Dec 22nd 2008 7:34AM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Broncos, Buccaneers, Chargers, Colts, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Falcons, Jets, Giants, Panthers, Patriots, Ravens, Steelers, Titans, Vikings, NFL Playoffs
This was the week when seemingly everyone decided they didn’t want to go to the playoffs. For three weeks, the injury-ravaged Broncos could have earned a playoff spot by simply winning one game. But here we are with a week to play and the Broncos still need one win.
In the NFC wild card race, Dallas came into the weekend controlling its own destiny, but they lost. That then put the ball in the Falcons and Bucs’ court. Atlanta did come through with a win to clinch a playoff spot, but the Bucs also punted their chance with a loss to the Chargers. That meant that the Eagles could put themselves in the driver’s seat with a win over the Redskins (the same team that just lost to the Bengals). Of course Philadelphia lost that game, which means that Dallas is right back where they began the weekend–win next weekend and the Cowboys are in the playoffs.Continue Reading
Dec 18th 2008 12:00PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Giants, Panthers, Steelers, Titans
How do we figure out this NFL season? The Giants have been the best team in the NFC all year, but after Sunday’s loss the surging Panthers could catch them. The Titans have been the best team in the AFC all year, but after Sunday’s loss the surging Steelers could catch them.
Yes, we’ve got a wonderful pair of games on Sunday, with the Top 4 teams in our NFL Power Rankings taking each other on and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs on the line. Our rankings of the Big 4 — and the other 28 — are below.Continue Reading
Dec 18th 2008 4:51PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Ravens, Steelers, NFL Real Talk, NFL Rumors
You know how the old story goes by now — defensive back (Frank Walker) tries to take out kicker (Jeff Reed), so punter/holder (Mitch Berger) gets cheesed and goes after defensive back. In the heat of passion, defensive back spits in punter/holder’s face, punter/holder pushes defensive back, the media freaks out about it and we all live happily ever after.
Or not. See, Walker has finally admitted that he spit in Berger’s mouth. Except — get this — he’s trying to play it off as an accident. Or, a “slobber moment”, if you will.
Frank Walker acknowledged that he spat in the face of Pittsburgh Steelers punter Mitch Berger, but the Ravens’ backup cornerback called it an accident.
“It was just a slobber moment,” Walker said.
Berger, naturally, still isn’t buying this “accidental” business. That’s probably because he was so upset that he spent the next 24 hours basically holding a plunger to his face.
The incident had a lingering effect on Berger.
“I think I kept spitting for 24 hours,” he said. “I kept brushing my teeth. To have another man spit in your mouth like that … it was gross.”
And while I suppose you could twist that as homophobic, I’m going to get Berger’s back here and say that I would probably be doing the same thing. Of course, he’s a punter, so really, this is the most dangerous thing that’s happened to him in like 15 years, but still: you never rub another man’s rhubarb. Or something like that.
Dec 19th 2008 9:31AM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Steelers, Titans, AFC North, AFC South
This game wasn’t supposed to matter.
If Tennessee had beaten the Texans last week, this would be a rehash of the preseason. Tennessee would have the No. 1 seed for the playoffs wrapped up, while the Steelers would have locked up the No. 2 seed.
Instead, we now have a game that means something (although there is some debate as to how much), which means that both teams have reason to try to prove who’s the best team in the AFC, while also saving a little something in the back pocket in case they meet again next month.
Tennessee limps into this game without defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, but the Titans also have an outstanding offensive line that has allowed only eight sacks all season–which is 19 less than Steelers outside linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley have racked up this year. If Tennessee can shut down the Steelers’ pass rush, it will give Dick LeBeau plenty to worry about.
This game will mean a lot more if it happens again in January, but as for now, it means more for the Titans. Tennessee needs to prove that they didn’t play their best football in September and October, while the Steelers, who just beat the Patriots, Cowboys and Ravens in the last three weeks, could shrug off a close loss as a minor setback.
Continue Reading
Dec 16th 2008 12:45PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Ravens, Steelers, AFC North, NFL Fans, NFL Rumors
It’s seldom (never?) that you see a kicker get slapped with a 15-yard personal-foul penalty, but that’s exactly what happened on an extra-point attempt after . Pittsburgh’s Jeff Reed was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after pushing Frank Walker which led to the Steelers having to kickoff from their 15-yard line.
It seemed kind of ticky-tack at the time — the Steelers and Ravens were beating the crap out of each other all afternoon, to penalize the kicker for shoving a defensive back is, well, odd — but apparently Reed was defending punter Mitch Berger’s honor. You see, Berger, who also serves as Reed’s holder, allegedly got a loogie right in the grill, courtesy of the aforementioned Walker. “The guy dove, he tried to take out Jeff’s knee,” said Berger, who holds for Reed’s kicks. “I went over there and he got up and he spit in my face — and they called it on Jeff for pushing him!” Ravens coach John Harbaugh’s response: “Poppycock!” Alright, he didn’t actually use that term, but he thinks Berger’s full of crap. “That’s the first I heard that. I don’t believe it for one second,” Harbaugh said yesterday …”Frank Walker wouldn’t do it; none of our players would do it. I don’t believe it for one second.” I don’t know what it is with NFL players and spitting, but, if history’s any guide, Berger’s accusations aren’t completely implausible. That said, spitting is so mid-2000s. If Walker really wanted to make his point, he would’ve started chucking shoes.
Dec 16th 2008 1:43PM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Broncos, Buccaneers, Chargers, Colts, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Falcons, Jets, Giants, Panthers, Patriots, Steelers, Titans, Vikings, NFL Playoffs
The playoff scenarios get a little bit clearer, but what’s remarkable with two weeks to play is how a 10-6 record may mean very little this year. Usually 10-6 is enough to wrap up a playoff spot, and it is this year if you play in a weak division. But if you’re aiming for a wild-card spot, 10-6 might leave you sitting at home.
But while scenarios are clearer this week than last week, it’s still pretty complicated, especially in the wild-card races, where four 9-5 AFC teams and three 9-5 wild-card contenders in the NFC ensure that there are plenty of tiebreakers to check out.
Probably the most surprising thing that jumped out when running through this week’s scenarios is how the Giants could go from a sure-fire No. 1 seed to playing next week to stay out of the first week of the postseason if they lose this week. And Minnesota has gone from a likely January vacation to a shot at a first-round bye.
Continue Reading
Dec 16th 2008 2:00PM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: 49ers, Bengals, Dolphins, Giants, Rams, Ravens, Redskins, Seahawks, Steelers, AFC East, AFC North, NFC East, NFC West, NFL Media Watch, Overpaid NFL Players, NFL RefereesWow, this was a long weekend to those who support the boys in stripes. That group may only consist of myself at this point, but I still do. Those people who like to call the officials “blind” — which, by the way, is incredibly uncreative and lame — or believe they are out to screw a team out of a game, really don’t have any idea what it takes to officiate at that level. Hell, I don’t. I do know what it’s like to be on the field and be a constant scapegoat for people who aren’t accountable for themselves and/or their favorite team.
Continue Reading
Dec 16th 2008 3:30PM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: Ravens, Steelers, AFC North, Pressing Issues, NFL Fans, NFL Real Talk, NFL Referees
As I mentioned in the Zebra Report, the controversial ending to the Steelers/Ravens game from this past weekend has caused NFL officiating and their use of replay to come under fire, not to mention the overall knowledge of NFL referees and if they should be asking for help on rules interpretation when under the replay hood. We NFL ‘Housers figured we’d have a little discussion on the matter.
ProFootballTalk speculates that Walt Coleman didn’t understand the rule on the Holmes “touchdown” in Baltimore on Sunday.
Mike Florio also cites the Steelers-Chargers finish and the “intentional grounding” on Aaron Rodgers against the Vikings as other examples of officials possibly not understanding rules. Obviously, the Rodgers play wasn’t reviewable, but the other two were. When a referee goes under the hood, can he ask the booth what a specific rule is? I mean, I’ve seen the rulebook and I know it’s insane. I’ve taken the NCAA officiating exam and done horribly at it, so it’s hard for me to expect a human being to know every rule at all times.
Continue Reading
Dec 15th 2008 6:45PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Ravens, Steelers, AFC North, NFL Fans, NFL Referees
Maybe this season is no different than the others, but it sure seems like NFL officials are in the middle of more controversial calls than I can remember. It all started in Week 2 with Ed Hochuli gifting the Broncos a win over the Chargers. In Week 11, Scott Green screwed degenerate gamblers out of millions. And yesterday, it was Walt Coleman’s turn.
You certainly know the story by now — late in the game, trailing 9-6, the Steelers marched 87 yards, and on third-and-goal, Ben Roethlisberger found Santonio Holmes the end zone (his feet were definitely in; it wasn’t initially clear if the ball broke the plane). The call on the field was fourth-and-millimeters. The play was reviewed and a few minutes later, Coleman announced that Holmes had scored a touchdown, 13-9, Steelers, thanks for coming.
Commence whinging.
This morning I mentioned that Coleman, after botching the on-field explanation, elaborated on the call after the game. And in his Monday Morning Quarterback column, Peter King spoke with NFL head of officiating, Mike Pereira for his take on the reversal:Continue Reading
Dec 14th 2008 5:40PM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Steelers, Titans, AFC North, AFC South, NFL Playoffs
There are a lot of things to digest from the Texans’ shocking 13-12 win over the Titans, but one of the more surprising aspects is that as the Steelers start their game against the Ravens, they control their own destiny for home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Thanks to the Titans’ loss and the fact that Tennessee plays Pittsburgh next week, if Pittsburgh can beat Baltimore today, next week’s game will be for the AFC No. 1 seed. If Tennessee wins, they would clinch the No. 1 seed, while Pittsburgh couldn’t clinch home field next week, but it could wrap up the No. 1 seed by beating the Titans and the Browns, or a win over the Titans and a Titans loss in Week 17.
There is some question of how much advantage that is for Pittsburgh. Since 1994, Pittsburgh is 1-4 in AFC Championship games at home. They are 1-0 on the road.
Of course all of that is dependent on the Steelers beating Baltimore on the road today, which is a tall enough order.
