tell me how much they love my town, I know that they will pack up in heart beat and move on if their stadium’s sky boxes get five years out of date and the local government won’t use tax money to build them a brand new one. And they will be smiling and saying how much they love that town the next day. That’s how it works.
It’s all about money. It always has been. That’s why the St. Louis Browns came to Baltimore in 1952 and became the Orioles.
Love your team, but don’t believe they love you back. That’s more brand loyalty than they deserve.
Comrade Kevin
@Adolphus:
I am from the Bay Area, where we have the bizarre saga of the
Oakland Los AngelesOakland Raiders, and I am completely mystified by the current Raiders fans. There are people here who practically worship Al Davis. They are completely insane.Ron
@GuyFromOhio:
Meh, I didn’t see it, but someone I talked to said that when NBC showed video of the game you can see the ball break the plane in that touchdown. The 3rd down conversion earlier was far more "WTF" to me.
woody
With Jamarcus Russell and that McFadden kid from Arkansas, the Raiders have the nucleus of a really great team. Just sayin…
Bob In Pacifica
You can blame the Titans’ loss on that hurricane. They couldn’t close the roof because of hurricane damage. Before the game Fisher had the kicker test kicking field goals at both ends of the field. On that end the kicker couldn’t hit from 49 yards, so it wasn’t a no brainer at all. I thought Fisher was stupid for not going for the field goal, but there was logic behind the choice. Football is a game of second-guessing. Fisher guessed wrong.
Niners played a tough game. They had lousy field position all game, in part because their two top kick returners were out. And they played without their best athlete, Frank Gore. In a game that won’t matter in the standings for them. It was a good, tough, entertaining game.
Raiders? It was fun watching the Pats score all those points.
Cassidy the Racist White Man
@ Ron
Like I said earlier, the ball clearly breaks the plane, but there isn’t a clear possession until after he’s out. I think the refs should’ve erred on caution, but oh well. My Cowboys won.
Eric U.
Pretty sure the ball broke the plane, but it that really what it takes? Some of these rules are fairly complicated, like the one that allowed Romo to have one of his feet a yard over the line of scrimmage when he threw the ball. If any part of his body is behind the line of scrimmage, it’s a good throw.
I always hate it when the refs decide the ball is x distance away from the goal line when the only place it could have been was at the goal line. But if the nose of the ball was touching the line, they’d feel stupid not calling that a touchdown, so they move it back.
Bill Belichick
The Fix is in! I’m a little surprised my good friend Dick Jauron would be in on it, but I suppose the league needs the ratings bump that a one-and-out by the crappier of the NY teams would provide.
Mike T
@Adolphus: Correct me if I’m wrong, but I was also under the impression that before Modell moved his team there, the city of Baltimore had done everything in its power to win an expansion franchise, only to be completely snubbed by the NFL. I mean, honestly, is there any reason a city like Baltimore with a rich NFL history should have been passed over in favor of Jacksonville?
DougJ
I think they made the right call. That’s how they seem to interpret that in general — once it hits your hands, that counts as possession unless you juggle it. It clearly hit his hands over the goal line, so it’s a touchdown.
regulator
Steelers were given that game. Nobody commented on the Ravens playing "prevent nothing" defense on the Steelers last drive of the game. Let’s see, the Steelers had no offense the entire game, but managed to drive 90 yards in 1 minute for a touchdown. It’s FIXED!!!!! Why play ball for 58 minutes but the last 2 you play so soft on the line that a high school team could’ve scored on the Ravens. Football is getting harder for me to watch. I should start watching wrestling instead.