Blog 'n' Gold : lamarr woodley

Vikings-Steelers, live

Chuck Finder — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:50:00 GMT

Minnesota -- how could a team with horns on its helmet call "tails?" -- won the toss and elected to receive. The temp is up to 55, and the sun makes it feel warmer. Game on.

FIRST QUARTER

1:03 p.m.: The Vikings gave the defense three very different looks, including a little no-huddle. And you saw James Harrison and Troy Polamalu make big plays. That's the kind of start they sought. Ed Bouchette asked an interesting point as soon as Minnesota declined first-and-five and took an 8-yard gain on the opening play for second-and-two: Why not take the penalty and gain a down? 1:16 p.m.: The Legend that is Brett Favre is 1 for 2 with a sack. Steelers defense looking sturdy so far, but soon the Vikings will feed them -- and, specifically, Aaron Smith replacement Travis Kirschke -- a steady diet of Adrian Peterson runs.1:22 p.m.: Harrison -- after LaMarr Woodley had the pressure -- and Polamalu, who appears to be wearing the knee brace this time (can you folks watching TV tell better?), are atop their games so far like they haven't been yet this season. Credit Gerry Dulac with the nickname for the Minnesota punter: Chris Kluwe-less. His punt to his own 39-yard line may have received a generous spot. (To answer ChiTown: Yes, even Mike Tomlin thought the right tackle lifted up prematurely on that snap, and let the side judge know about it.) 1:32 p.m.: It's the Mike Wallace Show. Nice, and critical, catch for 10 yards on third down. Then, after the Minnesota challenge that failed, a lovely flanker reverse -- with a dandy block by Santonio Holmes downfield. Willie Parker is in for this series, but still the question remains: Why aren't the Steelers challenging left cornerback Karl Paymah, Antoine Winfield's replacement whom Baltimore and Joe Flacco alighted for most of his 385 yards last week, includding 244 yards in the second half. 1:37 p.m.: A Heath Miller pass-interference penalty on the opposite end of the field wiped away Holmes' TD catch and run, and a sack left it to the foot of you know how. An eight-play, 18-yard drive ended when Jeff Reed punched through a 39-yard field goal. Steelers, 3-0. 1:39 p.m.: The Steelers coverage has been exemplary, but Percy Harvin has enough jets that he just might get past the first wave one of these times.

SECOND QUARTER

1:48 p.m.: Well, the Vikes ran Peterson and a quick, off-tackle play, and that one time it worked well (though why he slowed and shifted, I'll never know). The Battling LeBeaus seem to have them pretty well sniffed out otherwise, though. 1:51 p.m.: The play-calling on that Steelers series wasn't so bad. They do need to run, and they're holding back on those counter plays, apparently. And Roethlisberger, who isn't as sharp as he has been thus far this season, threw one into Vikings hands to Miller and the other high and slightly behind Hines Ward, who dropped the ball when clouted from behind. One thing to look for, though. Bruce Arians may try to play this one closer to the vest because it is shaping up to be a defensive, low-scoring game. (To me, with Favre and Peterson on the field, though, that can change in an eye-blink.) 1:54 p.m.: That's why he's a Legend. Favre, with Willie Gay flying at him in a delayed corner blitz, Favre found and hit a wide open Harvin to end a 1-for-5 third-down run and convert a first down with a 28-yard completion. The old guy still has it. 1:58 p.m.: Getting the idea that Favre is going after Gay? That and the right middle. Not a thing in the areas of Ryan Clark and Ike Taylor. 2 p.m.: Brad Childress just sprinted down to the 15-yard line to call that timeout, he wanted one so badly. Wait, isn't there a rule about straying out of the coaching box? 2:03 p.m.: The quicksilver Peterson skitters into the end zone on third down for the first touchdown of the game. So ended a confidence-instilling, 13-play, 76-yard, 5:22 drive. Vikings, 7-3. 2:10 p.m.: Sixty-five yards of Steelers offense so far -- no, that isn't going to cut it. You folks are correct, the defense -- against that massive Minnesota line -- will wear down at this rate come the second half. Maybe the no-huddle, or at least a varied play-calling that doesn't leave the Steelers' offense subject to seven-man blitzes. 2:21 p.m.: That third-down conversion, after the Steelers' 1-for-5 start, was all Mewelde Moore. And he bears watching: He declined all week to talk about his former team, so methinks he feels he has a little extra oomph for this one. 2:23 p.m.: Sure, a 22-yard pass for a first down to Wallace -- his Show continues -- but by now you can tell Roethlisberger, who made his career with plays afoot, didn't throw a sharp ball there. . . . But he threw a nifty one, with time, to Wallace for the go-ahead touchdown that dropped over two defenders and into the post-pattern arms of Wallace, snarled up the Vikings safeties and allowed the rookie to perform a somersault into the end zone with 24 seconds left in the half. Steelers, 10-3. But they did just leave The Legend 24 seconds to work. 2:26 p.m.: Excuse me while I update my resume to remove that "potential Offensive Coordinator" career move. Childress has Favre take a knee. Halftime, Steelers 10-7.

THIRD QUARTER

2:43 p.m.: What is this, 1992 all over again? Or 1992-2006? The Steelers are running, and effectively. Not a bad block by Roethlisberger on the reverse that the Vikings knew was coming -- and still that Paymah was called for a facemask. Man, there's a guy you attack all day. . . Nifty run by Roethlisberger, seeing the left side of the field wide open, but Benny Sapp dived through the air to elicit an unsportsmanlike penalty. He was even guilty of a charging penalty that an NHL ref called from Mellon Arena. 2:47 p.m.: That second-down play prompts questioning after the game -- did Wallace or Hines Ward run a wrong route in the right corner to cause Roethlisberger to refrain from throwing? did the QB worry about his fourth batted pass of the day? or was it a pass-run option, and Roethlisberger chose to tuck and run? One other thing: They ran the ball so well, outside of one crunching tackle, why go away from it compeltely in the Red Zone? . . . It's a record day in one capacity: The 65,597 attendance marks a Heinz Field record, surpassing by 247 the AFC championship game attendance last January and by 487 the Tennessee season opener last month. . , Reed's 27-yard field goal extends the lead a tad, but not enough to feel comfortable around The Legend and Peterson. Steelers, 13-7. 2:59 p.m.: That fourth-down play was vintage Favre. He pump-faked to freeze Polamalu for one step, and that allowed Sidney Rice to flash open behind the defense. 3:01 p.m.: Riddle me this: You got the best running back since maybe Barry Sanders, in Peterson, and you throw two of the three downs from the 1-yard line? The Steelers don't care. They made a stand and came away with the lead still. A moral victory, indeed. Don't fail to notice the Vikings put together another 13-play drive and they're 6 of 13 on third downs, meaning they've converted five of their past seven before failing on this last goalline play. The Minnesota field goal makes it Steelers, 13-10, with -- hmm, a harbinger? -- 4:44 left in the quarter.3:09 p.m.: Somebody in the press box is worried. They just cued up "Renegade," which Ryan Clark earlier this week noted is a sure signal that it's time to focus and bear down. (And, for the record, there are 17 minutes, 59 seconds of regulation left. Premature Styx, perhaps?) 3:14 p.m.: Harvin was already dropped that perfectly lovely, third-down throw by Favre, but Clark sure got into Harvin's bad shoulder and his head -- the rookie may not catch many more over the middle today, if at all. Steelers offense needs a prolonged drive and, it would help their cause, a score. 3:17 p.m.: The Steelers have piled up runs of 17, 16 and 14 -- and immediately after that last Mendenhall gallop around right end, behind stellar blocking, with a badly-thrown, badly-called halfback-release pass?

FOURTH QUARTER

3:21 p.m.: Right after an electric play by Holmes, who eluded six would-be tacklers -- or, from the Minnesota vantage point, six blown potential tackles -- Mendenhall followed with an ill-advised leap. He lost the ball in mid-air, and the Vikings recovered at their own three. This could present a HUGE point turnaround, and possibly even the game, in one play. We shall see. But, of course, Mendenhall and fumbling aren't exactly strangers. (Search his name along with "bounty" and "tucked." ) 3:27 p.m.: Lawrence Timmons twice stopped, and crumpled once, trying to get off the field with a bad, right ankle. And that's one position where the Steelers aren't exactly blessed with depth (where have you gone, Larry Foote?) You certainly do get the feeling The Legend is going to lead them on a 97-yard drive here. Good thing Harrison came to play at a Defensive Player of the Year level, and a holding penalty just negated that long Favre completion to Rice -- more than a 50-yard swing. 3:36 p.m.: That was a smart challenge, the proper review and a heck of a throw and catch, a 25-yard gain for a third down -- after penalties on three of four Minnesota snaps. It's their game for the taking now. 3:39 p.m.: Kirschke limped off, something with his left ankle, shin or foot, and that stands as another bad sign for the Steelers defense. Nick Eason, a third-teamer cut twice already this season, is playing left defensive end in the Red Zone agiansttwo of the game's best all-time offensive players? 3:41 p.m.: Get this, if the Packers do score a touchdown, they'll have gained almost 130 yards this drive, overcoming four penalties. Look at that, I just typed Packers. 3:43 p.m.: Universal reaction: Are you kiddin' me? Brett Keisel got credit for the sack and strip, LaMarr Woodley got no style points -- it was no Harrison Super Bowl Polamalu play -- but his fumble return of 77 yards with a cordon of defensive blockers makes it Steelers, 20-10. Harrison, by the way, lay on his back around midfield in glee afterward. The first non-defensive player to congratulate Woodley? Mendenhall. Who probably should buy him dinner. Some new clothes. . . Kirschke has a calf and Timmons has an ankle, as Coach Cahr used to say. They're done for the day. By the way, Bart Simpson has a cow.

3:47 p.m.: That buzz didn't last long.

Harvin's 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown -- the second against the Steelers in two weeks, remember -- brought the positive vibes down. And it also brought down back judge Richard Reels, who got accidentally clouted by backup Minnesota tight end Jeff Dugan. Interestingly, one of the Vikings front-line blockers, sorry I didn't catch a number, signaled for Harvin to move up just before Reed ran up to the ball. So he read something on the coverage-unit call or alignment. . . Also note that Reed didn't slow down Harvin with that mild midfield push, and he normally gives the rest of his coverage unit a fighting chance.

3:52 p.m.: For the second game in a row, carrying the fourth-quarter ball in the ground game is. . . neither Mendenhall nor Parker, who has been noticeably absent since the earlygoing. It was Moore.3:57 p.m.: Credit Justin Hartwig's knee for knocking that horrendously loose footbal out of bounds.That saved the Steelers roughly 30 yards in a game with a field-goal difference. Still and all, you give Brett Favre the ball and 3:21? He can score six touchdowns in that time. 4:01 p.m.: "Renegade" twice? Is that kosher? Look at it this way: Not just third and 4, but in the final two minutes, a less-than-2008 defense with Keyaron Fox and Eason playing must make a stand. 4:04 p.m.: Time to update that resume again, to add "potential Nostradamus." Fox went 82 yards with a pass that went from Favre to Chester Taylor -- a former Baltimore Raven, remember -- to Fox's belly, and he bolted down the left sideline without needing a single block downfield from personal escort Clark. Steelers, 27-17. 4:12 p.m.: It's ovah. Score this one: Patchwork Pittsburgh defense 14, Steelers offense 13 (for a home total of 27), Vikings 17.

We have football. . . sorta: Steelers-Cardinals preseason Game 1

Chuck Finder — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:09:00 GMT

8:07 p.m.: Meanwhile, back at the ranch. . . .

One-hundred ninety-three days later -- and, man, did those pass quickly -- the Super Bowl Polamalu finalists returned to kick-start their 2009 preseasons. A touchback, a nowhere run from a one-back, and the defending champYinz weren't exactly off to a repeat start.

But, then, who in Hades remembers the first coupla plays from preseason scrimmage?

If you do, report directly to your nearest emergency room. You got problems.

8:14 p.m.: What, no comments about Jon Gruden yet? C'mon, you've given the onetime Paul Hackett assistant at Pitt almost a full quarter of time on TV. You got to have an opinion of the new guy on Monday Night Football by now.

8:15 p.m.: Most of the crowd -- almost half of it seems to still be trickling in, due to Steelers-Bill Clinton-casino(?) traffic -- stood and roared at a Steelers punt not performed by the 29-yard-artist formerly known as Mitch Berger.

I think it was Bobby Walden.

No, it was surgically repaired Daniel Sepulveda. Nice punt, too. You missed him, didn't you?

8:24 p.m.: By the way, Travis Kirschke started for defensive end Brett Keisel, who was rested due to a calf injury.

8:38 p.m.: This just in: Michael Vick signs with Pennsylvania team. . . the Eagles, that is. Two-year deal, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, who is still gathering details. Wait, they just signed Adam DiMichele of Sto-Rox -- they didn't need another quarterback.

And how close were the Steelers to signing Vick? About 305 miles.

Charity was always a Rooney cause, not social work.

8:46 p.m.: Charlie Batch warming in the bullpen; an early night for the starters, and would you really want to expose Ben Roethlisberger like that behind a third-team, practice-squad center? Arizona's Anquan Boldin and Hines Ward were chatting on the field during the long and incorrectly announced review -- see, even the officials need preseason games to get into form.

8:52 p.m.: Limas, sweet. It's wayyyyyyyyyyyyy early, but he already -- and throw in even the AFC championship game, when he got wide open (that catching part must come later) -- is starting to look like a nice No. 3 receiver. No. 4, at worst. Nate Washington? Please pick up a white courtesy phone. . . .

8:58 p.m.: It's wayyyyyy early, and the weather is perfect for kicking, but Mike Tomlin lets Jeff Reed regularly attempt 50-yarders in camp. And he just hit that one a good 58, maybe longer. So you might see him try a few more of those long suckers in dry weather.

Oh, and beyond how Lawrence Timmons or Troy Polamalu -- who has hardly practiced in a week on that hamstring -- are performing in less-than-a-dress rehearsal, watch guys like Ziggy Hood, now on the defensive line, or Rashard Mendenhall (behind a patchwork, early line), or William Gay, or. . . more names to come. Preseason provides a gilmpse of new guys, or rising players.

for Southernburgh.

9:14 p.m.: Dennis Dixon in for Batch. Why not: Dixon can run the 2-minute drill, with 62 seconds left in the first half. And you can protect Batch's collarbone -- you know what he can do.

9:21 p.m.: Anthony Madison sure is talented -- he can make an interception AND get called for interference at the same time. Neil Rackers' 29-yard field goal with :00 on the clock ties it at halftime, 3-3. Not that it matters.

9:22 p.m.: From Bruce Springsteen to this. . . . dogs catching frisbees. John Steigerwald for years growled that this should be the standard halftime show.

And, to think, we already mentioned Mike Vick in this blog.

9:28 p.m.: Many pardons, this blog inadvertently left out Keith Urban playing the Mellon Arena in that 8:15 p.m. item about Dahntahn traffic.

9:40 p.m.: As a press-box wag pointed out, former coach Bill Cowher would've termed Joe Burnett's fumble after a 10-yard punt return "an auspicious debut." Especially considering that he meant "inauspicious," but from such verbiage he just couldn't be de-teered.

9:51 p.m.: Piotr Czech just missed a 36-yard field goal try, pushing it a tad left. But don't start those Bounced Czech puns. Every team needs an extra leg around to rest the incumbent, such as Reed.

10:10 p.m.: To answer a Comments question: No, there is no rent-a-leg punter in camp to help out Daniel Sepulveda. Maybe Mike Tomlin will give him a week off after this game. Five punts already for nearly a 50-yard average. Impressive.

Now, some early comments from the Steelers sidelines. . . . Ben Roethlisberger: "Overall, without look at film, I think [the offense] was OK. I think we had a couple of plays with few breakdowns, but it just felt good to go against someone other than your own guys." Hines Ward: "We played more, the first group, than we wanted to. We made some great plays and moved the ball out there." Max Starks about the talked-about offensive line: "Everybody is on the same page. Everybody was talking, that was very important to establish that early so there is no miscommunication, a guy coming free." Aaron Smith: "They moved the ball a little bit on us, but they didn't score, and I think we played all right. It's the first preseason game, and you're going to have mistakes here and there, guys being a little rough." LaMarr Woodley: "I think we did all right. It felt like we were on the field too long."

10:18 p.m.: Burnett acquitted himself nicely on that 42-yard interception return, huh? He resembled a fellow who knows what to do with the ball in his hands. That set up free-agent (yay, Bowie State!) Isaac Redman, who ran through one potential tackler and brushed off the arms of another in completing the final 3 yards in a touchdown rumble around right end. If this night illustrated nothing else, right there were a couple of new folks to watch this preseason, along with Mike Wallace.

10:34 p.m.: Yes, Redman is looking pretty good right now, running through people, rushing for a game-high 33 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns. Remember, though, he's playing against the bottom of the Cardinals' depth chart, as well. Besides, who does Bowie State play? Rod Stewart U.? Jagger A&M? Springsteen Tech? (I know, Virginia Union and Virginia State and Pennsylvania's own Lincoln are on the Bulldogs' schedule, among others.)

10:38 p.m.: Tyler Palko of Pitt and West Allegheny made quite a quick and successful Arizona debut. As another wag noted, he should be well familiar with the small size of the crowd left. And no wonder something like 1/4 of the Cardinals roster has Western Pennsylvania ties, befitting the Pittsburgh West flavor starting from the head coach down. Palko converted all five of his pass attempts, including the touchdown to cap his five-play, 59-yard, 1:59 drive.

10:53 p.m.: Czech, please. This one's over, 20-10 Steelers, on his field goal with 1:41 still to play. Didn't have that buzz of the last time they met, huh?

Blogasboard

Chuck Finder — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:39:00 GMT

Ya know, like smorgasboard. Oh, yeah, that style of buffet is so last century, huh?

Ben Roethlisberger: On the lacking Steelers' red-zone offense: "[It] has to improve. We moved the ball last time, we converted on third down, we had some success in the no-huddle. They key is getting down there and scoring six points rather than three. We just got to find ways to get in the end zone. We left some things out there the last time we played them. Some of that credit goes to them, some of the blame is on us. There's no magic solution, I can't tell you we have to do 'this.' Just take care of the ball and find ways to get in the end zone." . . . On the Chargers scarily placing the clamps on MVP Peyton Manning: "Absolutely, because it's Peyton, because he's so good at what he does. They just looked like a different football team out there. We'rre hoping that the home field will be to our advantage as it was to theirs when they played the Colts. We know our fans will be loud when they have the ball and queit when we have the ball." . . . More on that Chargers defense: "They like to blitz a lot. They're just moving guys around and taking chances and gambling. They've been playing playoff football for the last month or two, and that's kind of what you have to do in the situation especially they were in." . . . On Chargers punter Mike Scifres, who compiled playoff records of 51.7-yard average and all six punts inside the 20: "I mean, he won that game for them. I don't care what you say. He was the MVP of that game. That's enormous. The field-position game is huge, especially in the playoffs. Hope he has a bad day."

Hines Ward: On playing what was considered at season's start the most difficult schedule in almost an NFL half-century: "The schedule that we had this year will help us in the playoff games. The first game we had with them, it was like a playoff atmosphere. We just made more plays than them. . . . We're just as desperate as they are."

LaMarr Woodley, who maintains he has played up to snuff and hasn't "hit a wall" with zero sacks in the past four games and just two in the last half of the regular season: On being close to the prize and having so many Super Bowl XL veterans around: "Now you're two games from where your ultimate goal is. You're two games from that. If you don't tear it up, the next time [to suit up] is training camp. You hear that from talking to guys on this team. Some guys never made it this far. To have this opportunity is definitely special. Who knows when you're going get that chance again? James Farrior in the locker room talking about, 'This is the feeling we had winning that Super Bowl ring' -- man, I wish I could say that. Being around a bunch of guys who've won a Super Bowl, being not far removed from a Super Bowl, being on a team that has a chance to win the Super Bowl. . . , I feel like we're a team that can do it. As long as we play the way we [usually] play."

James Farrior: On that little problem, 5-foot-6 Darren Sproles, likely to get the ball regularly what with all-globe LaDainian Tomlinson apparently sidelined by a torn groin tendon: "L.T., he might play and he might not, but they have a great backup in Darren Sproles. He proved that last week [with the winning touchdown in overtime and 328 all-purpose yards]. I think the main thing is finding him because he's so small and short that you can't really find him when he is behind those big, tall linemen. I think the key for us is to stay in our gaps and play gap-sound defense and locate him. [The screen pass] is probably the best play that they have out of all of their weapons. The problem is reading it. They have a lot of different disguises with the screen; they have become creative with getting people the ball, so we definitely have to read them."

One last thing, about at least one certain player absent from that Steelers defense portrait in Friday's PG special section: Yes, Troy Polamalu missed the picture. No official word from team officials why. Didn't get the memo, maybe? But he was fine and in the showers when the group photograph was taken in the racquetball/handball court adjacent to the South Side indoor facility after Thursday's practice.

Live Steelers-Titans (pregame edition)

Chuck Finder — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:55:00 GMT

12:35 p.m. Just a thought: It would create quite a sticky wicket for Jeff Fisher, a self-flamed quarterback controversy on the precipice of the playoffs, but the Titans' best chance to secure home-field advantage, to squash their two-losses-in-four-games mini-spin, to restore their stretch-run confidence might well be to spot play former starting quarterback Vince Young some today. Not even LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison can catch Young regularly, at least anywhere near as easily as they can locate and sack statuesque Kerry Collins. It sure seems that the Titans need a little somethin' somethin'. And Young, on a first down here, on a third down there, could well supply a turbocharge.

12:40: "I think Pittsburgh wins this, and it's real, real close," some CBS guy named Bill Cowher said. Funny, but when Boomer Esiason called them, "a well-coached team, by the way," The Jaw shot him The Glare.

12:44: Flomotion, Hyperzoom. . . holy weird science, CBS. They used NORAD, WORAD, WHATEVERAD to determine Santonio Holmes' catch was indeed a touchdown?

Time to waxi nostalgic: After losing an AFC championship game to the Steelers, Bum Phillips vowing to kick "the son-of-a" $#%&! door in. . . Unlucky No. 7, Dan Pastorini. . . Warren Moon, who once at Three Rivers was sacked and placed flat on his back so often that our reporter Gary Tuma wrote about "a bad Moon rising". . . Earl Campbell plowing over defenders. . . Elvin Bethea. . . Robert Brazile. . . Doug Smith. . . Luv Ya Blue. . . those powder-blue helmets. . . the antiquated Astrodome. . .

and a static tribute to their fight song

Steelers-Ravens Live (in-game edition)

Chuck Finder — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:21:00 GMT

4:15: Deferring on the road? Hmmmm. Interesting choice.

4:17: Sorry, CBS' Jim Nantz, but a one-point defeat of Tennessee on the road in Houston isn't The Upset of the Year. But, for Steelers fans, it either means the Titans feel vulnerable just in time for the playoffs. . . or they'll be some kinda hacked off at home for the Steelers next week.(Cincinnati winning a second time, isn't that an upset?)

4:24: Delay-of-game and false-start penalties on the Steelers' first possession? Not a great way to take the crowd out of it. "Crowd noise stopped the Steelers on that drive," Nantz's partner Phil Simms intoned. Well, a swaggering Ravens defense -- they're more and more like the ol' U. (Miami) every year, aren't they? -- had a little something to do with stopping them. By the way, it looks like Ben Roethlisberger might have room to scramble today, eh? (And, as quarterbacks go, isn't he a more dangerous runner than Joe Flacco?)

4:30: James Farrior just went off, following a collision with teammate Ryan Clark trying to tackle an option-running (?) Flacco. Will be interesting to see if the Steelers can thrive, let alone survive, without him. Thus far, though, with Troy Polamalu run-blitzing rather regularly, they're stuffing the Baltimore rush.

4:37: Actually, the Steelers appear to be running the ball rather well -- against this Ravens defense -- so far. As for the rumors about open punter tryouts tomorrow on the South Side. . . is Bobby Walden still alive? It reminds me of the old Gordie Howe line: How many goals would he score in today's game of hockey? "About 20," he said of his purported season output. "But I am 70." So is Walden.

4:39: Tennessee Titans update: Run-stuffing defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth left that Houston loss with a knee injury. That could significantly alter the course of that once-streaking team (though mostly streaking against lesser competition).

4:51: By my calculation -- and my abacus is rusty -- Mitch Berger is averaging 18 yards net per punt to this point (though that last one was a coverage problem, the returner deftly waiting until the defenders came downfield before surprisingly picking up the ball and running). But, hey, at least Berger can tackle.

4:59: Money Matt Stover... isn't he an AARP member yet? He kicked in that Giants-Colts Greatest Game, right? It's 3-0, Bawlmer, thanks to the punt return and the pass route where tight end Todd Heap schooled LaMarr Woodley on that long pass to set up the 28-yard kick to end a 7-play, 33-yard drive. Otherwise, Dick LeBeau and that Steelers' defense right now appear to have that conservative Ravens offense well scouted. You commenters appear to be onto something: This may well be a special-teams, field-goalfest kinda game.

5:15: Trying to answer AFPilot's comment about third-down conversions, the best I can find to show short-yardage rates is fourth down: There, the Steelers are 3 for 12 while opponents, against the NFL's top-rated defense, are a fairly decent 7 for 17. Roethislberger let the last two passes go pretty quickly, with at most five rushers. So the offensive line isn't being outnumbered there. After the generous spot and review on Gary Russell's third-and-one run and passes of 21 and 17 yards to Hines Ward and Nate Washington, the Steelers knotted this baby at 3-all on Jeff Reed's 31-yarder. Fourteen plays, 68 yards -- that's the kind of drive that could crawl inside those previously confidence-swollen Ravens defensive heads.

5:23: If officials are going to continue delineating who's "confused," every player and coach is in trouble. The 60,000-plus in the stands? Most of that is libation-caused confusion.

5:37: A 15-play, 69-yard drive that actually had Flacco completing passes -- five of eight for 34 yards after missing five of his first six attempts -- stalled on a poorly executed fake-and-post pass. Enter Stover again, this one from 26 yards. That makes it Bawlmer 6, Steelers 3 at intermission. By the way, that drive was almost 150 percent more yardage than the Ravens' 48 on their opening four drives. Some of it might have been the visitors being in a prevent defense. Some of it might have been the more multiple-move routes by Ravens wideouts, more lateral movement in backfield by Flacco and deeper drops by Steelers defensive backs.

5:54: Didja catch that first-half stat? The Ravens have compiled more yards on four returns (128) than total offense on 31 snaps (122). And, you ask me, Ben is getting enough time to throw against this Ravens defense; either the receivers aren't open or he isn't locating the best available one. Heath Miller just looked as if he flashed in the clear on the third-down throw-away right before Roethlisberger pivoted and reversed field. One play -- offensive or defensive -- may well settle this. And it still seems to me that the Steelers have running room, either between tackles or Roethlisberger scrambling.

6:03: Aaron Smith's sack allows us to shamelessly promote a wonderful column by Ron Cook about the Smith's family travails with their son, Elijah. On a lighter note, even if James Harrison doesn't get a half-sack's credit today or this week for that play, he's still a nightmare for both NFL quarterbacks and the Ravens -- who blithely released him years ago. I still remember talking to him after he had a big game against the Ravens in 2004: As his overnight bag, he brought out the bag the Ravens gave him to take to NFL Europe before he got hurt, got summoned back to the States and got cut for an old teammate, tight end Daniel Wilcox. One of his quotes then: "I was mad that they made me play in Europe and then had the audacity to tell me not to practice the first week [back]."

6:16: Man, Ed Reed is always around the football. And Santonio Holmes looked hurt after that fumble, which was a good call but an even better play to strip Holmes after that quick in-route. This could be the big play that changes the game, and it's on a Steelers' offensive turnover.

6:19: Minimal damage -- the Steelers' red-zone defense holds yet again, and Stover does a rerun of his Twentysomething-yard field-goal show. Nine-three, Ravens.

6:27: Holmes is back, forced to catch the tough pass for the Steelers' inaugural first down of the half -- 11 minutes into the third. Willie Parker was right: They need to run more, huh? Certainly would alleviate the pressure on Roethlisberger, and 67 yards on 21 rushes is considered productive against these Ravens. Hey, three of those average runs and it's fourth-and-inches, by my abacus.

6:32: Ugly fumble by Holmes on the punt return, but Keyaron Fox madesa huuuge play on that recovery and rumble. Not that I've watched every special-teams snap this season -- and he was hurt and absent for three games -- but he seems to be playing at Harrison-Yancey Thigpen levels on these units lately. Hines Ward took out Bart Scott on Roethlisberger's scramble, and Mewelde Moore got away from him on that short run he popped outside from inside. . . so, uh, maybe these running plays are indeed taking a toll on this vaunted Ravens defense? Still and all, the Steelers hafta get a touchdown on this possession, because a second straight fourth-quarter comeback seems to be asking wayyyy too much.

6:39: Holmes is exonerated. That attempt at a third-and-short pass by Roethlisberger goes beyond description. Homely? Medusah-like? Double yoy. Worst of all, Miller was open for the first down. Sometimes, a playmaker doth try too hard. And, uh, those comments about the Steelers' lacking third-and-short offense are spot on. A rollout pass with perhaps a run option wasn't an ill-advised choice, but. . . archaeologists are still trying to decipher that play. Good thing for the offense that the Steelers' defense bailed out its assets yet again. (See Deshea Townsend try and fail to make that interception? That's what I'm talking about with bad karma, trying to duplicate fourth-quarter magic too much.)

6:50: If I'm Ward, I want Plex as my personal bodyguard out of M&T Bank Stadium and Bawlmer. People must hate him more there than the Yankees.

6:52: Had Roethlisberger pump-faked in that direction, or at least failed to make the pre-snap decision to throw it toward Holmes no matter what, he might have seen Moore wide open on the skinny-post route into the end zone on that third-down incompletion. I played it back on DVR just to make sure -- Moore stopped in disbelief. Reed made it 9-6 after the 9-play, 54-yard drive. But will the Steelers get better field position in the final nine and a half minutes?

7:00: Ike Taylor had a legitimate gripe on that third-down conversion pass to Derrick Mason -- it looked like Mark Clayton got Taylor on a pick play, an illegal block. Doesn't look like this will end well for the Steelers.

7:03: Nice Ravens drive, using up five-plus minutes. Sack and strip by Lawrence Timmons, nice Holmes impersonation by Travis Kirschke. Still, a field goal can send this oh-ffensive beaute to OT. But the player of the game truly may be Ravens punter Sam Koch, with four of six punts inside the Steelers' 20 -- and way inside, at the 7, 4, 1 and 8. He entered today less pinpoint than that, with 27 punts dropped inside the 20 of 68 kicks overall.

7:11: Ninety-six seconds from the 1 to beyond midfield. Two minutes left. So what's the Steelers' rush? Why not. . . run the ball and some clock? A better question: You want to leave the outcome of this game to Stover's accufoot?

7:14: And Simms is right: What's with the panic, spiking the ball on first down? Once again, using my Big Eight math, Washington and Ward have 13 for 183 yards. Roethlisberger has thrown incomplete to them maybe five times total. So that means the rest of the receivers unofficially were a combined 8 of 20 for 59 yards before Holmes' 4-yard catch under monumental review. Nice catch: two feet down, possession, but did the ball cross the plane? I'm no official, nor did I sleep last night in a.....

7:18: Primetime fool wins the Comment du jour: "Will someone please tell the offense to come to work before 7 PM. That kind of tardiness is inexcusable." Take a victory lap, PF.

7:19: "We have a touchdown," Walt Coleman said. Lotsa Steelers fans making celebratory noise in Bawlmer. Steelers up for the first time, 13-9, after the only touchdown of the game and a 92-yard, intestinal-check drive.Still, is it too early? Polamalu seconds left (43)? And a penalty on the kicker, Reed, giving the Ravens great field position at midfield? Heck, they could go for the field goal and then try an onsides kick in this amount of time.

7:25: Wow, another fourth-quarter comeback. Another critical victory on the road, giving them five consecutive away from home, dating to that Philly debacle. Another critical victory in a murderous row: New England, Dallas and now Baltimore in succession. They secured the AFC North and, with another road triumph at Tennessee and then a spanking of Cleveland in the regular-season finale, home-field advantage could be all theirs through the playoffs. To this point, it's a radically different finish from last year's Steelers, too. The thing is, this time might be better suited for road-field advantage, much like the 2006 Super Bowl winners -- but that team had a reliable running game. Like Fast Willie said, such a missing ingredient could prove valuable come the muck of January.

7:37: My bad. All this, and the only artwork I've posted is Heidi Klum and Medusa -- two disparate babes. As makeup, I've posted the first Charm City song that comes to mind. Sing along with the Boss. "Got a wife and kids in Bawlmer, Jack [Harbaugh?, the former Pitt assistant who's daddy to Stanford Jim and Ravens John?]. . . "

Live Chargers-Steelers blog

JerryMicco — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:45:00 GMT

2:40 p.m.: Hello everyone from Heinz Field, where Old Man Winter is making his presence felt pretty early. While there is no snow or any type of precipitation here, the wind is pretty strong and it feels like football in mid-November. Give credit to the fans. They actually pay to sit in this weather. I was in State College yesterday for the Penn State-Indiana game on official business, but was amazed that they had a bit more than 100,000 fans in the stands in miserable weather. Just shows fans come out when you're winning. Or they are just crazy loyal.

Kick off is about 90 minutes away from the Chargers-Steelers kickoff and we'll be updating throughout the game. Our next update will be when the inactives are announced. As always, your comments go a long way toward making this blog a success. It's a great way to discuss the game while onging. So I hope to hear from you and all of Steeler Nation.

3:07 p.m.: Here are today's inactive players. For the Steelers: CB Bryant McFadden, CB Deshea Townsend, LB Bruce Davis, OL Tony Hills, OT Marvel Smith, TE Heath Miller, DE Orpheus Roye and QB Dennis Dixon (3rd QB). For the Chargers: CB Cletis Gordon, SS Steve Gregory, RB Michael Bennett, OG Kynan Forney, WR Buster Davis, TE Kris Wilson, DT Ian Scott and QB Charlie Whitehurst (3rd QB).

Max Starks will contine to start at LT for Smith. Matt Spaeth will start at TE for Miller and William Gay will make his firt career start for Townsend. Gay likely will be tested early by the Chargers. Philip Rivers is having a good season and he has plenty of outside targets in Chris Chambers, Vincent Jackson (6-5 and 230 pounds) and Malcolm Floyd. TE Antonio Gates is also a Pro Bowl type receiver. Oh yeah, and they have LaDanian Tomlinson, too.

3:45 p.m.: One very large blizzard here right now. Wow, amazing stuff. The fans are loving it, at least they are cheering for it. you can't see the city skyline from here, which gives you a good idea of what's going on. I'm sure the Chargers would prefer their fair city right about now. Considering the Steelers are 12-0 at home against the Chargers in the regular season, the snow just may add to their misery.

4:00 p.m.: Pretty cool scene with the snow-covered field. Reminds me of 2005, when the Bears came to town with their great defense and the Steelers, behind a 100-plus-yard day from Jerome Bettis, defeated Chicago on their way to winning their final four regular-season games. Then running the table all the way to Super Bowl XL in Detroit. I think pounding the ball today will be a key in these condidtions. And the snow's still coming down.

4:16 p.m.: Just for the record, I'd keep it away from Darren Sproles, too.

4:21 p.m.: I don't think you'll see a better interception, if it holds up to Norv Turner's challenge. Just a tremendously athletic play by Troy Polamalu. On this kind of day with these conditions, that's a play that is on every highlight show tonight. And the value of getting an early turnover is crucial. San Diego's offense hasn't been their problem this year and not the reason for their 4-5 record thus far. So getting them into a hole early would be crucial. Let's see if the replay holds up.

4:26 p.m.: OK, I'll say it. If Ben leads Holmes on that throw, it's a TD. Yet another underthrow, and followed by a sack. I can appreciate the Steelers taking a deep shot on first down, but if he can't throw that pass for whatever reason, why do it? Nice check-down to Mewelde Moore, but not enough. Tough to ask Jeff Reed to make a 51-yard FG on this day. A nice hold by a suspect Chargers defense.

4:35 p.m.: When I saw Brandon Manumaleuna make that catch, all I could do was think of the 1994 AFC Championship and Alfred Pupunu, another No. 86 that destroyed the Steelers dream of going to a Super Bowl. The Chargers won that day, 17-13, after coming in as heavy underdogs.

4:38 p.m.: They announced Ryan Clark, but Ike Taylor committed the pass interference penalty that led to Tomlinson's 1-yard TD run. Well, the Steelers defense gave the offense a chance to grab an early lead, but they failed. Now the Chargers offense has gone to work. Time for Big Ben and the boys to get rolling. With 6:46 left in the first quarter, Chargers 7, Steelers 0.

4:46 p.m.: If Spaeth can't come back, the Steelers are down to Sean McHugh at tight end. As much as OC Bruce Arians likes to use tight ends, he's pretty much out of options at this point. Looks like the Steelers best offense today is Willie Parker. It's that kind of day, anyhow. Looks like the guards, Darnell Stapleton and Chris Kemoeatu, are having good days blocking.

4:55 p.m.: If you are going for it on 4th down, why not have your best RB in the game and not the third-down back? That's twice now that the Steelers offense has failed to get points when they should have. The Chargers defense is beatable, but by taking a second-down sack and then not scoring on a third-and-a-foot, you let them think they are better than they are. It seemed that the Steelers were rushed on that goal line play and they came to the line with less than 10 seconds left on the play clock. That quarter was not the best for the Steelers, was it? End of the first quarter, Chargers 7, Steelers 0.

5:00 p.m.: Leave it to the defense and James Harrison to get the Steelers started in the right direction. Great play by Harrison who didn't look to go for the sack as he did for the ball. Great play by a Pro Bowl player. The only bad outcome was the defense couldn't get a TD out of it. But points are points, right? With 14:46 left in the first quarter, Chargers 7, Steelers 2.

5:02 p.m.: The Eagles and Bengals played to a 13-13 tie today. It's the first tie in the NFL since Nov. 10, 2002, when the Steelers and Falcons tied 34-34 at Heinz Field. The Bengals missed a late field goal in overtime that could have given them their second win of the season. And that tie may come back to haunt the Eagles in the tough NFC East.

5:10 p.m.: Ugly stuff up front on that series. The Ward holding penalty is almost fatal for this offense and no one touches Jacques Cesaire on that third-down play. You can't blame Roethlisberger for that one. Lousy punt by Paul Ernster, giving the Chargers offense great field position. You keep seeing the Steelers offense blow chances and stall and this is a three-game trend. At some point, you have to start to wonder if the problems lie much deeper than a Ben that's less than 100 percent.

5:17 p.m.: When you think about how good LaMarr Woodley is going to be in the NFL, just remember that last play. He was covering a WR about 12 yards down field, then he makes a lunging play to break up the pass. He's been such a good player this year and he just made a big play to halt San Diego. The offense has to get going soon, bad field position or not. This quarter is nearly half over.

5:24 p.m.: You can't get a foot? Your left side, despite the $7 million tackle, has not been your best side to run to all game. On the right, you have been having success the entire game. So you go left when you need a foot? Speaking of feet, or foots, Anthony Smith just shoots himself and his team in the foot, giving the Chargers an extra 15 on the fair catch interference. So you let them start on the 40 instead of the 25. This game has that ominous feel to it.

5:28 p.m.: First of all, why when you need 2 yards for a first down at midfield, do you run right at Aaron Smith and LaMarr Woodley? Once you got hammered for a 3-yard loss, you then open yourself up to a defense that knows how to rush the passer pretty well. But as bad as the offense has been for the Steelers, maybe you think just winning the field position battle is enough. We'll see if the offense can get out of this hole.

5:32 p.m.: The offense just looks out of sync and flat. And this isn't an anomaly, it's a trend. These aren't the best of conditions, but come on, this defense isn't that good. Fans here are booing the offense off the field, but you can't go for it on fourth-and-short at your own 23. It's the two-minute warning and what you want to do here is try to pin the Chargers a bit deep and go in no worse than you are now. By the way, Paul Ernster has done nothing but launch ducks today. So much for pinning San Diego deep.

5:40 p.m.: If not for the defense, and James Harrison in particular, this game could be a lot worse. Poor pass by Rivers, but another big play by Harrison setting the offense up for a chance to get some points. Plenty of time left. One press box comment about Harrison: "Put him on offense." Not a bad thought.

5:47 p.m.: I guess when your offense is struggling you take what you can get. A Reed field goal to end the half at least gets you within a field goal of taking the lead. James Harrison is responsible for all of the Steelers points this half, either directly or indirectly. The Steelers have to hope that this late score translates into a bit of momentum for the second half. Halftime, Chargers 7, Steelers 5.

6:02 p.m.: This stat gem from press box neighbor and columnist Gene Collier: The Steelers were penalized seven times in the first half for 65 yards. They have played only two games this year where they've had more penalties (8 and 10). They are well on their way to passing those marks with their first half performance. Other stats: Roethlisberger 19 of 23 for 189 yards and a passer rating of 100.9. Parker 11 rushes for 46 yards. Steelers dominate time of posession, 18:36 to 11:24. The only difference is the Steelers aren't letting the stats speak on the scoreboard. On to the second half.

6:07 p.m.: Promising drive and thankfully, they ran to the right on the third-and-one play with Gary Russell getting the first down. A near pick on that deep pass should dissuade too much of that thinking. The intermediate stuff and check-downs seem to be working. We'll see if they stick with it.

6:13 p.m.: Holmes should make that catch, but the offense does enough to get the ball down there for a Reed FG. I guess you take what you can get when your offense is having trouble getting to paydirt. The drive consumed 6:19 off the clock, which means the defense is well-rested. It looks like the offense has found some stuff that will work, but now the problem is when they get down close, they can't put it in the end zone. But at least they have the lead. With 8:41 left in the third quarter, Steelers 8, Chargers 7.

6:22 p.m.: The screen pass was a great call on this drive and this is what you get when you let the Chargers offense out of the hole. The defense, which has played well all day has to hold here. If they did, they'd be keeping this a game of field goals.

6:24 p.m.: Nate Kaeding isn't a bad kicker, but that was a brutal kick. Great hold by the Steelers defense to preserve the lead. Now if the offense wants to do its part, it'll take the ball and move it for a big score against this defense. You have to figure at one point the Chargers are going back down the field for a score. So every posession needs some points if you're the Steelers.

6:30 p.m.: As poor as the offense has played, Willie Parker and Matt Spaeth, who was out for a few plays in the first half, have played really well. Parker is so good at cutting in the hole. I can remember a few weeks back when folks were calling for Mewelde Moore even after Parker got healthy. The Steelers are much better with Parker as the lead dog and using Moore to spell him and on third downs. And even Gary Russell looks strong today. Good drive so far.

6:35 p.m.: Big third-down play coming up here, but we mark the end of the quarter. Not the prettiest of quarters, or of football games for that matter, but the Steelers will take it. The Steelers now lead in time of possession, 29:16 to 15:44. This game should not be as close as it is. End of third quarter, Steelers 8, Chargers 7.

6:37 p.m.: Paul Ernster is having a terrible day. He nearly punted that ball into the first row of stands. It's inside the 20, but really, you have to do better than that. There is always a standard announcement before every game in every NFL press box warning that there is no cheering or disparaging remarks allowed in the press box. As you can imagine, one of those is followed strictly. The other is pretty much ignored, though it's not rampant, it's usually done pretty much on every poor play. It's some of the funniest stuff you never hear. For instance, on Ernster's punt, one guy in the box said: "I think it's out on the 33." Good stuff.

6:47 p.m.: Critical set of down for the Steelers defense. If they can forced a FG attempt, that's a win for the defense at this point. A TD, with the way the offense has been playing could be fatal.

6:48 p.m.: Huge conversion to Vincent Jackson. Time for a goal-line stand. But now they can run the clock down. It'll be under seven minutes soon. Big stop time.

6:55 p.m.: A field goal, considering the Chargers were at the 5 on first down, is a victory for the Steelers. That drive ate up more than seven minutes. An excellent job by the Chargers. But now the Steelers offense must come up with a critical drive. They could not against the Colts last week and they have to do that here if they want to keep from dropping a third straight at home. This drive will say a lot about the offense and where this team goes this year. We'll see. With 6:41 left in the fourth quarter, Chargers 10, Steelers 8.

7:03 p.m.: One question: Where's this been all day? Hines Ward is now over 100 yards for the game. It's the 18th game over 100 yards receiving for Ward in his career.

7:09 p.m.: Two-minute warning. Best drive of the day and now it's important that they hold on to the ball for as long as they can. Actually, one has to wonder if this hasn't been there all day and an inability to make big plays as well as some very untimely penalties have prevented the Steelers from dominating. They will have a 100-yard rusher, 100-yard receiver and a 300-yard passer and may win this game by a point. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Still a lot of game to play and the Steelers still trail, 10-8.

7:16 p.m.: Killer penalty, and I believe the Steelers 13th of the game. That's why they have all this offense and only 8 points. Gotta kick now, on third down.

7:19 p.m.: If this holds up, and I suspect it will, it will be the first NFL game in history (12,837 games) that finished 11-10. That's being reported now by CBS and thanks to Ken "Stats" Wunderley, Blog 'N Gold has it now.

7:25 p.m.: Final score, Steelers 11, Chargers 10. How in heaven's name do you have that much offense and score 11 points? If not for the defense's safety, the Steelers lose 10-9. Weird, weird game. From start to finish. Really strange karma coming from the game, but the bottom line, Steelers are 7-3 and atop the AFC North. I'm headed to the locker room, and I'll have some final thoughts on this one. Oh, and forget that item about the first-ever 11-10 finish. Strange game. By the way, the line was Steelers by 5. Hmmmm.

9:05 p.m.: Now that the dust has settled on this bizarre game, my first item about the only 11-10 finish of an NFL game stands. Upon further review. I'd changed that item when it looked as though Troy Polamalu's fumble return for a TD would count. But as we all know by now, it didn't. A pool reporter (Scott Brown of the Tribune-Review) was sent in to talk with the officials about the final call. Here's a transcript of his interview with head referee Scott Green:

Q: Final play of the game.

A: "There were several passes. The first pass was illegal, an illegal forward pass. The second pass was backwards. The rule that kills the play is if it hits the ground. There was som econfusion on which illegal forward pass we we rdiscussing and it was decided that the illegal forward pass hit the gound and that would have killed the play and ther ewas no time remaining so that would end the game."

Q: The ball was dead once it hit the ground?

A: "Yes."

Q: What is the process of reviewing this?

A: "The normal review was a minute. You have a minute to look at it on the screen. The first pass was the one that was illegal but it only kills the play if it hits the ground. That was incorrect to have killed that at that point. The ruling should have let the play go on. That's just the way that it played out. We believe the second pass was legal."

Q: So the play ws ruled dead because the first pass hit the ground?

A: "That's what we ruled but it didn't hit the ground because it was thrown forward. The rule is if he possesses it you can let the play go on. If he drops it or it hits the gound then you kill the play."

Q: So if the first pass didn't hit the ground why was the play killed?

A: "We didn't kill it on the field. After discussion we decided ... there was some confusion over which pass we were talking about and it was decided that it was the second pass that was illegal that did hit the ground and therefore we killed the play there."

Q: But the second pass was legal?

A: "I know. The rule was misinterpreted."

Q: So it should have been a touchdown?

A: "We should have let the play go through in the end, yes. It was misinterpreted that instead of killing the play we should have let the play go through."

Thoughts from this game:

-- The offense put up a lot of yards but not a lot of points. It finished with 410 net yards. But they were 0-for-3 in the red zone as far as scoring touchdowns and were 7-for-14 on third-down efficiency. Odd to put up those numbers and score only 9 points. But let's look at penalties.

-- The Steelers were penalized 13 times for 115 yards. The Chargers twice for five yards. Mike Tomlin was not a happy camper at the press conference. "I don't want to talk about the officiating. I won't talk about 13-to-1 (actually 13-2) penalties." He didn't, but they certainly played a role in this game.

-- Goal line offense. Twice the Steelers were inside the 5 and twice they didn't score TDs. On a fourth-and-goal from the 1 late in the first quarter, Mewelde Moore was stuffed when the left side of the Steelers line was blown up by the Chargers. Then, on the final drive, Willie Parker scored an apparent TD that was called back on a holding penalty by TE Sean McHugh. It led to the game-winning field goal from Jeff Reed, but once again, the Steelers were denied a TD.

-- Ben Roethlisberger threw the ball 41 times, completing 31 for 308 yards, no TDs and no INTs. His passer rating was 96.4. Philip Rivers, who led the league with a rating of 106 coming into the game, had a rating of 43.6 today.

-- The Steelers defense was its usual rugged self against the run, surrendering only 66 yards on 22 attempts on the day. Willie Parker's return to the lineup was good for 115 yards on 25 carries. And Gary Russell, who ran only twice for 10 yards, was cited by Tomlin after the game for his hard running and kickoff returns (avg. was 20.3 yards per return). It appears from what Tomlin said postgame that Russell may be used as the goal-line back. We'll see.

-- Looking ahead. Not a lot of time to try to sort out this odd game. The Bengals are in town on Thursday to end this three-game home stand. The Bengals are fresh off a 13-13 tie with Philadelphia today, and are playing much better these days. If the Steelers can get that one, they'll be 8-3 overall, 6-1 in the AFC and 3-0 in the division. So the Thursday game is huge for tiebreakers.

After the Bengals come calling, the Steelers start a very tough stretch. On Nov. 30, they travel to Foxboro to play the Patriots. One week later, they are back at Heinz to host Dallas. Then, and you can circle these two on your calendar, Dec. 14 at the Ravens and Dec. 21 at the unbeaten (for now) Titans. The Steelers close out the season at home against the Browns.

If the Steelers can split the final six, going 10-6, they should be able to close out the division and get a favorable playoff spot. The conference record will be important. Here's how the challengers look after this week: Jets 5-3, Dolphins 5-3, Ravens 6-3, Titans 7-0, Colts 5-2. No one else is better than 4-4.

That's it for now. Thanks for the comments and keep them coming. We'll be blogging live from Thursday's game, too.

10 p.m.: Hey folks, this is getting to be a really lively discussion of the game, the officiating and what's wrong with the Steelers. But if you have a complaint about something or someone that really doesn't belong in a blog about this game or the Steelers, keep it to yourself, please. We've got a great discussion from most of the posters about this game and how things look for the Steelers. I want to keep that going and personal criticisms should be left out. I appreciate your help on this.

The NFL is out of control.

Dan Gigler — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:02:00 GMT

We just posted a story on our website by the great Bob Dvorchak that says Lamarr Woodley will be fined $10,000 by the league for a sack on Jason Campbell IN WHICH NO PENALTY WAS CALLED.

Total garbage.

We found an excellent clip of the sack (along with six others that night by the Steelers D) that shows Woodley's sack for what it was: an excellent football play. That he was fined for playing the game cleanly and aggressively is egregious. You have to wonder now if the league is truly fining the Steelers out of spite at this point. If not -- if this is what passes for a finable offense in the 2008 NFL -- this portends bad things for the future of the (pansy) game.

Check out the sack -- I believe its the sixth one on the clip -- and drop us a note in comments on what you think about this.