Monday, November 20, 2017

Monday morning NFL recap - week #11

Steelers: I spent the first half watching from Room 23 in the ER of a children's hospital. There was no sound and no HD, and the entire situation made the anxiety level greater, but my boys came through for me as I drove home, and I got to watch the second half on my DVR rewind.

  • I kept waiting for the offense to click and for some reason, whether it was the rumors of OC Todd Haley's soon to be departure or being at home and playing a night game, they did, starting out on the first play with the big throw from Ben to Brown for the touchdown.
  • Ben ran the night and the show with the no huddle. Maybe that's been the answer the Steelers were looking for all along?
  • The defense did another great job vying for the top five with five sacks, a blocked kick, and four interceptions.
  • Big Ben finally threw long again and again and finally connected with all receivers. He ended up with 299 yards, 10 rushing, and four touchdowns. Know he had to feel good about that.
  • It was great to see the love the players have for former, now the Titans, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. After the game, Steelers players made a bee line for their former guru to hug and talk to him. I never understood what happened there, but the man will always be a legend in the eyes of the players and the fans.
  • I never worry when we play the Titans because of the Terrible Towel curse. They disrespected the Steelers legendary towel years ago and they haven't been the same against us since. 
  • Now the talk will start about how the Steelers are the team to beat and the game against Brady's Patriots. Please. One game does not make a championship team. The Steelers still have work to do in the coming weeks. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Other:
  • Boom, boom, boom. The first ten minutes of the early games were interceptions, interceptions, interceptions with six of the eight games throwing to the opposite teams.
  • How gutsy was Redskins coach Jay Gruden's call on their on fifteen yard line on fourth and one to pretend to punt and go for it? It worked, but whoa, that could have been costly. I like taking chances though...when it isn't my team.
  • Ugh. The tackle on Kirk Cousins in the third quarter also caught running Chris Thompson who went down with what looked like a brutal leg injury. He was carted off the field and maybe that's why Gruden said the hell with it, go for it.
  • Dolphins QB Jay Cutler went out with a concussion and in came back up Matt Moore. I like that guy and said aloud, "Bucs, better watch out. It's a different game now." Sure enough, Moore threw a bomb to tie the game. Luckily, however, the Bucs went ahead with a field goal with 4 seconds left and then iced it on special teams with a touchdown when the Dolphins tried to play hot potato.
  • Weird statistic - The Browns did not have a penalty called on them during their game. Hadn't been done since 1962.
  • The Giants/Kansas City game went to overtime and the Giants ran the ball on first and second down, getting nowhere. What? You have Eli Manning and you try to run the ball? They obviously heard me because they went for it on fourth down and Manning threw a hell of a pass to Lewis who made a hell of a catch and 
  • How crappy must it be when scrambling in a pile for a fumble? I bet all sorts of poking, prodding, and punching goes on.
  • The Redskins might just be worse than the Chargers in nonsensical mishaps. Defense let a 31-16 lead go, messed up in the last few seconds, went into overtime and went dropped pass, sack, dropped pass, and then lost the game.
  • Drew Brees is as cool as Tom Brady when it comes to quarterbacking. The Saints have won 8 straight and that too is a record in modern day.
  • What's with the NFL playing in Mexico City?
  • Yikes. 54 points for the Chargers? Who lit them on fire?

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