February 10, 2010 by
Law Murray |
2009 review,
Asante Samuel,
Baltimore Ravens,
Indianapolis Colts,
New England Patriots,
New Orleans Saints,
New York Jets,
Pittsburgh Steelers,
power rankings,
Randy Moss,
Super Bowl 44,
Team of the Decade,
Vince Wilfork,
Y2K Decade
Hello, everyone. It's been awhile since I've gotten to say that, so I guess there are some good things about Snowpacalypse 2010! Now that the 2010 NFL season is officially over (now do you appreciate the Pro Bowl being over and done with before the big game?!), I'd like to reintroduce an article that I wrote a long time, way back in the last decade ("1999 A.D., New England Patriots B.B.", December 26, 2009):
With a week left in the Y2K decade, there have been many who wish to ponder which team should stand as the representative of the NFL team of the 2000s. I honestly don’t feel like writing that article right now, at least not until this season ends. What I will say now is that unless the [...]
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Who saw this one coming. The Steelers are the defending Super Bowl champions and are fighting for a playoff spot and were at Heinz Field against the 3-8 Raiders. The opening kickoff was returned by the Steelers all the way to the Raiders 20. But a solid effort by the defense held the Steelers to no first downs and a field goal made it 3-0. The Raiders drove to mid-field when 4th and 1 came up. Gradkowsi ran a play action and rolled out and hit Justin Fargas to move the chains. That drive tied the game 3-3.
Then it looked like it would become the blow out that many people expected. Big Ben executed back to back huge plays with the last one being a strike to Santonio Holmes for the first touchdown, 10-3 Steelers lead. The Raiders didn't go down though, they [...]
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December 6, 2009 by
Josh Dhani |
Arizona Cardinals,
Baltimore Ravens,
Braylon Edwards,
Chris Johnson,
Cincinnati Bengals,
Cleveland Browns,
Denver Broncos,
Eric Dickerson,
Houston Texans,
Indianapolis Colts,
Jacksonville Jaguars,
Joseph Addai,
Miami Dolphins,
Michigan Wolverines,
Mike Hart,
Nate Washington,
New England Patriots,
New York Jets,
NFL,
NFL playoffs,
Pittsburgh Steelers,
San Diego Chargers,
St. Louis Rams,
Tennessee Titans,
Vince Young
The Colts had this game right from the start. It was just an easy game. Although the Titans were on a five-game winning-streak, and looking dangerous, the Colts were on a eleven-game winning-streak, and counting, as they move on to 12-0.
Joseph Addai played well, scoring the team’s first touchdown, and having another one, along with 79 yards.
Peyton Manning threw for 270 yards along with a touchdown. Vince Young played well, and was looking to for a win after playing his best game of his career just last week against the Arizona Cardinals. He passed for 241 yards with two touchdowns and one pick.
The Titans had a lot of chances to win this game. They had wasted opportunities in the red zone, and the score should have been much tighter. Nate Washington had a chance to put up a [...]
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The Steelers are 14-point favorites against the Raiders, which sounds about right. Oakland’s run-oriented offense doesn’t match up well against Pittsburgh’s rugged run defense, and Raiders QB Bruce Gradkowski has been dreadful in his two previous starts (with other teams) at Heinz Field. In 2006 (with Tampa Bay) and 2008 (with Cleveland), he combined to throw for five interceptions and no touchdowns (total passer rating of 20.2). In last year’s Browns game, he completed five of 16 passes for 18 yards, three interceptions and a 1.0 passer rating.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh should be able to run the ball on the Raiders, who rank 31st in the NFL against the run, allowing an average of 161.1 yards per game. Of course, that assumes that Pittsburgh's [...]
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It is a long shot, but possible the Raiders can win at Pittsburgh on Sunday. Just ask the Eagles and Bengals. Here are some key matchups that will help determine the game.
Bruce vs. The Blitz: The Steelers love to pressure the quarterback. The Raiders O-line has been okay in pass protection but they must be better than that to have success in the passing game. Bruce Gradkowski will need to throw the ball early, before he is sacked.
Big Ben vs. The Concussion: Ben Roethlisberger was held out of Sunday nights overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens with bad headaches after his practices, believed to be post concussion symptoms. If Roethlisberger is rattled or rusty from this, the Raiders defense won't look as bad as they looked against Tony Romo and Miles [...]
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The Tennessee Titans are in the midst of a turnaround that, in NFL terms, is unprecedented—they are the first team in league history to win four straight games following consecutive losses in the first six.
The streak has revived playoff hopes in Nashville. Hopes that approached terminal levels after the third week and were pronounced dead after the fifth.
Let’s take a look exactly how realistic these playoff hopes are.
I think it is safe to assume that trailing the Colts by six games with six to go rules out a division title. This leaves the Titans' playoff hopes riding in their ability to secure one of the two AFC Wild Card berths amongst some heavy competition within the [...]
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November 23, 2009 by
Tom Buckley |
2009 NFL Draft,
Bill Kenney,
David Vobora,
Jeff Reed,
Kansas City Chiefs,
Kelvin Kirk,
Mr. Irrelevant,
NFL,
Pittsburgh Steelers,
Rhys Lloyd,
Ryan Succop
In the 1976 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers were the first team to ever select Mr. Irrelevant. 33 Years later, no one would have imagined that the Steelers would regret being the trend setter.
Ryan Succop, the 254th overal pick in the NFL draft this year became the 4th "Mr. Irrelevant" to ever start in the NFL. For those who don't know what that is, "Mr. Irrelevant" is the player who is picked very last in the draft every year. Oddly enough, the NFL actually gives a prize pack away to the player who is picked last. The NFL will give the "winner" is a week long expense-paid vacation, where they hold events to celebrate the players "irrelevance" in the draft, and even give the player a "fake" trophy that resembles the Heisman Trophy(which is the NCAA's MVP trophy.)
Ironically, the [...]
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The Cleveland Browns claimed linebacker Arnold Harrison today, just a day after being released by the Steelers. The move may have been made with the December 10 game between the two teams in mind, as Harrison will no doubt be able to provide insight into Pittsburgh’s schemes. Otherwise, it’s doubtful that Harrison will have much impact in Cleveland, as his role is likely to be limited to special teams.
Jason is editor and co-founder of Failure magazine. Those of you who are obsessed with fantasy football might be interested in his new feature on Women Against Fantasy Sports. [...]
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September 25, 2009 by
Josh Dhani |
AFL,
Anthony Gonzalez,
Antoine Bethea,
Arizona Cardinals,
Bob Sanders,
Chad Pennington,
Cincinnati Bengals,
College Football,
Dallas Clark,
Dan Carpenter,
Donald Brown,
Gary Brackett,
Indianapolis Colts,
Jacksonville Jaguars,
Jerome Bettis,
Kurt Warner,
Larry Fitzgerald,
Matt Leinart,
Maurice Jones-Drew,
Miami Dolphins,
NCAA,
New York Giants,
NFL,
Peyton Manning,
Pierre Garcon,
Pittsburgh Steelers,
Reggie Wayne,
Ronnie Brown,
Ryan Lilja,
St. Louis Rams,
Tim Hightower
And there goes Ronnie Brown for a three-yard touchdown run! The Dolphins are up, 20-13. Brown has been looking swell against this Colts' shaky defense right now. Oh, but here comes rookie running back Donald Brown, as he breaks away for a 15-yard touchdown, his first of the season and his career!
With 3:50 left in the game, Dolphins' Dan Carpenter has now hit a 45-yard field goal which may seal the deal for Miami as they lead, 23-20. Here goes the Colts, who have been completely dominated by the Fins in the time of possession and it is right now not looking good, not at all.
Peyton Manning takes the snap, drops back, finds Pierrre Garcon at the screen. And look, here he goes! To the twenty, to the ten, to the five, touchdown Colts! With 3:18 left, I don't think [...]
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This Thursday night on NBC, September 10, marks the season opener of the 2009 NFL season. The defending AFC South champion Tennessee Titans will be hosted by the Super Bowl XLIII champion Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Terrible Towel Bowl!
In the most recent meeting last December, the 10-3 Steelers held a 14-10 3rd quarter lead over the 12-2 Titans in Tennessee in a pivotal contest that more or less would decide the #1 seed in the AFC. But Tennessee took the lead back with a 4th and Inches touchdown run by Chris Johnson in the 3rd quarter, and in the 4th quarter LenDale White's short touchdown run after a James Harrison 4th down penalty stretched the lead to 10 while Michael Griffin's 83 yard interception return for a touchdown ended a run of 21 unanswered points to give [...]
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