It Was An Ugly One Monday Night

The Heinz Field was worn from half an NFL season and high school and college games. Sunday night new sod was put down over the turf for Monday Night Football's national audience. But then the rain came. The field was drenched, and over-top the previous turf it had little drainage.They walked around with pitchforks piercing the field hoping to improve drainage. Field crew members covered it with tarps, but the seams leaked puddles onto the field.

The big game between the 0-10 Miami Dolphins and the Pittsburgh Steelers was delayed 25 minutes. But eventually they kicked off. The field was like a sponge. Players cleats sunk inches into the ground. Everyone moved in slow motion, kicking up splashes of water. In no time the playing surfaces was littered with more divots than Charles Barkley's home golf course. Numbering and lines became unreadable and then disappeared altogether. All you could see were the out of bounds lines, the goal line, and what faintly resembled a Steelers logo in the center of the field.

Ricky Williams was making his second return to the NFL following his reinstatement by commissioner Roger Goodell, but he only made it through 6 carries. 15 yards, one fumbled, and he left with a pectoral injury. Later in the second half the Dolphins would lose back-up running back Jesse Chapman, and be left dependent on 3rd-string back Patrick Cobbs, who only has 11 career carries in 2 seasons.

At half time the score was still 0-0. Neither team had made an appearance in the red zone. Only 5 plays went over 10 yards. The Dolphins had 71 total yards, the Steelers 112. Together they were 2-11 on 3rd Downs.

Frantically the field crew worked to improve the field during half time. The local marching band was held off the field as the crew laid down new lines. But it was in vain.

The second half was much of the same. Stuck in the 0-0 deadlock it became apparent that his was the type of game that would be one by as little as one score. Jeff Reeds 44 yard field goal attempt near the end of the 3rd quarter didn't even come close, tumbling wildly off course and short. Punts were knocked down from the swirling winds and rain, hitting the ground and dying immediately were they land. Twice the Dolphins went for it on 4th down rather than taking their chances with a medium range field goal.

It stayed scoreless far longer than any game since the merger of the leagues. The Dolphins were winless in the previous 11 weeks and it they remained one big play away from upsetting the 7-3 Steelers. The Steelers found themselves tied with the worst team in the lead, and this only a week after falling to the equally disappointingly 1-8 New York Jets.

Heading into overtime locked at 0-0 appeared completely possible.

With 4:13 left in the 4th quarter the Steelers took over on their own 42. With the help of 3 completions to Hines Ward for 38 yards, the Steelers slowly they worked down the field into the Dolphins territory. The first snap in the red zone did not come into the game until the Steelers were on the 19 yard line with 3:08 left in the game.

On 4th and Goal from the 6 yard line Jeff Reed and the Steelers lined up for what was anything but a give-me 24 yard attempt. With 20 seconds remaining Reed lifted the ball off the sloppy mud-ridden field and through the uprights to win the game for the Steelers 3-0.

To say it was an ugly game would be a vast understatement. It probably shouldn't have been played. Had it not been a Monday Night game on national television, it probably would not of. For the Dolphins it was another lose in a close game, and they fell to 0-11. For the Steelers they picked up a narrow victory, but were embarrassed by field issues that rendered the playing surface into almost unplayable terrain.

Surely this game will find its way into highlight reels of the future, but for none of the right reasons.

I Had My Popcorn Ready

The NFL Bye Week. Does a fan ever feel more like a fish out of water than when your getting ready for the NFL weekend, and your team isn't even playing? Instead I had the consolation prize of the match-up of two 5-0 teams, the Dallas Cowboys against the New England Patriots. Or as the media dubbed, "Super Bowl 41.5". An asinine phrase I hope to never hear again. And something, I might add, that if there is any justice is this cold world, will equate to neither of these teams making the Super Bowl.

All week it was the fodder of the talking heads and pundits. T.O. leaves a note on his locker, explaining he will not be talking to the media. This is headline news, and is debated indefatigably (that took me about 5 tries to spell right and spell-check had no idea what I was talking about, by the way). Owens versus Moss. 81 versus 81. This was force feed to me all week long, when all I wanted to see was highlights from some college ball games or whether or not the Rockies game was going to be rained out.

But, of course, I tunned in. This is because, like the sad pathetic fan that I am, the sports industry has me hook, line, and sinker. I even made some popcorn.

The first problem of the headlining match-up was whom to root for. I should say that usually I don't have this problem, as mostly I'm gearing up for a Steelers game, and when I'm watching another game it's for entertainment. But seeing as this was "the game" I figured I should be in one corner or the other. Now according to logic, as an AFC team fan, I should be pulling for the NFC team to win in any cross conference match-up. I understand this, however there is one underlying problem. The Cowboys are utterly unlikable. Not untalented. With all the problems Owens had created in the past, he's still a great receiver. And begrudgingly I'll admit that Tony Romo is actually quite a promising young QB. But still, completely unlikable. A lot of which comes less from the actually players, then the franchise. I haven't forgotten Super Bowl XXX.

And then there is the Patriots. Again, talented, of course. But likable, not at all. As stated earlier, I'm not going to root for an elite AFC team. And then there is the entire videotaping scandal that unfolded a month ago. Not to mention that they have eliminated the Steelers in the AFC Championship game twice in the last 6 years.

In other words, if I rooted for the Patriots, my family would disown me. And rightfully so.

So anyways, I find myself watching a game I fully know is completely over hyped, between two teams I absolutely despise. Like I said, the sports industry owns me. The best I can hope for here is an injury filled battle that ends in a tie. Maybe a 0-0 tie. That would be embarrassing for both sides. I'm imagining the old NFL films clip where someone fumbles at the goal line and 3 or 4 players try to pick it up or fall on it in the endzone, but it rolls out of bounds. If you too were raised on NFL films tapes then you know what I'm talking about (and if you remember the teams, leave them in the comments, it's killing me). If you weren't raised on NFL films then I'm just rambling. Or you probably quit reading 3 paragraphs ago. Whatever. Sixty-five toss power trap.

Either way, no luck. Not surprisingly, it actually turns into a shootout. And also not surprisingly, the Patriots pretty much have the game from the coin flip. Sure both teams were undefeated, but it doesn't take a genius to tell you the Pats and much better than the Cowboys. Touchdowns are had by all, numerous annoying Peyton Manning commercials are quickly muted, and by the time the game has reached its dying throws I'm still more interested in whether or not the Colorado Rockies game is going to be rained out or not.

Oh, NFL bye week, you are a cruel one.

Week 1: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

Right now it's great to be Mike Tomlin. A commanding season opening victory against a division rival. It's quite the way for one to kick off a coaching career with one of the most storied franchises in the NFL.

The Steelers came out of the gate strong, forcing the Browns 3-and-out on the games opening possession. On 4th down Browns kicker Paul Ernster dropped the snap, and after recovering was only able to punt the ball 15 yards to the 32 yardline. On top of the poor punt, the Browns committed 4 fouls on the play. The Steelers accepted the 10 yard holding call, and were set on prime location for the seasons opening drive; the opponents 22 yardline. 4 plays later Ben Roethlisberger hit Hines Ward in the right corner of the endzone for a 5 yard touchdown pass. And all this only slightly over 3 minutes into the first quarter.

On the second play of the Browns second possession Deshea Townsend intercepted Cleveland starting quarterback Charlie Frye on the Cleveland 38, and returned it to the 21. The drive ended with a 26 yard field goal by Jeff Reed.

Later in the first quarter James Farrior forced Browns halfback Jamal Lewis to fumble on his own 36. Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden recovered the fumble at the 40. On the first play of the ensuing drive Roethlisberger found second year wide receiver Santonio Holmes in the middle of the endzone for a 40 yard touchdown pass.

Towards the later half of the second quarter backup quarterback Derek Anderson came in for Cleveland to replace Frye. Frye was 4 for 10 with 34 yards and an interception.

Leading off the second half, Roethlisberger lead the Steelers downfield on a 8 play, 71 yard drive, capped off with a 5-yard completion to back up tight end Matt Spaeth.

The Browns finally responded, breaking the shutout with a short play action pass on 3rd and goal from the 1 yard line. Anderson found fullback Lawrence Vickers for the touchdown.

Roethlisberger completed his fourth touchdown pass on a 22 yard toss to tight end Heath Miller. He was 12 for 23 with 161 passing yards, and no interceptions. He had a quarterback passer rating of 114.3.

Jeff Reed put in a 31 yard field goal at 7:16 of the fourth quarter, elevating the Steelers to the eventual final score of 34-7.

Browns replacement quarterback Derek Anderson was 13 for 28, with 184 passing yards, a touchdown pass and an interception.

Pittsburgh wide receivers Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes both unleashed leveling blocks throughout the game, opening the field for halfbacks Willie Parker and Najeh Davenport. Parker had 27 carries for 109 yards, and Davenport had 8 carries for 48 yards. The Steelers were 6-1 last year when Parker rushed for over a hundred yards.

Rookie Punter Daniel Sepulveda had an exceptional first game, with 4 of his 6 punts ending up inside the 20 yardline; 2 of which were inside the 5 yardline.

Roethlisberger had success throwing to tight ends to the tune of 5 receptions for 4o yards and 2 TDs.

Next week the Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Buffalo Bills at 1:00 pm at Heinz Field in their home opener.

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