MNF recap because....YEAH!

Holy Mother of Football Endings! ESPN has to be pumped about what went down in San Diego last night. I don't usually write about football more than twice because not everyone who reads me shares my love for it, but this was too good to pass up. Let's hope this win and momentum carry us over until Big Ben returns.

Steelers:

• The ending - A San Diego Chargers fan, and one of David Letterman's writers, Eric Stangel tweeted, "Why didn't the Steelers throw it there?" - Pete Carroll #MNF I favorited it. Like Tomlin and Ben, I was all "Go for the win. Screw the overtime." Only later did I realize we didn't have as much time on the clock as I thought. (And later I found out that there was a screw up on the clock) It was a gutsy call and we are talking about it today because it worked. Le'Veon Bell ran, got pinned, got away, and fought his way over the line for that stretch into the end zone as time ran out. It wasn't the play I would have called, but it worked. It worked because the Steelers hung in there until the last. Because they believed and they executed. A HUGE win for the boys and the plane ride back across the country will be a better one because of it.
• Game quotes - Michael Vick and Le'Veon Bell were both interviewed directly after the game. Vick's great quote, "It's not how you start, it's how you finish." Exactly one of the things I always tell my Steelers buddy who, are you ready for this, was so disgusted HE WENT TO BED when the Chargers took over at 17-10. Bell, when asked what it meant to him said, "The game winner on the last play of the game, that's what you dream about."
• Steeler Nation - Tens of thousands black and gold jerseys, terrible towels, and Steelers fans piled into Qualcomm Stadium early in the evening to cheer on their team. This happens at every away stadium that the team plays in, but last night the Chargers couldn't even hear themselves over the loud roar of the away fans. The team agreed it was a big hit and many of the players said it felt like a home game. Even ESPN analyst John Gruden kept bringing it up while calling the game.
• Most of the game - was terrible. On both sides. The Chargers started off hot with Phillip Rivers throwing to Antonio Gates for his one hundred career touchdown, but after that he and the Chargers were mediocre. Michael Vick, in for the injured Ben Roethlisberger, looked overwhelmed and unsure making odd throws and decisions. He spent a good portion of the night on the ground as he was sacked and tackled left and right.
• Game Changer - For the Steelers it was the fourth quarter with Vick hitting Markus Wheaton for a 72 yard touchdown right after the Chargers had scored to take the lead. That took the monkey off Vick's back, and then on third down during the Steelers next possession he did what he does best, running. He found a hole and ran 24 yards for the first down and more and suddenly the entire team was awake and alive. 
• Field antics - After playing a miserable three quarters, some of the guys started celebrating their tackles with that oh, yah, I'm the man swagger. Stop it! You did what you were suppose to do, and if you had been doing that all along we wouldn't have been behind. Make the tackle, stand up, and get ready to do it again. You can celebrate after you win the damn game.
• Defense - Once again the Steelers defense made some great plays when needed, the most important one a pick six off of a Phillip Rivers pass. The only downside to Antwon Blake's interception was his meandering those last few yards into the end zone. WTH?
• Heath Miller - Two huge plays catching Vick's passes and the "H E A T H!" could be heard all over the stadium, but his blocking is also key to so many of Bell's great runs.
• Fantasy points - Heath Miller and the Steelers defense pushed me ahead to beat the #1 person, she of the Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski team! Hell yeah!