Congrats to the Mountaineers, who finished the season yesterday with a win against South Florida, finishing Big East play unbeaten. Looks like we will now face the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl.
Today, of course, the big game is the Steelers versus the Bengals. Go Steelers!
*** Update ***
Congrats to the Bengals, who hung on to win 38-31. Four turnovers, dozens (it seemed) of penalties, no running game, and NO pressure on Palmer doomed the Steelers. I think this was effectively the end of the season, and they will not even make the playoffs.
The one positive note for the day- Hines Ward went old school and busted out the Icky Shuffle after a touchdown. Nice.
*** Update ***
At the end of the day, even the Wild Card looks out of reach anymore, with San Diego, Kansas City, and Jacksonville all doing what they had to do. The cream is rising to the top, and that does not appear to include the Steelers this season.
Tim F.
What’s up with big Ben’s thumb? If he’s out I swear to god I’m going to watch volleyball.
Sam Hutcheson
The Dawgs destroyed #3 LSU in the SEC Championship. They were one injured quarterback start (FLA) and one fluke 4th and 10 (Auburn) away from an undefeated season.
Louise
I’m freaking out after watching the report on Ben’s thumb. He’s “not able to disclose” whether it’s broken? Gah! I’m having sympathetic pain and swelling just thinking about it.
That said, one of the nicest things that’s happened to me this year is finding fellow Pittsburgh fans. I’m not from Pittsburgh, I’ve never lived in Pittsburgh, and usually when I cheer for Pittsburgh, those around me think I’m nuts.
It looks like fun weather for the Cleveland game…
SoCalJustice
A little Ben, a little Bus, and things feel back to normal.
Keep it up!
rilkefan
The Moneyball guy on the Texas Tech coach, who seems to have a revolution underway.
BIRDZILLA
New type of bowl games THE SOUP BOWL THE CEREAL BOWL THE TOILET BOWL
Brad R.
Well, this is a shoot-out so far. I’m not all that surprised, but expected a wee bit more from the Steelers’ defense.
demimondian
Who cares about the Steelers. The only game that matters is tomorrow night’s Seahawks vs. Eagles game. I’m really worried that the Seahawks might manage to avoid losing, again, and win the NFC West title outright. Of course, since St. Louis could also manage to avoid winning today, the game tomorrow could be meaningless. Then I wouldn’t care if my hometown team actually won, since they’d be losing in the playoffs anyway.
J. Michael Neal
Damn. If the Steelers had won, the Colts would have clinched a first round bye.
I guess we’ll have to go out and beat Jacksonville.
Paddy O'Shea
Nice to see the Giants get past the despised Cowboys. Just to see the grimaces on the face of Tuna Parcells was reason enough to watch.
And they did it with a fading Field Goal kicker (can we say Touchy Feeley?) and a shaky legacy quarterback to boot.
A fine thing.
Ezert
I’m not giving up playoff hopes yet. But seriously Cleveland, you coulda helped us out a bit by not coughing that game up to Jax.
Gotta root for Denver to beat KC, and root for Oakland (I feel dirty just saying it) to beat SD.
SeesThroughIt
It’s sort of crazy that despite four turnovers and a general inability to stop the Bengals, the Steelers actually had a decent chance at the end. Or at least they did until they committed two penalties and gave up a sack.
Louise
The game was worth seeing for a couple of amazing receptions, but oy. Should Ben go ahead and get the cast?
Davebo
It was a challenge, but yet again the Texans managed to scramble out a loss.
God I feel sorry for Bob McNair. 700 million apparantly buys you….. ridicule.
Oh well, can’t wait for the Rose Bowl. And to think, we’re going up against a very tanned Bush….
KC
Now, if Arizona can pull a win over the SF, I’ll be happy.
Geoduck
The Seahawks always find a way to lose in the end. The only thing that changes from year to year is exactly when “the end” arrives.
caleb
While I love the Steelers…..I think we should now play for the best spot in the draft.
Ben’s thumb is broken. How do I know? Cause if it wasn’t he be able to tell us that.
Put him in a cast and let him sit the remainder of the year…..heal the thumb and both his knees.
Throw Tommy in there for the rest of the year…..we need some draft picks….the earlier the better.
Even if we get to the playoffs this year we will not get anywhere.
[sarcasm]Hay….maybe we can pull a Ditka and get Regie Bush![/sarcasm] ;-)
MMM
get ready for an invasion from the Monsters of the Midway
TallDave
Did you see how the Bears abused Favre this week? Ouch!
Maybe you should hope Ben is out next week, for his sake.
Otto Man
That was easily the best celebration dance of the season. Classic.
ppGaz
Well, at least you have a chance at the postseason.
The only postseason activity we look forward to out here in Arizona is the draft.
demimondian
But you have Luke Olsen and the Wildcats to look forward to. We up here in Washington state have, what? Gonzaga?
W00t! Gotta luv th3re l33t h00ps skillz.
ubernerd83
As a Naptown native, I must say the following:
GO COLTS! You’re my boys, Blue!
Gold Star for Robot Boy
ppGaz,
The Cards can’t even tank the season correctly. Winning today means they don’t have much hope of drafting Leinart or Bush.
Paddy O'Shea
Moran licked Favre?
Not a pretty picture. And no man should wear stillettos. It just isn’t right.
cd6
Jesus people, could you fall off the bandwagons any faster? Play for a draft pick? Could you quit any faster here or what?
San Diego, KC, and Jacksonville all alive for wildcards
Jacksonville has a game on those first two, so looks likely, with an easy schedule
So San Diego, KC, and Pittsburgh playing for those last two spots
Pitt plays 3 nfc north teams and the browns, so their schedule could be harder
If Pittsburgh wins out, they go 11-5. SD and KC play eachother, so at best, one goes 12-4 and one 11-5. I think they each play cincy, and SD has denver and Indy, and KC has been all over the place this year. Assuming KC loses to both SD and one or two more random games to whoever (which they will, because they’re the chiefs) and SD loses to either cincy or indy, then Pitt and SD are tied for the last wildcard, and Pitt gets in based on its head to head win over SD.
First round of the playoffs would be Cincy, at Cincy, assuming Denver and Indy hold on for the first round byes. Jacksonville would play at NE.
And Pittsburgh as a wildcard at Cincy? Got to like that. We beat them at home already, and they can only beat us by a TD despite 27 ints and fumbles this sunday? Ha
Gratefulcub
There are only 2 wild card spots per league, not three. Jax has one wrapped up. That leaves 1 AFC wild card up for grabs.
Divisions winners
NE
Cincy
Indy
Den/KC/SD
Wild Card
Jax
Den/KC/SD/Pitt
Doesn’t look good for the Steelers, especially with the bears coming next week. I know I know, the Bears aren’t that good, Defense can’t win alone, they can’t score enough, yada yada, 8 in a row bitches. Just remember, Uncle Ray and Trent Dilfer weren’t good enough either.
What do I care though, it is nice to be livin it up in Bengal country for the first time in a long time. Who dey who dey!!
Anyone want to tell me how anyone is going to stop this Bengal offense? I know, the defense gave up 31, but that is ok when you get 4 takeaways, and get the ball on the ground 3 more times. And don’t turn the ball over. +4 is a win every time.
Gratefulcub
One more Denver loss, and the Bengals get a week off, before hosting an AFC semi-final game.
Changing of the guard, from Black and White TV to Color. You heard the man with bling in his mouth, it is time the rest of youz got used to it. It is the Bengals division now.
And where’s the love for the best #2 WR in the game, TJ Houshmandzadeh (I am sure I added an extra letter or two). He was absent the first time these two teams hooked up, and it showed. He was the difference yesterday.
Another Jeff
The best #2 in the game is Reggie Wayne, not TJ alphabet.
Gratefulcub
agree to disagree
rayabacus
KC’s defense held Denver to six points in the second half. Gave up that big play at the start of the game or it would not have been close. The O line is back and LJ is as fierce a runner as there is in the NFL. I think they take three out of four but must beat SD and Cincy to get in the playoffs. So that means they have to beat either Dallas or the Giants on the road.
It’s going to be interesting.
Call me insane
The Steelers finally, after three games, looked like themselves pounding the Bears for about 200 yards. And when you thought Sunday couldn’t get any better what happens? The Chiefs and the Chargers lose. Sunday was one of those great days to be a Steeler fan. You got to love Bettis. Everybody counts him out and then he goes and pounds one of the best defenses in the league for 101 yards on 16 carries in a wonderful snow storm. The only thing that bothered me about the Steeler game on Sunday was that Duce Staley was inactive for yet another game. He has played in what, like 10 ten games over two years. Talk about a huge waste of money. Oh well, Here we go Steelers, here we go.