Monday morning 2020 NFL recap week 3

Steelers: Okay, I'm in on the Sunday NFL ticket. What a joy to know I'll be able to watch my Steelers every week on the big screen on my own couch. Now, I can have my buddy at my house! #Treatedmyself

• The newsreel for this game? The three Watt brothers playing together. Their parents in the stands wearing their homemade 1/2 and 1/2 t' shirts supporting their sons. Texan J.J. against his younger brothers, Steelers T.J. and Derek. Apparently, it was only the second time in ninety-three years where three brothers played in an NFL game.

• Sluggish start until we were down 14-3, and the defense apparently got warmed up. 

• I get we are known for running the ball. I do, but we don't have the weapons like we used to collect in running backs. We've got to make plays through the air to alternate with our run game.

• It's hard to go into the locker room with a last-minute score from the opposition. Or is it? The defense indeed came out hotter in the second half, holding the Texans to just 51 yards and only two first downs. 

• In this game, five sacks kept the streak alive--60 games with straight sacks--second only to the Bucs with 69 straight sack games.

• After writing about the run, the Steelers made me eat those words. James Connor ran like he'd read the tweets and my musings and heard the analysts. He kept the Steelers alive in the fourth quarter, running like a mack truck for one touchdown and again to keep the ball in our hands to close out the game. Connor ended with 109 yards for the day.

Other: Last week, the 49ers complained about the turf at Metlife Stadium, home to the two New York teams, the Giants and the Jets. Hard to argue with their gripes since one by one, they lost players left and right. How horrific was it they had to play there again this week? The league announced the field passed all the tests to be official, but in the first quarter, tight end Jordan Reed, attempting a toe slide in the end zone, went down, grabbing his ankle. Cue the weeklong conversation.

• After two weeks of nothing, tight end retired-for-one-season-before-coming-back Gronkowski got into some rhythm. Of course, he did. After I traded him from my fantasy team.

• The Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons blew leads and their wins this week. I'm still scratching my head on these two, but this is two weeks in a row for the Falcons. Yikes!

• What an odd pass interference call on Rams Darius Williams against Bills Gabriel Davis. Definitely, there was contact, but it was before the pass, but Williams threw his hands up long before the ball reached Davis, so most of us went what? 

• And then with fifteen seconds, the Rams didn't throw a hail mary but instead played hot potato with the ball as if that has ever racked up a score. I don't get that. Goff can throw.

• How boring is a tie? I'm not a fan of this rule. The Bengals and the Eagles went to overtime, and neither managed to score, so that's it? Let's play until someone pulls out the win, how about?

• The Bucs offense still has some tweaks to iron out, but they spread the ball around and didn't change my mind about what I said last week.

• Seahawks D.K. Metcalf had the big oaf moment this week when wide open, he caught a beautiful deep pass from quarterback Russell Wilson. With less than ten yards to run, Metcalf hotdogged it, slowing down to a jog, carelessly holding the ball to his side and allowing Cowboys Trevon Diggs to slap the ball out of Metcalf's hands, nulling the touchdown. Cowboys ball. If I'm Pete Carroll, I will play that reel every chance I get this week.

• More injuries again this week, but I've lost a fantasy running back for the second straight week. Last week I lost Saquon Barkley, and this week I lost Tarik Cohen, both to torn ACLs. Sigh.

• Congrats to Joe Buck, who won the Pete Rozell Award and will be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame alongside his father, Jack Buck. The younger Buck was surprised with the announcement on Thursday Night Football, and he was humbled. I love Joe Buck, and if I had to pick an analyst to listen to forever, it'd be Joe Buck. Well deserved.

Mary Anne's 90th

Last year at this time of the year, my MIL was wondering what we'd do for her 90th in 2020. She went back and forth between ideas, and we all had fun giving her our thoughts. 

Of course, who knew 2020 would look like this?

The eldest daughter, Beth, led the charge to celebrate despite COVID. She organized a video production from friends and family, a birthday card drive, and a local driveby. Nancy and Richard took care of the flowers and gifts. Julie planned the evening with the family locally, and Tom thought we should flock Grammy. When we discovered those companies only flocked at homes, we came up with the idea of doing it ourselves with balloons. 

Madison hopped on the research wagon. Her findings were mylar balloons would last over regular balloons, purchasing helium balloons got us more balloons than buying a helium tank and doing it ourselves, and our van could hold 30+ balloons safely. Tom came up with putting them in the ground, and we did a test run overnight with two balloons at different heights. The night before the big 90th birthday, we began operation balloon sneak.

I'm not a balloon person. It's not like a fear of clowns--I like balloons' happiness--but I don't like the sudden pop of bursting latex. Using mylar balloons made me happier, but driving to Grammy's with a car full of bobbing and weaving balloons made me nervous. Madison came to the rescue. She stuffed six balloons in trashbags, so we only had about ten balloons free to roam space in my van.

Madison and I dressed in black. We know stealth. The Boos brothers, not so much. Richard, who flew first class in an N95 mask from CA to social distance outside with family, wore white and Tom gray. I do not believe they read the Hardy boy books as children.

We had sixty balloons, and we hung them from trees, tied them to bushes and objects, and used Tom's craft sticks to poke them in the ground. A security light on Grammy's garage and a city light on a pole gave us enough light to see around most of her area. Madison and I took the not so lit areas since we were appropriately adorned. I made sure to hang the smiling balloon right in front of Grammy's kitchen window so he'd welcome her when she came to make her coffee on her big day--which he did!

It didn't take long to distribute the festive birthday message, and we were not discovered by her neighbors, nor were the police called. We used the leftover sticks to spell out 90 since we'd forgotten all about making the sign explaining the balloons. Oops.

Mary Anne discovered the balloons when she noticed something fluttering outside her bedroom window. She went outside to her back patio where several balloons greeted her, and she just knew there would be more.

Mary Anne: "I said, oh, those kids, what have they done? And then I had to get dressed because I didn't want the neighbors to catch me taking out my trash can in my nightclothes if my driveway was decorated."

And it was! The neighbors loved it. Operation balloon sneak was a success, and so was the video, the cards, the phone calls, the drive-bys, and the flowers. There was Thai food, wine, cake, and champagne. We ate outside and then wore our masks to come indoors for the video and family Zoom call. There were many tears and much laughter during the 45-minute video of well wishes, memories, and photos. Oh, and Grammy was a great sport about letting us drape her in Princess Birthday decorations! She played the part well.

Happy 90th Birthday, Mary Anne! We love you, and we're looking forward to the next 10 years, and to gathering everyone together for next year's celebration!

NFL picks 2020 week #3

 Last Week 13-3

Overall 21-12

Jacksonville over Miami

Atlanta over Chicago

Rams over Buffalo

Cleveland over Washington

Tennesse over Minnesota

New England over Vegas

Giants over San Francisco

Philadelphia over Cinncinnati

Pittsburgh over Houston

Indianapolis over Jets

Carolina over Chargers

Tampa over Denver

Arizona over Detroit

Seattle over Dallas

Green Bay over New Orleans

Baltimore over Kansas City

Out of the mouths of my babe

After feeding our faces with takeout boneless wings, we were all relaxing while our food digested. Maddy was loped on the couch playing on her phone. I was farming on an app on the other couch, and Tom was at the dining room table reading Reader’s Digest. It was very quiet when suddenly:

Tom: “Damn, don’t ever get bit by a rattlesnake, man!”

Maddy: “Well, there goes my plans for tomorrow!”

Quarantine day #194

 

This is my buddy during the day while the other two work. We've had to awake earlier than usual to make sure those two get up and out the door on time, but once they are gone, we can--shh--nap if we need it. He seems to need it more than me. 

We've gotten into a somewhat routine, and he doesn't even cry much when I'm in the pool. It's too hot. He prefers the air conditioning. 

Nothing has changed. We're still home. I'm wearing my mask when I'm out and about. I'm still playing the app I started when this quarantine began. Still social distancing. New things I've adopted--knitting in the evening and contemplating new projects. Maybe next week, I'll move to plan those projects. Thus far, I've knitted two scarfs that no one in Florida wants, and really, they aren't bad for a beginner. Shout out if you need a scarf!

The holidays are approaching. Is that crazy? I feel like I just celebrated Christmas. I say that often as the years go by, but this time I mean it so much more. I can remember every detail of our celebration, and it's been nine months. That means it was like yesterday, right? I've told everyone to update their lists because shopping early might actually happen for me this year. Even though I'd prefer to boycott it all. For sure, I'm out for Halloween. Bah Humbug on young strangers bringing god knows what to my front door. Although, think of the steps I'd get in walking from the front door to the sink to wash my hands after candy delivery. Hmm...nah.

Every day I'm thinking of three happy things. Somedays finding that is harder than others. 

Hope. I keep reminding myself I need that. We need that. I hope we can keep finding it.

Keep on keeping, peeps!

Monday morning 2020 NFL recap week 2

Steelers - My MIL turns 90 on Tuesday, and to protect her on that big day, I skipped watching the game at my buddy's house, which meant I had to rely on my Redzone channel, Steelers radio, and free streaming when I could get it. Starting out well, had a lull, came back when needed. With less than two minutes to go, the ball in Denver's possession, my Apple Watch alerted me to breathe. Yeah, I did--after we won.

• The defense was on fire in the first half. Ten of the Steelers points came from turnovers made by their defense--five sacks, a fumble, and an interception. By the fourth quarter, they were wiped, but they rallied when it mattered. Kudos to Terrell Edmunds for ending Denver's comeback with the sack!

• In the first quarter, Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree hit Broncos quarterback Drew Lock as he was recovering from a stumble. Unsteady and off-balance, Lock injured his shoulder while fumbling the ball and was ruled out for the rest of the game.

• The longest play of the season (at that moment) went to the Steelers with an 84-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Chase Claypool. It was a vintage Big Ben throw.

• There is still work to do--ten penalties are unacceptable.

• It was great to see James Conner back, but even better to see him succeed. He finished with 106 yards, but his most impressive run was in the last possession when the Steelers needed a first down to run out the clock. Conner ran 59 yards on that carry to get that and more.

Other:

• You gotta love the broadcasts without fans in the stands. Not even the fake cheers can stop viewers from hearing the foul language on the field. The networks can't silence it quickly enough for the censors, but so far, I haven't heard much scuttlebutt or complaints. The favorite word of NFL players--rhymes with duck and begins with an F--no way to miss that in the Packers game against the Lions!

• But seriously, whoever is in charge of this fake audience really needs to make sure the appropriate cheers and boos are used for the right teams. Trust me, real Packers fan would not be cheering for an Aaron Rogers incomplete pass.

• Injuries galore in the first half of the one o'clock games - The 49ers lost two DE's Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas, and their quarterback Jimmy Garrapolo. The Giants RB Saquon Barkley was injured on two different plays, one on an extended arm, and the one that knocked him out, on his knee. Early rumor is he could be lost for the season with a torn ACL. Denver lost their quarterback Drew Lock, and the Bears lost running back David Montgomery. Other notable injuries were the Jets WR Breshad Perriman, Rams RB Cam Akers, Rams LB Anthony Barr, and Falcons DE Takk McKinley.

• The Jets defense on 3rd and 31 could not stop the 49ers, Jerick McKinnon. He grabbed the toss, shimmied through a hole, avoided a tackle, and ran 55 yards for the first down. That's going to be tough to watch come film day.

• Aaron Jones of the Packers ran a zillion yards for a touchdown, and despite zero fans in attendance, made the Lambeau Leap into the stands anyway.

• The Cowboys might have been the laughing stock this morning if they hadn't come back to win against the Atlanta Falcons. After fumbling the ball three times and opting to go for it on fourth down twice, and failing, the Cowboys attempted and recovered an onside kick to gain possession. From there, they got close enough for kicker Greg Zuerlein to make the 46-yard field goal.

• The other wild late minute win went to the Chicago Bears, who were ahead 17-14 but allowed the Giants to get into the red zone with an opportunity. Fortunately for them, Golden Tate was flagged for offensive pass interference, and the Bears are 2-0.

• But, really, why were the Falcon players just standing there during that onside kick? Word is they didn't think the spinning ball would go the required ten yards, but they just looked stupid in replays.

• In Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, a power outage cut CBS's broadcast of the Dolphins/Bills games. Of course, it being Florida, fun was made of it, but I think everyone needs to remember the tropical storms churning in the Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean, and that this is hurricane season. Sometimes Florida has real problems, so lets cut us a little slack, huh? 

• Yep, and not long after I typed the above, the Miami game was suspended for wicked lightning in the third quarter. Uh-huh, storm season, people.

• While we are on the subject of Florida and its ridiculousness, our governor sides with those who believe COVID is not severe, so Miami and Jacksonville are allowing spectators inside their stadiums for social distancing. But I'm crediting Tampa's Mayor Jane Castor for her steady abdicating of masks and no large gatherings for why the Tampa Buccaneers' Raymond James Stadium remained empty.

• The Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor somehow received some type of a chest injury during pregame warm-ups and was ruled out before kickoff in the game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead rookie Justin Herbert started in Taylor's place, and the young quarterback had no trouble in the first half against the Super Bowl champs, scoring the first touchdown on a run, and making crazy good plays. Unfortunately, that didn't stick.

• I usually pick a team to keep an eye on each season (and who we will see in the Bowl) because I think they have something. My team this year is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With a slew of young weapons, their acquisition of Leonard Fournette, and Tom Brady at the helm, I think the NFC needs to watch their backs.

NFL picks 2020 week 2

 Last Week 8-8

Overall 8-8

Okay, so last week I drew even. Still learning.

Cleveland over Cincinnati

Giants over Chicago

Dallas over Atlanta

Green Bay over Detroit

Tennesse over Jacksonville

Minnesota over Indianapolis

Buffalo over Miami

San Francisco over Jets

Rams over Philadelphia

Pittsburgh over Denver

Tampa Bay over Carolina

Arizona over Washington

Kansas City over Chargers

Baltimore over Houston

Seattle over New England

New Orleans over Raiders

Steelers recap game 1

7 is the next step

,Big Ben (number 7) back in the huddle! Opening the season on Monday Night Football! A win! This video above with signs galore!

Steelers football is back!

• When Ben Roethlisberger walked on to the field At MetLife Stadium, Steelers Nation released the air we'd been holding since last season. Returning from last season's injury, not because he had something to prove, but for the guys, Roethlisberger, stepped behind center Maurkice Pouncey and reminded everyone just what it means to have a franchised quarterback. Like a well-oiled machine—albeit with a bit of rust—the team fell into a rhythm and got down to business.
• The entire group stood for the anthem behind a banner that read, Steelers against racism. Unlike the Giants, who left it up to the individual players, the Steelers decided as a TEAM how to handle this, and it filled my heart with love and happiness. AS A TEAM--first step!
• The Steelers opted to run the ball in their first possession, handing it off to James Conner, who made little headway against the Giants defense. While it ramped up the anticipation of seeing Ben throw his first pass, it did little to start us off with a bang. 
• Then, Connor was suddenly gone with an ankle injury, watching the rest of the game on the sidelines. So much for his healthy return. Shades of Le' Veon Bell was what went through my mind.
• Luckily, running back #2, Benny Snell, Jr., stepped up to the plate, rushing for 113 yards on 19 carries. Snell reminds me of the Bus, busting through defenders seeking that hole, but he can't be the only one.
• Not only was it the return of Ben, but we saw the return of JuJu Smith-Schuster! Healthy himself, and back with "my quarterback", the twenty-three-year-old Smith-Schuster not only scored twice, but he hopped on a loose fumble for recovery and nabbed the Giants on-side kick. 
• Injuries abound because, yeah, it's a violent sport, and it's the Steelers. Besides Conner, the Steelers lost right tackle Zach Banner, who was carted off the field.
• The offensive line had some early issues but tweaked it well enough that Ben had good protection in the pocket to throw. That's going to be the must again this year, as is the defense.
• Speaking of the defense, as the O-line, it took a while to get into the swing of things, but with a Vince Williams sack, a TJ Watt's interception, and then Cam Heyward's interception in the endzone, the Steelers defense proved once again how formidable they are, especially by holding Giants running back Saquon Barkley to only six yards.
• Tight End--former Colts--Eric Ebron and second-round draft pick Chase Claypool made a splash, the latter making an AB toe touching 28-yarder grab on the sideline. Always good to have other weapons on the field to spread the love.

I'm excited, but not getting ahead of myself. Yes, the scuttlebutt talks of Super Bowl contention is floating in the air around us, but this was only week one. I want this team to take it day to day, one game at a time, but I'm seeing signs everywhere I look that this is sure going to be fun! 

Monday Morning 2020 NFL recap week 1

Not even COVID could keep the NFL from debuting its 101st season. From players bubbled in hotel rooms to mandatory masks on the field, Sunday's NFL season kicked off with cardboard fans in the stands and piped-in audience cheers for television. There was the usual--to kneel or not to kneel--and the unusual--Tom Brady in a Buccaneers jersey, what?--but for the most part, it was football. Let's take a look...

• Most poignant statement went to the Colt's new head coach Frank Reich who kneeled during the anthem while surrounded on either side by his team. Most poignant verbal statement came from Fox's Howie Long: "I'm embarrassed to say that the very first time Colin (Kaepernick) took a knee, I wondered why during the national anthem because for someone who looks like me, this is the greatest country on earth. But for the last four hundred years, that hasn't been the reality for black Americans. It's time for a change, if you can't see that, you're either uninformed or you're a lost soul."

• The first touchdown of Sunday went to the Colts with a run into the endzone by Nyheim Hines. The Colts have ex-Charger senior citizen Phillip Rivers behind the helm, but, like Brady, he didn't bring home the win.

• The first interception thrown was Cleveland's Baker Mayfield on his first possession against the Baltimore Ravens. At 3rd and 10, he threw it right into the hands of Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, and Browns fans everywhere uttered a #you' vegottobekiddingme. 

• The first field goal kicked and scored was Atlanta's kicker Younghoe Koo who kicked it 39 yards between the uprights.

• The first sacks of the day went to Miami's Jerome Baker, who nailed the Patriots new quarterback Cam Newton to force a Patriots punt, and Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, who spent considerable time in the first quarter eating the turf. 

• Sunday's first fumble went to Buffalo's quarterback Josh Allen who tripped while sprinting toward the endzone, coughing up the ball to the Jets.

• The only stadiums that allowed fans were the Chiefs on Thursday night and the Jaguars on Sunday. Both had less than 17,000 fans filling seats. 

• The first missed extra point kick went to Cleveland's Austin Seibert, who also missed a field goal, starting scuttlebutt that he might just be looking for work.

• The first oops call by a coach that's sure to be debated all week went to new the Cowboys new coach Mike McCarthy, who went for it on fourth down instead of attempting a field goal to tie the game against the Rams.

• The first game ejection was Lions linebacker Jamie Collins, who headbutted the referee while demonstrating what he felt was lowering the head by Bears running back David Montgomery. Touching a referee is a big no-no, so up went the yellow flag into the air, and out went Collins through the tunnel.

• The first talked about piss-poor ref call came in the Sunday night game against the Cowboys and the Rams when Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup was called for pass interference for straightening his arm against Rams Jalen Ramsey.

• The first bold move by a coach went to Bucs Bruce Arians, who criticized his new quarterback Tom Brady in his postgame Zoom conference. On the throw to Mike Evans: "He thought Mike was going down the middle – it was a different coverage – Mike read it right. He should have been across his face, but Tom overthrew it." On the pick-six to Saints Janoris Jenkins: "The other one was a screen pass with an outlet called. He threw the outlet, and it was a pick-six. Bad decision." 

• The first injured player, ruled out for the day and possibly the season, was the Colts running back Marlon Mack, who likely suffered a torn Achilles. 

• The biggest letdown went to Bucs fans who believed Tom Brady and Ron Gronkowski's arrivals in Tampa were the second coming. Brady made more mistakes than a rookie, and Gronk got the ball only three times. But week one this year is about ironing out the mistakes, so I'm not writing these two off just yet.

• The first broken bone went to Cowboys Vandor Esch, who fractured his collarbone in the loss to the Rams on Sunday night and will miss six weeks or more.

• The biggest comeback goes to the Washington no-frills named Football Team, who came back from being down 17-0 to beat the Eagles 27-17 while racking up eight sacks.

• Cara's favorite quote from Scott Hanson of the NFL Redzone was during a pile-up on the one-yard line after players thought there might have been a fumble. "No social distancing there!"

Tonight comes the big test for Steelers Nation when Big Ben Roethlisberger debuts his rehabbed shoulder and throwing arm against the New York Giants on MNF. With the AFC North touted as the best of the bunch, the Steelers need to burst out of the tunnel full of fire to hold their own in the division. We usually play well on MNF, so I'm not too worried...uh, right?

NFL 2020 season picks

I wasn't sure the NFL would start, but by Wednesday, I was hanging my flags out in front of my house, pulling out the new Steelers decorations I've acquired since last season, and building my fantasy team. Has it been that long since February? Yikes!

Hopefully, the bubble stays intact. Fingers crossed, everyone holds their breath during a tackle. Here's to little contact--that one was a joke.

Many players jumped ship and changed teams. Last year's injured players are back on the roster. No preseason meant we missed seeing how things might or might now go, but I always say the first week's picks are a crap-shoot. Anyway, here we go:

Chiefs over Texans

Seahawks over Falcons

Bills over Jets

Bears over Lions

Vikings over Packers

Patriots over Dolphins

Eagles over Washington

Panthers over Raiders

Colts over Jaguars

Ravens over Browns

Bengals over Chargers

Bucs over Saints

49ers over Cardinals

Cowboys over Rams

Steelers over Giants

Nanu Nancy

In the city recreation department where I worked years ago, we were a misfit group of aquatic professionals at different junctions in our lives, who meshed. We were a special group. Murphy recognized it first. He was our number one patron, and while he came to swim--riding his bike from home--for exercise, he came to check up on us more often than not. He lent an ear, kept us entertained, and was a father figure, even to those of us who had one already. A mediator in the court system, he used those skills to help us work through our issues, and when the topic strayed too far out of his comfort zone, he'd tell us: 

Murph: "Talk to Nancy."

While I doubt she had a choice, Murph's wife went with the flow when it came to his strays. He collected strangers like she did shells, and she opened her door wide to us. Nancy was one of my water-walkers, and like her husband, she listened to my woes and my stories, and if I asked, she gave her opinion. We've been friends for over thirty years.

Three years ago, Tom and I celebrated Nancy's 90th birthday with a room full of her friends and family, and afterward, I blogged the event, but never posted it. It sat in my draft pile until too many months had passed because I wasn't satisfied--the post didn't convey enough how deeply her friendship--and Murph's--means/meant to me.

We mingled that day in the beginning, with everyone I met wanting to know about my relationship. How did I know Nancy? The question stumped me. Here were her family, her co-workers, her childhood friends, her neighbors, and me. Those from out of town didn't get the reference to the pool. Those who knew it didn't understand the connection. I finally just started telling people I knew Nancy through her husband. 

Ah. They'd nod with a knowing look in their eye.

But that was the thing. My friendship with Nancy is more than the one I had with her husband. Back in the day, she offered a different perspective, cheered us on silently, and told her own incredible stories. I filed away things she mentioned, information that helped me navigate married life and raising my children. She humbled me, never taking me too seriously, but I knew, if I ever needed something, Nancy was a phone call away.

We sat at the table with her school friends, where I learned a little more about her as a young woman through their stories. The pics in the slide presentation made me smile, laugh aloud, and shed a tear. While I knew her children and her grandchildren were number one in her life, it was interesting to hear how vital Nancy was to all of them. She let Murph shine, but we all knew who backlit him. 

Murph: "Nancy's the boss. Whatever Nanu says, I listen and do. She knows best."

I thought about all of that through the celebration. How blessed I'd been with the friends I collected through that pool job. How we don't see one another daily, but how we know they are there. How lucky I'd been to have Nancy as part of my story. 

I don't think I've seen Nancy since that celebration, but she reads my blog. We've talked on the phone. Recently, Nancy called me to come over to show her some water aerobic moves so she could stay active in her backyard pool. I'm afraid I talked non-stop the entire time, catching her up on my personal life and those lives of everyone I knew. Some things never change! Sorry about that, Nancy.

But thank you for sharing your life, your husband, your home, and thank you for the years of friendship. Here's to many more, and I promise not to talk to your ear off the next time we're together.