Random things running rampant

• If I scanned ten pictures a day until the end of the year, I'd make a big dent in whittling down my boxes of photos.

• Keeping hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator gives me a quick protein at any time of the day.

• Why does getting organized (i.e., making lists) take more work than being organized?

• I've never been someone who wondered how things worked, which is most likely why I dislike science.

• The Cleveland Browns have fired their head coaches always after the team plays the Steelers. That is usually at the end of the season. Do you think the NFL put the game earlier in the year, hoping that wouldn't happen? Pfft. Oh, well.

• Why can't I pronounce words correctly aloud? They always sound perfect in my head.

• The rest of the country is experiencing fall weather with cooler temperatures except for Florida. Yet, Floridians want that. But isn't the opposite the reason why we moved here in the first place?

• For always being negative regarding my body, I'm damned proud of the way it bounces back from trauma.

• Why is everything on my desk, but the thing I need most?

• Edit my way or not at all. That logic might be harmful, yet I can't stop.

• Yesterday I wanted my mommy.

• Someone needs to invent an eraser that can withstand Florida. I think I need to wrap Saran around each eraser on my pencils so that they stay moist so I can erase things. Or, I need to stop making mistakes.

• How come when I had kids living here, planning meals seemed more natural?

• I love my Steelers Nation Unite sticky note cube.

• Some days I just don't feel the story.

NFL Monday morning recap week 8

Steelers - With the city still reeling from the synagogue shooting on Saturday, the guys managed, after a slow start, to win. A moment of silence was observed at Heinz Field before the game, but the team and management, players, and media had already expressed themselves long before kickoff. Some had lived in Squirrel Hill. Others had friends who were members of the synagogue. All were, like the rest of the country, shocked and saddened. Pittsburgh is a beautiful city, but the people there are the most friendly, genuine, and kindest people I've ever run across in traveling. Their sports teams are a huge part of the city, and Pittsburgh needed this win in more ways than one. 

• Having Ryan Shazier led the pep cheer has to be inspiring. CBS showed it to the world, but Shazier travels with the team and does this every game. His recovery has been observed by Steelers fans, but it's his faith and determination that should pump us all up. 
• The defense came out slow yet managed to hold the Browns to two field goals. We worried this was going to be one of those games, but the defense pulled it together by the middle of the first quarter and managed to hold.
• The offense, too, started slow--punt, interception, three and out before finding their mojo.
• And the penalties in the first quarter? Ugh. The Browns and the Steelers lead the league in those.
• My buddy has names for most of the opposing teams, players, coaches, etc. He calls the Browns the Clowns, and this game aptly fit. A lot of stumbling, bumbling, and tumbling on both sides. None more so, than after the Browns acquired a penalty in the end zone that resulted in a safety. The rules state after a safety, the punt becomes a free-kick, meaning any team can attempt to retrieve the ball. Yeah. Apparently, the players on the field, on both sides, haven't read the rule book. The Browns kicked. The Steelers had three men in the back--Antonio Brown, who has played a returner but not recently, Roosevelt Nix, who obviously forgot where he was supposed to be, and Ryan Switzer, our new kickoff returner. For some reason, Nix signaled (or at least threw up his arm, and I doubt it was to check his pit stink) for the fair catch and then didn't catch it. Switzer, beliving Nix was going to get it, let the ball go. I wondered if the rule was once a fair catch has been called, then that player has to field the ball, but uh, no. Another player can catch it, but can't advance it. Yet, Switzer acted as if he'd be penalized, and yes, the Steelers were penalized quite a bit yesterday, so I suppose he was shy. The ball bounced and rolled to the twenty and four Browns players dove on it like it was the snitch from Harry Potter. But they too hadn't read the rule book because they should've picked it up and run it into the end zone. Instead, they touched it and celebrated the Steelers gaff. On the sidelines, those who knew the rule--depending on the team--reacted accordingly. There was excited jumping from the Browns side and total disbelief from the Steelers. The Browns were rewarded the ball and turned the idiocy into a touchdown. Mike Tomlin better gift the rule book to every player tomorrow in practice.
• Ben is still throwing some wonky balls, but his stats certainly don't tell that story. His pass to Antonio Brown for a touchdown in the red zone after the defense intercepted Mayfield was spot on and was a missile into Brown's hands. One of the Browns felt it whiz by his fingertips but as powerful as that throw was it only would have deflected.
• Finish the game! The Steelers played until the last ten seconds in the first half scoring points to go into the locker room on fire. But once they'd secured the win on a James Connor touchdown, they let the Browns drive down the field for a score. No, no, no. Finish the game. I know it was raining, and you were tired, but you play until the end. The defense just gave the Browns those points.

Other:

• The term this week was safety. Three safeties that I counted. Crazy. 
• Four Jaguar players were arrested the night before the game in England for refusing to pay their bill that they and four other teammates racked up at a nightclub. They thought the drinks were on the house. The tab? I've seen between $57,000 - $64,000. What? What owner of a business is going to take that hit? Come on, NFL, let's rein these yahoos in.
• What is happening with the Giants? Yikes! If Eli Manning isn't on the ground being sacked, his receivers aren't catching balls. Heads are going to be rolling in New York is my guess and soon.
• The Seattle Seahawks with a big lead had to punt from their own end zone. Coach Pete Carroll told his punter Michael Dickson to get the ball, and instead of kicking it, run around in the end zone (???) to take time off the clock. Carroll told him to take the safety. Uh, really? That right, there was craziness. Carroll, who obviously has read the rule book on safeties and free kicks, wanted the free-kick and an opportunity to get the ball back. Dickson got the ball, didn't punt, stood for a moment, and when he realized the opposition was wondering what the hell he was doing by not kicking, he took off running. Out of the end zone. He made the first down and essentially told his coach he thought the man was whacked. But, Pete Carroll, in true Carroll fashion, laughed it off and jumped up and down in excitement.
• Tampa removed Jameis Winston in the third quarter and replaced him with Fitzmagic, who came out with his wand arm and tied the damn game, throwing two great touchdowns. Steelers fans were more than pumped, but then out came the Tampa defense, and there went our happiness. The Bengals drove, kicked a field goal as time ran out, and once again, the Bucs managed to lose.
• Anyone else spot Aaron Rodgers holding his hand up for a high five after throwing a bomb to put the Packers back into the game? Yeah, well, neither did his teammates because no one returned it.

2018 NFL picks week 8

Last week - 10-4

Overall 72-34

Houston over Miami - Wasn't even thinking it would go the other way.

Philadelphia over Jacksonville - The Jaguars are too busy hanging out in England pubs and the pokey to even concentrate on football, so this seemed a more natural pick.

Chicago over Jets - Still like Mitch.

Cincinnati over Tampa - Oh, Tampa, you play well away, well, sometimes. Hope you kick ass here, but I don't believe in you enough to predict that.

Detroit over Seattle - I'm picking this to be the game of the day. Two slinging quarterbacks that can run. It should be a doozy.

Kansas City over Denver - Always a rivalry, but the Chiefs are too hot right now.

Washington over Giants - This could be the game the Giants come to play in. I considered switching sides, but Nah.

Pittsburgh over Cleveland - Always worry when we come off a bye, but someone has toned down the social media and the locker room crap, so maybe, just maybe, we come out at home and play like we know football.

Baltimore over Carolina - The Ravens will be pissed this week after that loss last week so they won't mess around.

Indianapolis over Oakland - The Raiders who?

Rams over Green Bay - The Rams have the best shot at going undefeated with their schedule. Don't think even Aaron Rodger can pull off a miracle here.

San Francisco over Arizona - My wild-card game. I think the 49ers get the win today.

Minnesota over New Orleans - This might be a fun one too. With Drew Brees, anything is possible, but the Vikings defense is better.

New England over Buffalo - Oh, snooze.

My nanny job

After daughter number two left the house for college, I picked up some replacement kids, a girl, and a boy. The kids, my friend's children, have had a challenging year dealing with the splitting of their parents and the accompanying readjustment period. I've become Nanny Cara and have helped with the overhaul of their mother's house and life and have assisted them with schoolwork. They do the requisite moving back and forth between parents, but both ride the bus home to their mother's house, where I crack the whip to begin their nightly homework/studying time.

In my opinion, my job as a SAHM has qualified me to attempt nannying someone else's children with the aid and blessing of their mother. The fact that I'm not their mother makes things difficult for both sides, but we've slogged along with good days and bad days.

Their life is vastly different from that of my own children. Their parents work with their mother on a night shift at the hospital on an interval schedule. They bounce from one house to the other with one parent running the show in each house, and as one can expect, with very different parenting mentalities. It makes me appreciate more of my childhood.

Recently, while their dad was out of town and their mom was working, I moved in for two nights. I did all of the things I did for my own children-- reminding them of nightly obligations like showering and brushing their teeth, feeding them dinner, waking them in the morning, and seeing they were off to school on time. All ingrained in me, albeit a tad rusty, it was like riding a bike, although I had forgotten the horrific 5:30 a.m. high school wake up time.

There is nothing like knowing people more so than living with them. While I've known these two since they were two and five years old and have worked with the girl for three years as a tutor, spending two nights with them gave me a different perspective, and reinforced my belief that kids can and will step up to the plate when needed. The high schooler locked up and set the house alarm as the man of the house. The first night he refused to go to sleep until I was tucked into bed because he wanted to make sure I'd turned off and set on the right lights. They both hopped out of bed in the morning and got themselves ready for school. It was a pleasant nannying experience.

Tutoring is a whole different ball of wax. Navigating disinterested children through two various programs at two different schools hasn't been a walk in the park.

First, there is Florida's public school education--overworked and underpaid teachers working different programs with different students, overcrowded classrooms, counselors who spend more time as test managers than overseeing students' needs, and no one holding anyone accountable.

Secondly, are the two students who, having been left alone in their educational pursuit far too many years, don't care one way or the other about grades. I've never had that. I came from a home where education was stressed from birth. I knew the moment I entered Kindergarten, this was my job for the next seventeen years, and my two bosses were dead serious about that. My girls had the same thing via the do what you're taught method carried from generation to generation.

These kids' parents had a different experience from mine. Both had working parents with one who had zero parental guidance, and the other with minimal supervision after a certain age. These two worked hard individually to get degrees and certifications that put them where they are today. No one stood over them, and they didn't do the same for their children. I've had to balance between what I know and believe with how their parents do things, and it hasn't been easy.

Some days are excellent, and others leave me drained and near tears when I return home to the silence that is now my home.

My girls are involved. When they are home, they take the kids out for fun, whether its laser tag or the movies. Madison tutored via Facetime in Chemistry when I was desperate. They've both assisted in Algebra with us sending pictures via texts of the problems. After all, the kids' mother taught both of mine how to drive. Only fair to return the favor. We've made it a family affair.

My husband has been a participant in this new job of mine too. He's taken a fatherly interest in both kids and tutors when I need assistance. He handles math, some science, and music. Both kids play an instrument, and our home has them, so the kids can practice at my house like they do at home. We offer what we can, and hand them over to their parents, but not having the entire responsibility is at times challenging and others satisfying. I wonder, is this like grandparenting? Fostering?

All of this is to say working parents are superheroes. While I understand this is one family and one experience, I still can't figure out how working parents navigate and manage it all.

I've had the one job, raising my kids, and I can't even fathom adding a full-time job on top. Yikes. Kudos to all you working parents! That is some serious hard shit you're going through--like my life times two with double the stress.

And the children of working parents? They are just as awesome because they have a responsibility, unlike what my own girls experienced. These kids have no choice but to step up to the plate. I bow to both.

Oh, and I'm available if anyone needs a Nanny.

NFL Monday morning recap week 7

Steelers were off for the bye week. I spent the day at a baby shower sneaking peeks at my phone's ESPN app to stay abreast. Luckily, my DVR was recording the Redzone!

Other:

• Tampa Bay's kicker Chandler Catanzaro missed an extra point and then missed a 40-yard attempt to win the game with 4 seconds left. Kick it through the uprights, and you're a hero. Unfortunately, Catanzaro's kick wasn't even close, and the game went into overtime. It came back down to the wire, and the Bucs shoved Catanzaro right back out on to the field this time to kick a 59-yard field goal to win the game. Luckily, this time the ball took a turn and sailed through for a win. Longest FG in overtime. Catanzaro was pumped. The Bucs were pumped. The fans were wiping their brows. Whew.
• Cleveland...not so much. Fourth time this season they've been in overtime. Baker Mayfield's face said it all. Welcome to Cleveland, Mayfield, where that shit happens time after time after time. Your team is cursed, dude.
• I like Chicago's quarterback Mitch Trubisky and what he has brought to the table this season for the Bears despite their last placement in the division. Then I found out he is a Tar Heel. Well, no wonder. His Hail Mary was a doozy, even with a hand in his face, but it was a yard short, and the Patriots defense stopped the receiver from making it into the end zone to tie the game.
• Seriously? Did Jags quarterback Blake Bortles not eat his Wheaties yesterday? I mean, what happened with this dude that he only got me 1.40 points as my fantasy quarterback? Fumbles? 
• The Patriots had an injury from their running back Sony Michel, who was twisted in a tackle. The Redzone camera caught Bill Belichick on the sidelines with his usually stoic face, and Redzone host Scott Hanson said, "Bill Belichick understandably concerned as he looks on from the sideline..." Oh, Scott, please. 
• Yikes! A security guard in Miami, her face averted from play, got mowed over by Kenny Stills after he caught the ball in the end zone. Stills was pushed from behind while running in the corner, and he just plowed right over this poor female security guard who fell and hit her head and arm on the padded wall. Well, there's one civilian who can tell us what it's like to be hit by an NFL player. Still went over to her afterward and gave her the caught ball. Uh...yeah, well, that wouldn't have done it for me, but the man is a tad busy.
• I love that Cam Newton chews gum the same color as his team. Carolina blue.
• During Cleveland's run to tie the game in Tampa, Baker Mayfield became a runner and was tackled with a helmet to helmet, drawing a flag. After much discussion, the ref announced Mayfield as a runner and "therefore allowed to be hit in the head". Oh, my. Not the verbiage the NFL wants to be spouted on national television. 
• And a great way to end the night as a Steelers fan. The Ravens kicker Justin Tucker missing the first extra point of his career to lose the game. Yep, get a tad cocky and stroll out to blast the ball like there's nothing to it, and uh, well, wrong. And the woe of the kickers this season continues...

2018 NFL picks week 7

Last week - 11-4

Overall 62-30

Denver over Arizona - The Cardinals may have won a game, but that doesn't mean a thing

Chargers over Tennessee - Phillip Rivers is too hot with the hand against the Titans defense.

Patriots over Chicago - I really wanted to pick Chicago but chickened out in the end. I saw what Tom Brady did last week against the Chiefs. The man has that drive and will to win. He takes this shit seriously, people. I don't think, other than Aaron Rodgers, that any other quarterback treats his job the way this man does. I have to give him kudos for his heart and grit.

Indianapolis over Buffalo - The Colts keep trying. Today they make it.

Detroit over Miami - I wanted Detroit, and then I went with Miami. Then I came back to write this entry and switched my pick. The Dolphins aren't as good as they think they are. They've pulled out some wins, but I believe Stafford might shred them today.

Minnesota over Jets - Another iffy game, but like Miami, the Jets are still deciding who they want to be, and the Vikings know.

Philadelphia over Carolina - Is anyone else wondering what's happening with Cam Newton's team?

Tampa Bay over Cleveland - Oh boy. An exciting game here, huh? Tampa fired their defensive coordinator this week. If the Bucs don't win today at home, more heads are going to roll. I think they come out firing.

Jacksonville over Houston - This game might be a good one to watch. It's hard to predict what the Jags will do what with their 3-3 record, but I don't think they have an issue this week. Plus, without my Steelers this week, I need my backup quarterback to get me some points!

Baltimore over New Orleans - Yikes. Another game I went back and forth on. Here's hoping the Saints win big but the Ravens are in a tight race in the division, are playing at home, and like the Patriots, seem to eek it out in the end.

Rams over San Francisco - I don't see the undefeated losing this one

Dallas over Washington - Always a rivalry, but the Skins aren't elite by any means, and the Cowboys rolled last week like they've finally found their groove.

Kansas City over Cincinnati - Whoa. This game. This game should be a good one to watch. Both teams coming off a heartbreaking loss. But the Chiefs are by far the better team. Here's hoping that Vontaze Burfict doesn't kill anyone tonight.

Atlanta over Giants - I considered that Monday night might be the Giants night, but then I thought, nah.

Working hard as the finish nears

It's almost time for my next to last resolution check-in, and it is weighing on my head. I mean, people, I am far behind! There isn't enough time in the day for me to get it all done, especially now that I'm tutoring every day after school.

This past weekend I went on a writing retreat with my local writer's group. I've been a member for a year but haven't had a chance to meet many beyond the few I sit by each month. This retreat offered me that, plus the opportunity to help with my resolution of finishing my book.

The retreat was only an hour's drive, and when I arrived and found the cabin, members were already with their laptops writing. Whoa! This was going to be serious.

We ate three meals a day at 8:15, 12:15, and 5:45. We had to hike to and from the dining hall. This helped with the exercise portion of my resolution, not to mention, with the eating of a fruit and vegetable. Having someone plan and cook my meals was HUGE.

Contemplating a chef for my 2019 resolutions.

The cabin had ten rooms, both upstairs and downstairs and slept, twenty people. My roommate was a woman I'd only spoken to once, and that was when I told her I really liked her hair. I was worried she'd be a bit concerned after my admiration, but she couldn't have been sweeter, never complaining about my snoring. I don't think the woman moved in her bed at all while she slept. But then again, we were tired when we hit those twin beds.

The upstairs group turned out to be fun. We opted to spend most of our writing time upstairs, occasionally venturing downstairs for ice, the exit to the outside, or for flamingo punch and popcorn. We had so many snacks both up and down that there was no way we were going to starve. I had brought almonds and grapes for a healthy choice. I ended up returning home with those items.

My seat was the couch on the left, where I left my laptop plugged into the outlet the entire weekend. I'd go from the couch to the floor to a chair. I don't think I've sat this much in my life, and all my jobs were butt-planted-in-a-chair jobs. We wrote after breakfast, after lunch, and after dinner, and way into the wee hours of the next mornings. Saturday, we had our regular meeting and were joined by those who didn't spend the night. We had a meeting room in another cabin and two speakers. While that took up a good portion of our day, I learned tons.

I got to know most everyone in the cabin. We talked about our families some, but mostly we talked about our craft. It was exhilarating to communicate with like-minded people. No making fun of the genre, no judging, just women chatting about our crazy fantasy-in-the-head lives. After a conversation regarding my plot, I had a breakthrough and have been writing daily like a fiend. If not for anything else, that retreat gave me that.

Now, if I can just see my way to the finish...

Patrick 2018

I lost two friends recently, one was expected, the other not. They weren't friends I saw daily or communicated with much but friends nonetheless. It seems like I'm always writing about those I've lost. It sucks. But I have the memories...

My friend Patrick - We met as volunteers at our kids' school. His son was in Darcy's class, and discovering we had a love for football, brought us together. He was a single father, very involved, and he joined our Friday pizza nights.

• Patrick was a huge Jets fan and always shouted J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets just to drive me crazy.
• I used to have Steelers magnets attached to my van, and Patrick would pull them off and throw them on to my roof, so when I'd come back to my van, I'd think my magnets had been stolen. It was not a funny prank, guaranteed to always get me fired up, but eventually, I learned to look first on my roof. 
• I once watched the Steelers play the Jets at Patrick's house. I told him it wasn't a good idea, but he insisted, made a bunch of food, and then we spent the entire game on opposite sides, shouting. We agreed never to do that again, and only smack talked when we played one another, the winner calling the loser to gloat. Which meant it was me calling him. Right, Pat?

In the early days, he invited us to carve pumpkins for Halloween. It started out great, but eventually, the kids got bored, and Patrick and I had to finish the carvings. He introduced me to unusual designs and encouraged me not to resort back to the usual pumpkin grin. 

• I helped him move, and he let me organize his kitchen. When I'd ask where he wanted things he'd tell me he didn't care. For weeks, he would call me to ask where things were in his kitchen.
• He loved to play games, and we spent many nights poolside at his house playing cards and board games with the kids.
• He was loud! Sometimes when he'd get excited, I had to put my fingers in my ears because his voice would give me a brain freeze. 
• I went to his second wedding on the beach and then helped him pick up the pieces when it ended a few months later. We'd told him not to marry, but he didn't listen. We liked to remind him of that after the hurt subsided.

• Every month Tom announced who used the most minutes on our cell phones. One month I surpassed everyone three times over in one phone call--a conversation with Patrick while on my way to Orlando in the back seat of someone's car. He loved to chat.
• He used to pass me on the road, and then call me to berate me for not seeing him. 
• Patrick was the happiest guy I knew. He was friendly to everyone and was always the first to volunteer when it came to helping someone. He was a pleaser, and He'd go out of his way to coax a smile from people. 
• Our kids grew, and our Friday night's ended. I had recently run into Patrick in the grocery store. There we caught up, and I met his new wife, standing in the aisle while people walked around us. He and I could've gone on for hours. I'm so glad I had that moment. 
• He was 45 years old. 

Football season won't ever be the same without his texts or his voice berating my Steelers for messing up his Jets. All my love to his son, his parents, and his family.

NFL Monday morning recap week 6

Steelers: At my retreat, my phone kept me abreast. I enjoyed coming home to watch a win on my DVR.

• But boy, did they do the inevitable, letting the Bengals tie the game with a 48-second, five-play for a 55-yard drive before halftime.
• Yikes! I know that Big Ben finished the game with 369 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions, but he had significant issues in the first half. He was so lucky he didn't have at least three picks with some of his throws. Apparently, the rainy mist in Cincinnati made catching a problem, but I don't think that was something Ben could claim. He's got to rethink those oopsie passes that he tends to throw when cornered. With the time the line gave him in the first half, he really had no excuses that I could see (from my spot on the couch).
• The first half was tame by Cincinnati/Pittsburgh game standards with some jawing between players and a little pushing and shoving. Of course, Vontaze Burfict was right in the thick of any small skirmish the camera homed in on. One week back from his suspension of four games and the man is yucking it up and poking the bear. Not surprised, of course. The man is heavily mentioned in my feed through the years, and it isn't for being a Boy Scout. 
• David DeCastro had a monstrous block on Vontaze Burfict that enabled James Conner to run it in for Pittsburgh's first score. That's the kind of play I love to see guys get because it shows fortitude and an eye for the game. Just good football.
• Ryan Shazier returned to the scene of his injury almost a year to the date. He also visited the hospital where he was taken and treated after that injury. Always a tear-jerker to see him walking, but this had to be pretty emotional for him.
• What's with pizza companies and the ripping up of things? My nephew was in a Papa Johns commercial where he ripped his shirt in excitement, and now Pizza Hut has an ad where a couple of Steelers fans watch their daughter tear up the pizza box after a great play. I mean, what? I only want to rip things when my team sucks, and it certainly doesn't relate to pizza.
• I need CBS's cameraman to stop focusing each week on the Steelers Special Teams coach Danny Smith who favors several sticks of pink bubblegum at one time. He is one of those gum chewers who does so open-mouthed, and that pink wad is truly disgusting hanging out over his lips. I mean, it's slightly better than watching a tobacco user spit, but no matter, I'm sure his mother taught him better than that. Especially on national television.
• And speaking of CBS, not a fan of Dan Fouts and Ian Eagle, who called the game. Both their voices were too monotone, only rising in tone when they thought some arguing might be happening on the field. It was as if they were hoping for some major drama and were disappointed that there wasn't any. I did enjoy Evan Washburn on the sidelines. "And guys, a quick weather update, still misting but best describe it as 9change in voice inflection) irritating."
• Cincinnati's A.J. Green is as fun to watch as Antonio Brown. He's got an athletism with that long, lean body that allows him to make some spectacular catches.
• I really love Vance McDonald, the Steelers tight end who tacklers seem to underestimate. He can stretch that big body to catch passes, but his barreling through tacklers, spinning and shoving, and stiff-arming is like poetry in motion.
• JuJu Smith-Schuster's incredible catch reaching around Cincinnati's Dennard's neck, using the helmet to hold on to the ball? WOW. That should make ESPN's top ten plays. Freakin' awesome. Not so much for Dennard, I'm sure. His neck might be a bit sore today.
• Odd no-call on what I called a James Connor touchdown in the third quarter. He hit the turf and rolled into the end zone. Uh, no one touched him when he went down, so turning into the endzone for a T.D. was frankly a touchdown. Unfortunately, I don't have a direct line to Mike Tomlin to let him know to throw the challenge flag. He might want to look into that.
• Thought that crossed my mind: Steelers James Connor has definitely taken advantage of Bell's absence. If you want your shot, you've got to step up, and Connor has done that.
• Boy, the media loves the A.B. wifi soundbite, and naturally, it was discussed yesterday, especially since Ben wasn't hitting Brown, but then with fifteen seconds left, Ben hit A.B. for the win. Thank goodness the media will have something to talk about tomorrow.
• After the game, there was some trash talk and shoving between the two teams who had surprisingly been mild all things considered since it was these two. Notice how Mike Tomlin spied it and took off running to pull his guys out of the friction and tell the Bengals players to back off. Missing? Bengals coach Marvin Lewis who truly has no control over these guys. I'm thankful the game was just good football without the other nonsense.

Other:

• Ah, London. I forgot about those games. This was the week and nothing like picking the two farthest teams from England to fly across the pond. 
• Atlanta and Tampa, the worst defenses in the league, and guess what? They didn't show up yesterday, letting both offenses to slug it out until one came out the winner. Just like I predicted, it wasn't Tampa despite their tricky trick hot potato play at the end. You won't convince me that it was practiced. That thing was pure desperation, and it almost worked. And had it worked, it would have been all we would've seen for the rest of the season, don't you know.
• I got a big kick out of Scott Hanson on the NFL Redzone channel who stated as he pulled away from the split-screen of two teams to focus on the Vikings/Cardinals game. "Vikings rush game has been almost non-existent this year..." The next play, the Vikings Murray took the ball and rushed twenty-one yards right into the end zone. Whoop. Back to Scott, who then remarked, "And the Cardinals have one of the worst rushing defenses in the NFL." Uh, huh, Scott. Way to work a save.
• The split-screen for the Redzone is always a challenge, but never more so than when I had to watch Alex Smith, now quarterback for the Redskins on one screen, and Kirk Cousins now quarterback for the Vikings on the other. What? Then it went to show Cousins throwing an interception, faded away, and then we saw Smith throwing an interception. Craziness. Good thing it was week 6, or I might have thought I was losing my mind.
• Andrew Luck throws the ball almost 50 times a game? Who is their play-caller? A youngster that doesn't remember the good old days of rushing? Yikes. Have we forgotten he had an arm injury in the past?
• And speaking of Luck, why the continuation of the beard thing? That's so over, Andrew. Move on.
• No flag on the hit on the Raiders Amari Cooper by the Seahawks Brad McDougald. Cooper was carted off the field and into the locker room. What? The refs were watching Derek Carr instead? Making sure there wasn't a late hit on the quarterback that they missed a massive helmet to helmet hit? Oh, NFL, I'm just shaking my head.
• And seriously? Poor Derek Carr is getting his ass kicked each week by his own worthless O line. John Gruden's foray back into football isn't going as well as it did in his own mind.
• The Bear's uniforms are too close to the Broncos. The Bucs uniforms are too close to the Falcons. How the hell do the quarterbacks keep track?