So the Giants just had one of the epic season ending collapses in recent memory, and now on to the Steelers. So far, it has been a good weekend for away teams. We need to stop that trend.
*** Update **
7-7 after the 1st quarter. I hear our offense is going to suit up for the second quarter.
*** Update #2 ***
The way Jackson went all out for that catch was a thing of beauty, but I think it is pretty clearly going to get called back because he trapped it. Still was a marvelous effort.
*** Update #3 ***
14-10. I have been fortified by a root beer and a grilled reuben, and am ready for the second half.
*** Update #4***
I have never seen a team hold the ball the entire quarter, which is essentially what the Steelers just did. At least I don’t remember it ever happening. I do remember some monster eight minute plus drives to start the third quarter in some of our better years, but I don’t remember anything like this, even though it was set up by some pretty atypical stuff- three ten yard plus third down conversions, tipped interception, muffed punt, etc.
Maybe I should eat Reubens at the half more often.
*** Update #5 ***
If we are going to give billions to the car companies to bail them out after they have built gas guzzling cars for too long and then get killed during a gas crisis, is it too much to ask that they not have Howie Long on my tv every five minutes calling everyone who doesn’t own a gas guzzling truck a pussy?
*** Update #6 ***
A solid win. Steelers v. Ravens next week. Should be a good one.
Just Some Fuckhead
Not = Now.
I’m here for ya, buddy.
demkat620
He, he, he! Just got the call from my Redskins lovin’ brother.
He was not happy. Not happy at all.
Go Iggles!
Dan G.
Hey pal,
Speaking as both a Giants and a Mets fan, trust me when I say that I know from epic season ending collapses, and that was just a poorly played game with far too many missed chances on 3rd down. Oh well… we’ll always have XLII. If yer Steelers meet the Eagles in Tampa, here’s hoping they kick McNabb’s teeth in.
Laura W
This better be over by 8pm so I can watch Dexter and his Sister Bride on the Golden Globes.
Bostondreams
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer team. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ugh.
—————a still bitter Patriots fan
Just Some Fuckhead
I may have to get my terrible towel out of storage. This is exciting. Did I mention I was at the Steelers-Broncos championship game in Pittsburgh when Kordell Stewart lost to the Broncos and opened a hole into an alternate universe that eventually made me a Ravens fan?
But my heart still skips a beat for the Steelers. In fact, I thnk the current Ravens look a lot like the old Steelers: frightful defense, running game by committee, quarterback that throws the awesome deep ball….
passerby
Last night one of the announcers said that delhomme was going to be the key for the Panthers outcome. He was right, Jake threw turnovers.
I think it’s the same with Big Ben today. When he goes to pass, I find myself haunted by past screw ups by him.
Can the steelers D stop sproles…
The weather alone will be a count against balmy SD.
Here’s to good football. (clink)
passerby
Un be fricken leevable TD.
Just Some Fuckhead
Wow.. what a catch. This can’t be a good portent.
Adrienne
Damn. What was that? Rivers just caught your defense slippin on that one Cole.
I’m rooting for the Stillers in this one, BTW. GO Pennsylvania!!!
J.
The NFL playoffs have gone to the birds. Giants SUCKED. Panthers SUCKED. Titans SUCKED. Colts SUCKED. All beaten by a bunch of boids. Feh.
So, will the Steelers get scorched/hit by lightning? The way things are going, I’d be surprised if they won.
Football is now dead to me (though I will now be rooting for the Ravens and the Cardinals, ’cause I like the rookie and the old guy).
Incertus
@Just Some Fuckhead: That’s what I said yesterday when the Panthers slammed it in for a td after what seemed like five seconds, and we know how that ended. The universe is coming to an end when the Cardinals are hosting the NFC Championship game.
Bostondreams
(sigh) If only the Pats had won one more game..or the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets didn’t S-U-C-K suck suck suck. Ah well…Go Steelers.
Adrienne
WTF just happened? Was that like a trick play or something? I’m confused.
Just Some Fuckhead
@Incertus: Did you use the word "portent"? Because that was the really cool part of my observation.
passerby
Santonio Holmes, first round draft pick, earns his keep.
Adrienne
Wow. Punt return for a TD. This game is highly interesting so far. #11 on the Chargers is fast as hell but Holmes tip-toed the hell out of that line!
garyb50
O.M.I.G.O.D. what a return.
Adrienne
OT: I love Peyton Manning’s commercials. Any commercial with Peyton in it is a winner in my book.
Thlayli
Your "recent memory" has blocked out the 2004 Stillers, I guess. How many did the Pats score again? 41, right?
***
The technical term is "quick-kick". Roethlisberger punted out of a standard formation. That way, the Chargers didn’t have anyone back to return the kick, and ended up with terrible field position.
You saw what happened next…
Incertus
@Just Some Fuckhead: See, I thought you were saying that it portended some greater calamity for the Steelers, as opposed to portending something calamitous happening to the Chargers. But then again, I have to step in it to find it most of the time.
Kathy
Ditto, did you see when he hosted SNL. The United Way skit where he was telling the kids to go get him a beer was completely priceless.
Just Some Fuckhead
@Incertus: Oh, I’m sure we divined the same ruinous end for the appropriate team. However, I did it using the very cool word "portent". You don’t see that a lot and honestly, I don’t think I ever used it before I typed it today.
Laura W
@Just Some Fuckhead: I was waving my terrible towel as I read it, Fuckhead.
Thlayli
"We Will Rock You" in a Wal-Mart ad.
Really, Brian, did you need the money that badly?
Bob In Pacifica
As a Niners fan, I just want to say that the Cardinals are representing the bestest division in the NFL.
Also, there is some truck commercial being run this weekend with a gruff, deep voiceover talking about how other trucks use lots of "tranny fluid". Girlfriend’s daughter wants to know how that’s done. Any explanations?
Pete
This game is over. Ref Bill Leavy, MVP of Super Bowl XL is doing the game. It’s in the flag (bag) for the Stealers.
AhabTRuler
Well, first you start with Jesus juice, and then you work your way up to the hard stuff.
Dr. Rockso
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer team. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ugh.
———————-a still bitter Patriots fan
Your tears are delicious.
Frank Sobotka
Fly, Eagles Fly … on the road to victory.
I’m hoping for an all Pennsylvania playoff, just to see Ed Rendell alienate the western half of the state.
2liberal
double post due to hitting HOME button in Firefox…..
2liberal
@adrienne
Peyton manning = gomer pyle
his commercials suck. all of them. because he is in them. as a hybrid NFL fan, a cardinals/patriots fan, i hope he is replaced by Tom Brady.
Frank
Iggles
Just Some Fuckhead
If you get beat by Norbert it will go on your permanent record.
Bubblegum Tate
Beautiful blocking on that TD run.
Zifnab25
Woo! Go Steelers! That QB whose name I will not attempt to spell is a freak’n catipult. Where can the Texans get one of those?
Adrienne
@2liberal: You are like a really serious hater.
Also, what kind of fucking person is a Pats/Cards fan? One team cheats and the other is in an epic failure year after year (not counting this one). You must really suck at life.
The Moar You Know
@Adrienne: ouch.
14-10 at the half, Pittsburgh on top, goddamit.
GuyFromOhio
@2liberal:
Thank you. One of the main reasons the Colts are detested so in the Ohio house is that simpering mug all over the Gaia-damned place.
Go Chargers.
Adrienne
@The Moar You Know: You gotta read the previous NFL thread. We’ve been nipping at each other (Cards v. Eagles) for a little while. It may have been a little mean, but it’s not a knife to the belly button.
Just Some Fuckhead
Made tortilla and black bean vegetable soup for dinner. It smells great and it’s going to be twenty more minutes before I can eat it.
Adrienne
Pittsburgh’s offense has really stepped it up after the half. The O-Line is doing a really great job of protecting Roethlisberger. Me thinks they got their asses chewed out about how many times he’s been knocked on his back this season and his concussions.
Zifnab25
Well damn. You guys are either lucky or really good. That should have been a Chargers goal no problem.
scruncher
How demoralizing for Sproules. (Well, not too much if they win this challenge.) I wish he were a Steeler.
J. Michael Neal
You can’t say that San Diego’s mistakes are mounting after that punt. Having a punt bounce off your helmet like that isn’t a mistake; it’s nothing but bad luck.
The Moar You Know
21-10??? Awww, fuck, fuck fuck.
Just Some Fuckhead
San Diego is looking more like their 8-8 regular season record now.
J. Michael Neal
That late hit, though, was a mistake. a really, really stupid one.
TheHatOnMyCat
Wow, the Steelers have a way of getting those freebie accidental breaks, don’t they? Off the helmet on a freakish dive by a punted ball.
Not as spectacular as the Immaculate Deception, but certainly entertaining.
GuyFromOhio
That late hit, though, was a mistake. a really, really stupid one.
That’s one of the little frosting flowers on the Chargers Epic Fail cake. What a disaster this quarter is, all 0:17 of it.
Bubblegum Tate
@J. Michael Neal:
That was like some Madden shit or something.
I have to confess ignorance about that rule saying the Steelers couldn’t advance that punt, though. I figured it was a fumble recovered and returned for a TD.
Just Some Fuckhead
It’s really dumb to go for it when yer up by 11 points. I don’t like the Steelers’ coach.
TheHatOnMyCat
Fandom is all about building character. If you don’t root for a team that goes years just fucking up, then you just don’t know what real character is. Any bandwagon-rider can root for a winner all the time. Those who can get up off the floor time after time? The real fans.
J. Michael Neal
I like going for it on 4th & goal. You’re up by two scores if you fail, and up by two scores if you kick the field goal. Now, San Diego has to go 99 yards.
Then again, I think coaches should go on 4th down a lot more often than they do. A punt is a turnover.
J. Michael Neal
There is no innuendo in that Subway ad. None.
Just Some Fuckhead
Imaginary pass interference calls now, it’s starting to avalanche on SD.
Bubblegum Tate
@J. Michael Neal:
Totally agree. I like the call to go for it. You punch it in, then you’re way up. If you don’t…well, you force the Chargers to go 99 yards against your tough-ass defense. Not such a bad situation.
J. Michael Neal
Gary Russell wasn’t a forgotten man here at Minnesota. He forgot to go to class.
Notorious P.A.T.
Haha J. Michael )
Incertus
@TheHatOnMyCat: Then as a lifelong Saints fan, I’ve got enough character to be a DeMille movie all on my own.
some guy named comrade mattski
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!!
Sorry about that, but i couldn’t resist. I have a problem
GuyFromOhio
Yeah! GO BROWNS!
The Moar You Know
WHO KEEPS GIVING THE STEALERS THE BALL??!?
Jesus Fucking Christ. Down by 11 with about 9 minutes to go. So classic. My hometown team fucks me over once again.
J. Michael Neal
San Diego gets the ball back now.
Kathy
Pittsburgh TD, well I think that does it. Sorry for not having your back Adrienne, I was getting dinner. While I appreciate Tom Brady because he played for Michigan and I am female, the super model, baby daddy stuff is a turn-off.
One step closer to an all PA Super Bowl.
Just Some Fuckhead
Yeah, as long as you promise to call a friend with a Honda Civic next time you move.
2liberal
@ adrienne
The patriots were not so lovable losers for many years. I grew up in RI and suffered thru 3 decades of losing. they were so bad they were pathetic even when they occasionally had good teams.
and belichick just cheated a little bit.
i am now also a cardinals fan because i moved out here to the desert a few years back and got season tix.
i do suck at life, but at least i never booed santa claus.
AhabTRuler
Problem is, I don’t move twice a day, 250 times a year
Incertus
@Just Some Fuckhead: That’s what U-Haul is for.
Comrade Kevin
@Just Some Fuckhead:
Ever heard of U-HAUL?
EDIT: Echo….
Roza Hussein
Here we go Stillers Here we go!!!
Just Some Fuckhead
Pussies.
J. Michael Neal
Why the fuck are you challenging something at this point? The Chargers already surrendered.
Kathy
2liberal
That was sooooooooo 40 years ago. Plus they didn’t just boo Santa, they threw snowballs at Santa, who wasn’t even the guy they hired to do Santa (he didn’t show). It was some drunk in a Santa hat they pulled from the stands. If you are going to insult our history, get the story straight.
Adrienne
@TheHatOnMyCat: I think you may have missed the fact that I am an Eagles fan. We are the perennial "character building" team. The Eagles have NEVER won a SuperBowl, yet we are the most loyal fanatical fans. If you cut us, we bleed green.
They are just good enough for just long enough to break the our hearts, year after year after year. I might could deal more if we just sucked, but nooooosiree. They have to go and give us hope every year, just to stiletto stomp our hearts with shitty clock management or something equally painful.
Nicole
That story has been grossly exaggerated!
Heh.
Adrienne
@Kathy: Damn straight.
@2liberal: What the fuck does "he just cheated a little bit" even mean? He cheated. As a matter of fact, he cheated a lotta bit.
Also, becoming a fan and getting the season tickets was a sellout move. You don’t have to change teams when you move. I live in NYC now, but I’m not now nor will I ever be a Giants/Jets/Yankees/Knicks/Mets or whatever the hell else they have here fan. I’m an Eagles/Phillies/Sixers/Flyers fan. Till I die or they move cities.
TheHatOnMyCat
Yes, heartbreak. Good, good. The broken heart is the signature of the true fan.
For brokenheartitude, you can’t beat the Donny Moore story.
Let me tell you, when he made That Pitch, I felt like I had been punched in the gut. I could see the Big A out my kitchen window.
I’ve never allowed myself to get emotionally wrapped up in being a fan since. Although, I did get a little verklempt when the Diamondbacks gave the Yankees an ass-kicking in the 2001 World Series.
TheHatOnMyCat
Sorry, the Donny Moore link.
TheHatOnMyCat
Yeah, everybody knows the Patriots invented sign stealing and practice-spying. There was no spook activity in sports until the Patriots came along.
2liberal
@adrienne
i doubt he won any games with the cheating. and has thehatonmycat and Belichick-hater Greg Easterbrook have pointed out he wasn’t the only one.
Ron
Woot. great game. I am amazed at how well Big Ben really played. It must have been confusing for him to be upright the whole game. Where the hell was this O-line all season? The game they played against Philly it was like they were holding the door open for the Eagles defense to get to Ben.
Mike
We are soul mates. (Corned beef and Russian dressing, right? A waiter once asked me if I wanted corned beef or pastrami, and I had no choice but to kill him.) Too bad we’re both straight guys.
David
Or that collection of overgrown 9-year-olds who shriek and grunt their way through the Chrysler commercial for even worse-mileage trucks than the ones Long flacks?
David
OK, anyway, here’s what needs to happen now. The steelers need to win the Super Bowl, because (1) my G-men took a much more Giantesque route through the playoffs this year than they did lat year and (2) because birds do not play football.
And the team they need to beat in that game is the Eagles because I might throw a chair through my TV if I have to listen to any more of Kurt Warner’s babbling about how Jeebus wants him to win it all, and fuck the 31 other teams. I’m sick that I even get one more week of it; three is unacceptable.
Ron
@Mike:
Ahh, a purist. I like your views. I’ve seen a lot of places that seem to think a Reuben can be corned beef or pastrami so the mistake is somewhat forgivable. Pastrami is nowhere near the abomination that is the "Turkey Reuben" that I’ve seen on occasion.
John Cole
I actually skip on the Russian dressing and instead use Brown mustard w/ horseradish, but of course it is Corned beef.
Otherwise it would not be a Reuben, it would be a hot pastrami.
TR
You’ll enjoy this.
BDeevDad
John
Congrats. Has anyone told you it is a sunny 81 degrees in San Diego today. So we will have that to get us by.
r€nato
I’m pretty goddamned sick of that shit too, but you know what? McNabb is an uber-Christian too. I saw a shot of him this past weekend pointing to the sky and giving praise for a touchdown.
If the Cards make it to the Super Bowl, however, I may have to admit there might be something to this Jesus thing though. Divine intervention is the only way it can be explained.