January 6, 2008

Seattle defeats Washington, : Jacksonville edges Pittsburgh.

read story | posted by Ying Yang Mafia to Football at 6:29 AM CDT (41 comments total)

I was impressed with how Ben Roethlisberger acted after the game. He came out to congratulate David Garrard, but he was doing a postgame interview on the field with the NBC crew.

After a game in which the Steelers and Jaguars fought frequently after plays, and even Big Ben engaged in some of it, he waited around for the interview to end. This sportsmanship stood in sharp contrast to moments like Bill Belichick's unfriendly gesture to Tony Dungy after the Pats-Colts game.

posted by rcade at 8:01 AM CDT on January 6

When I saw that I thought Ben was waiting around because he'd been asked to interview. Only after the crew moved on to Maurice Jones Drew did it become apparent that he was just waiting patiently to congratulate Garrard.

It was good to see.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 8:26 AM CDT on January 6

That was my first thought too. I know quarterbacks are friendly to each other after games, but waiting 5 minutes while David Garrard exults in victory on your turf was a bitter pill. Roethlisberger took it in stride, then went to the post-game interview conference and took a ridiculous amount of the blame for the loss on himself -- so much so that Rich Eisen on the NFL Network responded, "That was harsh."

posted by rcade at 9:03 AM CDT on January 6

I was happy to see Jacksonville win, if only because they didn't deserve to fall victim to that atrocious pass interference call on 4th-and-goal from the 2 that led to Pittsburgh's last TD. And it is good to see Roethlisberger being a stand-up guy about how badly he stunk...that performance was Brett Favre-like. (And I'm talking the "Bad Brett" that shows up at playoff time.)

posted by TheQatarian at 9:21 AM CDT on January 6

Im not a fan of either team but what a great game (Jacksonville/Pittsburg)!

The Quatarian - while that pass interference call may have been atrocious, it was no more so than the imaginary holding call that lead to Pittsburg losing the 2 point conversion.

Either way I found my self routing for both teams during the game and afterwards I think I would have been happy no matter who won.

Gratz to the Jags!

posted by firecop at 9:38 AM CDT on January 6

I read that Larry Foote was quite adamant that the Jags had a blatant holding penalty on Garrard's long run towards the end of the game. I didn't see the play myself and was wondering if anybody else noticed if there was holding on the play in question.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 10:15 AM CDT on January 6

Don't retired offensive linemen joke that they hold on every single play? I don't recall Madden and Michaels bringing up a blatant hold on that play, so I saw nothing as well.

That was a great comeback for the Steelers. I was afraid that we would see another snoozer of a blowout, but Pittsburgh made some adjustments at halftime and almost pulled out the win.

Since David Garrard played his college ball with the East Carolina University Pirates, his name should be "David Grrrrarrrrd, matey!" OK? OK.

posted by NoMich at 10:56 AM CDT on January 6

The score of the Seattle game may seem like a blowout but it was much, much closer than the score would indicate. The Redskins still had a faint chance with two mintues to play before an interception put Seattle up by three scores. I wonder if Washington had made that field goal to go up 17-14 whether the game would have turned out differently.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 11:19 AM CDT on January 6

The camera view from behind the O line showed a hold on Garrads running play but it was in the back field and Im not certain it would have impacted the outcome.

posted by firecop at 11:29 AM CDT on January 6

I'm in the SpoFi campfire (guest login) for most of the Giants-Bucs game, at least until I fall asleep.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 12:15 PM CDT on January 6

I did turn off the Steelers game around the end of the third quarter, boy was that the wrong choice. Especially after the first game had 36 fourth quarter points.

posted by billsaysthis at 12:56 PM CDT on January 6

It became clear early in the game that the officials were going to overlook holding calls and JAXs took advantage of it right to the end. The only thing that truly bothered me was the fact that the officials called a "holding call" on the 2 point conversion which neither Madden or Michaels could detect during multiple replays.

for weeks now, TV has been hyping a potential JAX vs PATs game calling the JAXs the team to watch out for.

My guess is we are seeing the league in action setting up the marque games via the bad/no call.

oh well - for the Steelers it just means a better draft pick where hopefully they can pick up a running back or OF lineman. Both of which they truly need.

Also - can we say goodbye to the 3-4 scheme next year.

posted by wvuvoiceofreason at 2:12 PM CDT on January 6

for the Steelers it just means a better draft pick where hopefully they can pick up a running back or OF lineman. Both of which they truly need.

Why would they draft a running back when they have Willie Parker?

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 2:30 PM CDT on January 6

I was happy to see Jacksonville win, if only because they didn't deserve to fall victim to that atrocious pass interference call on 4th-and-goal from the 2 that led to Pittsburgh's last TD.

Just like that mystery holding call on the first of the Steeler's 2-pt conversions that wiped out the completion?

Sorry, but I don't buy the, "Ah, woulda' coulda' shoulda'" argument for the winner or losers. Piss-poor calls go both ways every single game.

The camera view from behind the O line showed a hold on Garrads running play but it was in the back field and Im not certain it would have impacted the outcome.

The relevance to a play has no bearing on calling holding and block in the back. Happens on returns all the time.

posted by jmd82 at 2:40 PM CDT on January 6

Willie parker is a very good back who will be coming off a serious ankle injury

in most cases, the back is rarely the same

Also - how is it that most teams have two very decent RB's but PGH on ly had willie

posted by wvuvoiceofreason at 2:59 PM CDT on January 6

to jmd82 - interesting note - when John Madden complains about "non calls" the officiating is bad.

Kinkd of like the non holding calls in the OK - WVU game when the rout was on

posted by wvuvoiceofreason at 3:01 PM CDT on January 6

Please...

Stop making excuses when your team loses.
Take it like a man, not a cry baby...

posted by canstusdis at 3:05 PM CDT on January 6

I thought a case could be made for the left guard committing a holding penalty on Garrard's run, which was the lane Garrard took.

Overall, I feel that the officiating was fairly loose but it went both ways. The interference call against Jacksonville when replays showed Ward facemasking the defender being the worst call/non-call I can remember for the game.

I felt during the regular season, and it's been repeating during these playoffs, that the rules for what constitutes made catch are getting a bit wonky in the defenses favor.

It was a great game though, I hope the rest can matchup!

posted by chmurray at 3:15 PM CDT on January 6

My guess is we are seeing the league in action setting up the marque games via the bad/no call.

Yeah -- the NFL clearly has a vested interest in seeing small-market Jacksonville advance in the playoffs.

Pittsburgh had two chances to seal the win -- Roethlisberger's end around on third and five and the Jags' final drive. Blaming it all on officiating is sour grapes.

posted by rcade at 3:37 PM CDT on January 6

Well, right now the Bolts seem completely unable to score -- four drives, three punts and a pick -- so it could be Tennessee going to Foxboro next weekend rather than Jacksonville.

(either way, it'll probably snow)

posted by lil_brown_bat at 4:45 PM CDT on January 6

Blaming it all on officiating is sour grapes.

When does Pittsburgh not grouse about "the better team" when they get knocked out of the playoffs? They've been doing it vis-a-vis the Pats since 2001.

posted by yerfatma at 6:33 PM CDT on January 6

posted by wvuvoiceofreason at 6:40 PM CDT on January 6

No matter how long you hang onto 'em, sour grapes never turn into good wine.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 6:58 PM CDT on January 6

to jmd82 - interesting note - when John Madden complains about "non calls" the officiating is bad.

[rant]Actually, I love Madden and his partner whose name escapes me at the moment. After watching Sunday Night Football, I dread watching MNF with Tony "I need to insert a really bad joke or ask a totally off-topic question here" Kornheiser. I can stand him on PTI, but drives me insane as an announcer. I've pretty much stopped watching MNF because the announcing is so bad.

posted by jmd82 at 8:00 PM CDT on January 6

Al Michaels.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 8:11 PM CDT on January 6

posted by wvuvoiceofreason at 6:40 PM CST on January 6

Irony is alive and well folks.

posted by NoMich at 8:20 PM CDT on January 6

Steeler schmeelers. Jags Schmags.

Since nobody else is interested, I will go ahead and say it myself.

Good on my team. We beat them Redskins. We want the ball and we're going to win.

(Maybe)
((I hope))
(((Please, please, please)))

posted by THX-1138 at 11:49 PM CDT on January 6

Since nobody else is interested, I will go ahead and say it myself.

Good on my team. We beat them Redskins. We want the ball and we're going to win.

(Maybe)
((I hope))
(((Please, please, please)))

How'd that comment work out last time for you THX? And, I wagered on Seattle in that playoff game, and was thrilled when the 'Hawks won the coin toss going into overtime. Wasn't it ''We want the ball, and we're going to score."?

Just pulling your leg. I have adopted the Seahawks as my team for the playoffs, and I hope they meet the Jaguars in the Super Bowl.

posted by tommytrump at 12:40 AM CDT on January 7

God bless you, Tommy. Yeah, it was "we're going to score.", but that didn't sound quite right or convincing. So I paraphrased a bit. I would love to see the Jags in the "Big Game", but what a mighty mountain of a playoff game my Seahawks have in Green Bay. Knocking Collins around is one thing, but Favre is quite another. In Lambeau no less.

But that playoff game was kind of typical of Seattle's wins this year. Nothing has been for sure this season until the clock runs out. I have learned the greater intracacies of time management this year.

posted by THX-1138 at 1:03 AM CDT on January 7

At least Kornheiser ain't Bryant Gumbel of the NFL Network...(If I could type out a Krusty the Klown sigh I would!)

posted by LeftyPower at 4:19 AM CDT on January 7

And by the way, I was at the last playoff game when the 'Hawks visited, and I (along with 70,000 other fans) heard our old teammate say verbatim "We want the ball and we're going to score!" Can't blame him for that. Youthful exuberance, just having fun and being "in the moment". I understand a lot of people never actually played sports, especially at a high level. So I hope that comment, while comical, isn't a big issue this week. Matt's a good kid and I wish him luck. He surely didn't mean anything, like over-confidence, by it. Remember when you ended up playing in college against your old high school buds? Or in high school against your old Little League buds? Same thing. Good luck Seahawk fans. You're gonna need it. You are overmatched in this one. But, that's why they play the games.....

posted by LeftyPower at 4:28 AM CDT on January 7

Matt Hasselbeck opened the press conference after the Washington win by declaring, "I want to just say right now that we want the ball, and we're going to score." According to this story, his infamous boast was intended as a joke to friends Brett Favre and Ryan Longwell, captains on the Packers, but he's taking his ridicule in good humor.

Tony Kornheiser's the least integrated color commentator I've ever heard on a sports game broadcast. His quips and odd asides sound as if they were recorded beforehand and dropped in at random times.

posted by rcade at 8:07 AM CDT on January 7

Yeah, I'm a big fan of Kornheiser, but it feels very much as though he writes the gags the week before and then drops them in as soon as something approaching relevance appears. If he hates flying so much, he ought to just phone in from home.

posted by yerfatma at 8:22 AM CDT on January 7

The Steelers blew it. I know the refs had some bad calls, but you can't throw three interceptions and expect to win. Ben is a stand up guy, and he took the brunt of the blame, as he should, so don't bring up past comments by the guy that you clearly can't comprehend.

posted by Steel_Town at 11:18 AM CDT on January 7

talking about the PATs. I guess I'm the only one who thinks that there are two types of calls by officials,

ones for Brady and Manning and one for the rest of the league. To beat New England you need to pray for more than snow because even then a fumble is not a fumble, its a "tuck"??

v.o.r., its no secret that the eliet players get breaks from officiating. jordan got calls and no-calls in his favor all the time, and opposing pitchers complained all the time that, as one put it "for such a big guy, babe ruth has an awfully tiny strike-zone."
that said, the tuck-rule game was 7 years ago. get over it. i lost all pitty for the raiders, their fans and appologists, that spring when the owners met and voted UNANIMOUSLY to keep that rule in place. thats right, even al davis, the guy whos team got screwed by the rule, which by the way i agree is a bad rule, voted to keep it in place.
i would also point out that that was the year that brady first established himself as a good quarterback. he wasnt getting special calls because of his status within the league, because he didnt yet have status within the league other than that of a pretty good back-up qb. he obviously does now, and yes the flags that rain on the field in foxbourough do usually go in his favor, now. but your argument about the tuck rule holds no water.

posted by elijahin at 3:24 PM CDT on January 7

Seattle at GB / Jacksonville at Indy should be two outstanding matchups next weekend. Too tough to pick the first, cause I like both teams. I like Jacksonville over Indy; not a big colts fan.

posted by sportsbugger at 3:42 PM CDT on January 7

jax wont be at indy they will be at new england next week. as for the pick i like the packers over seattle, and if anyone is gonna beat the pats i think it will be the jags, but i really dont see them doing it either.

posted by elijahin at 3:53 PM CDT on January 7

by the way my comment about the tuck rule i actually wrote this morning clicked preview and walked out the door without clicking post. so im sorry to jump back to a conversation you had all moved on from.

posted by elijahin at 3:59 PM CDT on January 7

A lot of people moved on nearly six years ago when they explained that, in fact, there is such a rule and it does say that. Not everyone, though.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 4:56 PM CDT on January 7

Roethlisberger's end around on third and five

Thank you for saying "end around." The announcers almost always call them reverses and it's really annoying.

This sportsmanship stood in sharp contrast to moments like Bill Belichick's unfriendly gesture to Tony Dungy after the Pats-Colts game.

That could be because Belichick's a dick.

posted by kirkaracha at 7:10 PM CDT on January 7

Hell yes!! But isn't that a given?

posted by Goyoucolts at 7:48 PM CDT on January 7

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