Rebekah Edwards

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=dw-playoff112707&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Rebekah Edwards

 In a debauchery of a football mess, Monday Night Football kicked off 25 minutes late with no national anthem or player introductions. Global warming or just nature’s way of making life interesting, lighting struck around an already flooded Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The rain washed away nearly all the yard lines on a new grass field that had been in place less than 24 hours. Lines were repainted before and at the half and some sort of fill was used to soak up, in some spots, several inches of water lying on the field.

You would assume it couldn’t get much crazier, WRONG! Welcome back Ricky Williams. The Heisman Trophy winning, Pro Bowl, MVP, Lenny Kravitz befriending, marijuana embracing Ricky Williams returned… for six rushes totaling 15 yards and a shoulder injury which took him out of the game.

It gets better; NEITHER TEAM SCORED IN 59 ½ MINUTES. It took an entire game of nothing resembling a scoring opportunity for Big Ben to march his merry men down the field (completions of 21, 11 and 6 yards to Ward) .for a 3^rd down sack resulting in a 24 yard Jeff Reed field goal with 17 seconds left on the clock. Don’t get me wrong, a field goal is still a score and still, ultimately put the Steelers past the now 0-11 Dolphins. Monday night’s game was the lowest scoring game in the history of prime time football. The last time an NFL game scored so few points was 1993 (Jets over Washington 3-0)

The Steelers totaled 112 first half yards compared to the Dolphins 71. Pittsburgh finished the game with 216. Without Santonio Holmes (sprained ankle), Hines Ward was back in the spotlight to make some big catches (9 receptions for 96 yards). Willie Parker was able to break away on a couple different plays and finished the game with 81 yards (which takes him to his 3^rd straight 1,000 + season).

Defense did not factor in to this game as much as the weather, circumstances and offensive mistakes. Most notable on the Pittsburgh side was a pick thrown into the hands of former Steeler, vocal Joey Porter. Porter may have been the only player that showed up and was not affected by the weather. Maybe it was that he had to prove himself to a team that released him in May of this year. While Porter had a lot to say, he couldn’t pull the winless team on his own.

Lucky for us, the Steelers couldn’t even beat themselves this week!

Chris Feinthel

Sunday night could be called a moral victory, a turning of the tide in Philly, and a solid performance for a team was up against some impossible odds. While all true, none of that matters if this team doesn’t come out over the next few weeks and strings together a series of wins.

QB Controversy? I see more of an offensive line controversy. With Garcia, and now with Feeley, this line looks like solid gold. Giving tons of time, opening monster holes for Westbrook, playing truly dominant football. When McNabb is in the game, the same line makes opposing teams look like the All Madden Team on the Varsity setting. Sure the quick realease style of Feeley is more suited to this offense, have said that for years, but these night and day performances are more than just a coincidence.

 With 5 games to day, and not many tiebreakers, going 4-1 is the only chance of a wildcard berth, and that’s still a risky proposition. Assuming two home wins vs the Seahawks and Giants (which is a bold assumption but play along with me) and a loss @ Dallas, the game vs the Saints in the Superdome could be for that 6th spot.  Good to dream.

 Until next time, here’s something to chew on.

Chris