Monday football recap - Week #9

Steelers:

• Game goes on - Supposedly players weighed in on whether or not the Giants/Steelers game should be played. Players thought it important to provide relief for fans. Unlike the marathon no city resources were needed or used for the game. The Steelers did their part by flying in early Sunday morning so not to take hotel rooms from displaced victims. I'm not sure that the game going on as scheduled helped anybody but the NFL, but once again the league looks good.
• Bad calls - Jeez, I hate to gripe about the officiating, but one can not say that the Giants didn't get home field advantage especially in that first half. 
• Big Ben - He was quite frustrated with the lack of protection from his O line and he made some very poor throws as a result, throwing his first interception in several games, but as always, just when I think he is off he comes back and leads us down the field.
• Trick plays - Well, if that little flicker to kicker Shaun Suisham had worked we would have thought it great, but since it didn't work and we didn't tie the game Tomlin looked like an idiot. 
• Defense - So glad to have you back! If the defense can keep this up maybe we can get back all we lost in the beginning of the year. Old? Pfft. We got young'ins that can help out the elderly and together they are scary.
• Injuries - Unfortunately we are still racking them up with Chris Rainey the latest casualty to fall on the field.
• Ryan Clark's hit on Cruz - Sure let's talk about the hit that Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark put on Giants receiver Victor Cruz in the end zone that resulted in a flag and a penalty of fifteen yards which the Giants took advantage of and eventually scored a TD. Replay shows the refs were wrong. The hit was legal. Clark led with his shoulder and hit Cruz below the head just like the NFL video taught. Yet still he was flagged for a helmet to helmet. Yet still bloggers are griping about Clark playing dirty. The Steelers defense, no matter how crappy they play or fall behind in statistics, have everyone watching them and whining. Fine with me because that happens when you have had the number one defense for years, but what does bother me is that those same people won't admit when they are wrong. What also bothers me is that when our guys are hit helmet to helmet it isn't called. I've said it numerous times this is a violent game and lots of hits can't be helped, but when we have twice as many penalties as the opposing team and more injuries than the opposing team....something is fishy.

Other:

• Notre Dame - Three overtimes in the Irish's game against Pittsburgh that included a missed field goal and a fumble and a touchback. Notre Dame won in the end with a quarterback sneak and the Irish kept their undefeated record at 9-0.
• Andrew Luck - He faced off against another fellow rookie quarterback in Ryan Tannehill, but came out the winner. Not only did the Colts win with their coach in the house, but Luck had his best game yet going 30-48 for 433 yards and two touchdowns.
• Chuck Pagano - The Colts coach who is taking a leave of absense to fight leukemia was at Lucas Stadium to watch the Colts win and afterwards gave a rousing locker room speech to the team.
• Ten Years - During the Tampa/Oakland game it was brought up that the Bucs beat the Raiders in Super Bowl XXVII almost ten years ago. Ten years ago? I can still remember running around my house screaming at the top of my lungs after that game and it feels like it was just yesterday. Sigh.
• Sean Payton - I don't really understand what is happening with his contract with the New Orleans Saints. Too many different reports. Supposedly the NFL is saying that Payton's contract extension is on hold for some wording in it and Payton is saying that will be back with the Saints next year. If the extension isnt vialible then Payton could be a cree agent next season. Whatever is true it will be interesting to see how it is played out. Payton is probably feeling smug that the team sucks with him forced to sit out and he might be thinking he will test the waters. But let's not forget that Drew Brees signed a contract with the Saints because Payton had signed one to stay. Will Bree's hero live up to his quarterback or think only of himself and move on? Jerry Jones is hoping he will move...right into Dallas.