The Crystal Ball 2014 Week 10

Ben Roethlisberger, he of a winning post season record and a winning Super Bowl record, threw six touchdowns for a second week in a row, setting another new NFL record which was promptly ignored. Peyton Manning, who has a losing playoff record and a losing Super Bowl record, with the temperature below 40 degrees, blew yet another big game when it mattered most and looked terrible doing it which prompted every sports news outlet to dedicate 48 hours of programming to break down how the loss was everyone else’s fault and remind of Manning’s continued brilliance.

Remember kids, Peyton is the greatest quarterback of all time. Never let what you see tell you otherwise.

Opening Kickoff

Without Mean Joe there “would be no Super Steelers, Steelers Way or Steelers Nation.” – Former teammate and Hall of Famer Franco Harris

Yup.

The Way It Was

Good gravy was the Bronco defense awful. I haven't seen a defense play that bad since, well, the Colts at Steelers in week 8.

Who would have thought Emmanuel Sanders comes up short in a big moment? Oh right, I did.

Good gravy was that a sweet one handed catch by Rob Gronkowski. When that guy is healthy, he is fun to watch. Just a force of nature.

The Arizona Cardinals are not only the leaders of their division; they are also sitting atop the NFL and are the toast of the league. So Carson Palmer is now a viable big league quarterback again, and Joey Porter is back with the Steelers. I sense a Steelers/Cardinals Super Bowl coming so Palmer can get injured and Joey can say something like this again:

You know I was just about to have a little sympathy for you but if you’re going to take it there, I don't care if he's hurt or not ....so!....and!....let's go! Palmer is done, and I hope you don't think that Kitna is going to win this game for you.

I was the bad guy once again. I laughed at their sorrows.

I had good feeling about the Dolphins over the Chargers, but good gravy that was a dismantling of San Diego. It would seem Miami is getting really good under the radar.

How much do you think Jets fans loved Mark Sanchez lead the Eagles to victory, especially after watching another atrocious performance by a Jet quarterback, this time former Eagle Michael Vick. Oh sweet irony.

Jim Harbaugh sucks. Well so does John but that’s not my point. I believe going for the win is great, but it only works if you have a better quarterback than Colin Kaepernick. I bet San Francisco’s next coach starts looking to upgrade that position on day one.

No one had any faith in Brandon Weeden, so tell me why the Cowboys coaching staff did? When you have a backup quarterback playing, and a weapon like DeMarco Murray, why is the offense running through the quarterback and your running back reduced to a complimentary player.

I wonder if EPSN will hire Jay Gruden to sit in a press box with his brother after he gets fired at seasons end.

Is it just me, or are the Steelers and Patriots in an offensive competition? Last week Brady throws 5 touchdowns, so Big Ben follows up with 6. This week New England drops 43 points on Denver, so the Steelers match that on Baltimore. Am I reading too much into this, or am I seeing something very interesting develop?

The Steel Pit

Steelers 43 – Ravens 23

This is what I meant by you do not let down “Mean” Joe Greene.

Yes, I AM getting used to this! Thanks for asking!

It’s like Todd Haley suddenly realized if he wants to keep my job he need to use his best weapon and boom, 12 touchdowns in 2 games.

This new offensive philosophy is so exciting, I can barely contain myself. I knew before the season the offense had great potential based upon the personnel. This is why Steeler Nation was infuriated by the team’s start. But even the most optimistic of us didn’t realize the offense could be this dominating! Think about this, over the last 180 minutes of game time, the offense has scored 140 points. They’re approaching averaging a point a minute!

Now, anytime your team drops 6 touchdowns on an opponent is sweet. But humiliating the self-absorbed, cocky, and borderline criminal Ravens only made it so much sweeter.

It was so satisfying to watch the offense shut up that jackass Terrell Suggs. That thug could not have talked more smack before the game, kept committing personal fouls and at one point laid the dirtiest hit on LaGarrette Blount that should have resulted in an ejection, and probably would have if he’d been playing the Patriots or Broncos. At one point, Suggs and his fellow jackasses committed three penalties on one play. Shutting his ass up, and humiliating his defense in the process, oh was that so satisfying. Hey Suggs how’s that degree from Ball So Hard U working out for you?

And the defense consistently pounding the Unibrow into the ground was equally satisfying. I will forever maintain Flacco is overrated and overpaid and just had 4 good games at the exact right time, despite most people feeling otherwise. Sunday was more evidence in my favor.

But the consistent pressure was excellent. And even the rebuilt secondary, with Gay, Blake and McCann working the corners, has been improving. Sure, overall the defense is still giving up more yards and points that one would like, but they are pressuring and getting to the quarterback and forcing turnovers. I’ll take that trade off.

Heck, I didn’t even get flustered with Jacoby Jones’ touchdown return. I just thought, awesome the offense gets the ball back! And oh did they ever.

But the best, the absolutely best, part of the game was easily the jersey retirement of “Mean” Joe Greene. With some of his former teammates in attendance and Steeler Nation looking on, the team honored arguably its greatest player with one of its most rarefied of honors. Before the game Joe gave a pep talk to the team which sent them out fired up. At the halftime ceremony, Joe choked up a bit in accepting the honor, but was all smiles. And during the 4^th quarter the team eschewed their typical defensive highlights package shown to the tune of “Renegade” in favor a package of Greene highlights. A truly magical evening for a special player. Can every game be like this one?

Only In Faux NFL Reality…

In trying to promote today’s game in London, the Cowboys created a Twitter hash tag that was easily misconstrued as saying Cowboys suck. Well, they said it, who am I to argue otherwise.

Jets fans are pooling their money to put up a billboard urging for the firing of general manager John Idzik. My question for Jets fans, why stop at the general manager?

What? A former Raven was arrested for drugs? Shocked, shocked I am at this news. I was told by their quarterback they don’t have these kinds of guys on their team.

Count Jerry Rice among fans of Antonio Brown. My favorite part of this story is how Brown was grilling Rice about his habits and training. AB always strives to get better, and I do love that about him.

Tom Brady is back at it, posting more awkward pictures of himself on social media. I do like this wacky, latter career version of Tom Terrific.

A Steelers fan was ejected from Sunday night’s game for drunken behavior, then arrested, and THEN tried to bribe the cops to let him go. I loved how he tried using the I’m-an-IRS-agent line, like that would be impressive.

Upon Further Review

Adrian Peterson settled the case of child abuse levied against him, with the court assigning Peterson a fine, community service and counseling. The punishment is on par with what a first time offender would receive, so from a legal standpoint, it would appear favorable treatment is not being applied to a famous athlete. Finally, we see signs of people taking this behavior and these situations seriously.

But I wonder if Peterson actually learned anything, or did he just do what needed to be done to get back to playing football. I’m not trying to be cynical, or doubtful of Peterson’s sincerity, but we’ve seen too often in the past players in trouble only performing the bare minimum to make a problem go away.

Should we be surprised athletes behave this way? Their leaders do the same. This week the appeal hearing commenced for Ray Rice. Rice is appealing his indefinite suspension, claiming double jeopardy since he initially had a 2 game suspension. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was forced to testify in this hearing, after repeated attempts by his legal team and thee NFL to avoid testifying. So Goodell is now complying with the appeals judge, doing the bare minimum to make a problem go away.

We lament and decry bad behavior from professional athletes with a righteous indignation and impotent fury. But we’re merely raging at symptoms, and not the cause. If leadership cannot be relied upon to set a proper example, to stand up for what is right, to consistently do the right thing and think of the greater good rather than covering their own ass to continue making money, why should we expect any different behavior from those under their influence?

A Thousand Words Or Less

 Jason Bridge/USA Today Sports

Enough said.

He Said He Said

“Earlier this century, an NFL commissioner suspended a player two games for knocking his fiancée out cold in an elevator, then changed the length of that suspension a few weeks later without any new facts and without anyone thinking this was illegal.” – Grantland.com’s Bill Simmons

I like the new, snarkier Bill Simmons. He just looks for opportunities to be subversive now.

"I think it was traditional Ravens-Steelers. Sometimes, you just play football, but sometimes things get a little excessive." – Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs

Said by the man with one of the dirtier hits all evening.

"Obviously, there are a lot of flags thrown and it doesn't look good for us. All I can say is that's not us. We don't have those types of guys." – Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco on Baltimore’s flag laced performance Sunday night

No, that is you, and yes, you do have those types of guys. You’re nothing but a bunch of dirty, cheap shot cheaters, and a national television audience saw it, and so did the officials. You can’t lay that claim and have 3 penalties on one play, which includes 2 personal fouls! See previous quote entry to evidence of those types of guys.

''I don't think I played well at all for whatever reason. Usually I know why something was off, but I just felt like I was in it and whatever I was trying to do didn't work.'' – Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson

Just like Shane Falco said, fear of quicksand.

"I stunk." – Broncos quarter back Peyton Manning

Well, self-awareness is the first step in correcting a problem.

“He was just like ‘kick a lot of ass out there’. I mean, Joe Greene said kick some ass, you’re gonna kick some ass out there” – Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons

Yeah.

“I recognize the fans are in pain. But to place it on one person, I don’t think it’s fair. Obviously, we’re very frustrated. Everybody is. We want to win and all that type of stuff. I personally don’t think it’s appropriate.” – Jets head coach Rex Ryan on the fans call to fire the team’s general manager

Rex is right; the blame shouldn’t go to just one person. Rex should be blamed as well.

“Some days I feel like loving you and some days I feel like putting you over my knee and spanking you, but I still love you.” – Steelers legend “Mean” Joe Greene to Steelers Nation

You know what Joe means? He means we need to stop complaining, stop no-showing and get back to some more unconditional support of our team!

Idiot of the Week

This week I grant the award to the Baltimore Ravens organization. There are a multitude of reasons for them to win; their criminal behavior on and off the field, their over rated, overpaid quarterback claiming they don’t have bad type players on their team, their deification of an accused murderer, their continued employment of a man who has been charged MULTIPLE times for domestic violence while they continue to distance themselves from one player whose lawsuits and appeal hearings are now threatening to expose and humiliate the entire organization, their cocky attitude, their cheap and dirty play or their recent ability to fall in two weeks from first to last in the division. But mostly they win because, well, they’re the Baltimore Ravens.

I believe Sidney Crosby’s feelings toward the Philadelphia Flyers pretty much sum up every Steeler fans’ feelings toward Baltimore, myself included:

I don’t like them. I don’t like anybody on their team.

Yup, that says it all. And that’s why this week they’re all idiots.

On Tap This Week

On a hunch, based upon injured personnel and momentum, I picked Cleveland for the Thursday night upset.

Last week: 11-2

Thursday: 1-0

Season to Date: 89-46

Dang, I’m finding the touch again! Look out first place, here I come!

Sitting at home, with pretty much nothing in common whatsoever:

Houston, Indianapolis, Minnesota, New England, San Diego, Washington

Sunday

Miami (5-3) at Detroit (6-2)

I like Miami; they’re sneaking up on everyone. They’re like a ninja right now. But I think I have to finally back Detroit. Watch, they’ll blow this game and next week I’ll scream, see I told you I didn’t trust them!

Lions over Dolphins

Kansas City (5-3) at Buffalo (5-3)

A meaningful game in November for Buffalo! How outstanding is this? All hail Neck Beard!

Bills over Chiefs

Pittsburgh (6-3) at New York Jets (1-8)

Ryan Shazier and Troy Polamalu were both injured during last week’s game and will be unavailable today. If Todd Haley keeps the hammer down with the offense, their combined absence will be a moot point.

Steelers over Jets

Tennessee (2-6) at Baltimore (5-4)

Suggs is so stupid, he’ll probably confuse Mettenberger for Roethlisberger, and lay a dirty hit on the kid. Here’s hoping Mettenberger sweeps the leg.

Ravens over Titans

San Francisco (4-4) at New Orleans (4-4)

A few weeks ago New Orleans was left for dead, and San Francisco was looking to improve their rankings. Oh how times have changed.

Saints over 49ers

Dallas (6-3) at Jacksonville (1-8)

The smartest thing Dallas could do is go to London, start Weeden, pound the Jaguars with DeMarco Murray and let Tony Romo rest. That’ll give Romo two more weeks, Dallas has their bye next week, and three weeks overall to heal up in anticipation for the final playoff push. But we all know they won’t do that.

Cowboys over Jaguars

Atlanta (2-6) at Tampa Bay (1-7)

Woof. People will pay to watch this game?

Falcons over Buccaneers

Denver (6-2) at Oakland (0-8)

Watch. Denver will vent their frustrations from last week all over Oakland. Peyton Manning will have a statistically masterful day. And the sports media world will get amnesia regarding Denver’s game last week and Peyton’s career record in important games, and suddenly he will again be the greatest of all time.

Broncos over Raiders

New York Giants (3-5) at Seattle (5-3)

If Seattle doesn’t win this game, nothing is getting back their mojo this season.

Seahawks over Giants

St. Louis (3-5) at Arizona (7-1)

Arizona won their first matchup. Has anything happened to make me think the rematch will end any differently? Ummm, no.

Cardinals over Rams

Chicago (3-5) at Green Bay (5-3)

My only question is, how many times Jay Cutler will turn the ball over. I’m going with 3 combined fumbles and interceptions, with at least one returned for a Green Bay score.

Packers over Bears

Monday

Carolina (3-5-1) at Philadelphia (6-2)

Nick Foles broke his collar bone and is out indefinitely. Now it’s up to Mark Sanchez to keep the trains running in Philly. Somewhere, jets fans are puking up bile.

Eagles over Panthers