January 23, 2005

Heartening is what it was. Ah, the Pats were full value for the win. Good on them.

posted by chicobangs at 09:50 PM on January 23, 2005

Next year. Oh, I'm tired of saying that...

posted by dirigibleman at 09:52 PM on January 23, 2005

Waitasec- aren't you a Yankees fan, lbb? How convenient that you should root for the Patriots! Bandwagon jumper!!! =) Hal: yes, I'm a Yankees fan; no, I'm not a bandwagon jumper; now put your teeth in and bite me. ;-P can a Celtics and Bruins resurgence be far behind? By any sane definition, sure it can -- and almost certainly will be. But when your definition of a long time is 86 years, why then, it'll be in the blink of an eye, I'm sure. BTW, Schilling was wearing a Steelers jersey on the Best Damned Sports Show a few days ago. What the hell is that about?! Well, where is the dickhead^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hincredibly valiant hero from originally, anyway? Maybe he's a Steel City boy or something.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:58 PM on January 23, 2005

But when your definition of a long time is 86 years Are we talking about sports or geology? Props to the Pats for an amazing two games, I will definitely be rooting for them to give the Smeagles a smackdown in two weeks. Even if I despise the Red Sox... this is an enemy of my enemy situation.

posted by billsaysthis at 10:50 PM on January 23, 2005

Will the Eagles be given a snowballs chance in heck??? I am sure the big "over hype" guestion of the next two week be "T.O., will he or wont he?" In the end it will a tight game and Vineteri will kick a last minute Field Goal. The Pats will be labeled "the greatest team ever" and Coach Bill will nudge Vince off of the top of "the Best ever coach mountain" It will be hype out of control. Everybody who ever as much as smelled a football will be considered an "expert"' and of course, they will have to give their opinion. I will be rooting for the Pats only because Vineteri is from my State! Pats 24-21

posted by daddisamm at 11:14 PM on January 23, 2005

Gotta love the Steeler's play calling. Hell, I could tell when they would run and when they would pass, and I was listening to the radio.

posted by dusted at 11:27 PM on January 23, 2005

Right now, I'm taking the points. New England plays on a whole other level.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:17 AM on January 24, 2005

Oh, and if you don't mind the self-linking, here's a post I just made in the lockerroom. I think it might help explain spread lines to people who aren't familiar with them. Schilling was born in Arkansas, went to college in Arizona, but he did spend his formative MLB years in Philadelphia with the Phillies. So that still don't explain it; if he were wearing an Eagles jersey I could buy it. Maybe he just likes getting under people's skin....

posted by hincandenza at 04:28 AM on January 24, 2005

I'd like an apology from the Boston media for comparing Steelers fans to Red Sox fans. If the two were comparable, Fenway would have been empty for Game 4 of the ALCS. And thank you Bill Cowher for tightening up just like you always do. Going for a field goal instead of the TD late in the 3rd? Phil Simms has to be the only person who liked that move (have I never noticed before or is Simms always that awful? Loved when he broke down a replay where the Steelers had "no one open downfield" and the replay is focused on Randle El jumping up and down next to the end zone to indicate how wide open he is). And thanks for sticking with Bettis who has never done anything against the Pats in the playoffs instead of going with Staley who racked up over 100 yards against the Pats this year.

posted by yerfatma at 07:35 AM on January 24, 2005

Schilling was born in Arkansas Schilling was born in Alaska. and how nobody in their right mind would pick the Iggles I have a hunch that Tom Jackson will pick the Eagles. It's like he takes the Patriots winning as a personal afront.

posted by usfbull at 09:38 AM on January 24, 2005

... have I never noticed before or is Simms always that awful? Simms' penchant for homoerotic banter is funny, but otherwise I've had no use for either he or Greg Gumbel for years. They used the last half of the Ravens-Giants Super Bowl to praise Ray Lewis for telling them, in regard to the murders at the previous Super Bowl, that at some point he would "approach the families of the victims and attempt to help heal their hurt." They couldn't avoid talking about Lewis' game exploits -- he was the best player on the field. But it takes a special breed of athletic supporter to kiss the guy's ass for planning to make a gesture in the future about those deaths.

posted by rcade at 10:16 AM on January 24, 2005

You're right. I didn't watch much of ESPN's pre-game, but I did catch that. Hope they keep picking against the Pats, but you'd have to have a real hard-on to think the Eagles are the favorite, even with Owens.

posted by yerfatma at 10:36 AM on January 24, 2005

New England is the most physical team in the NFL. Forget all the media hype of Belichick's schemes and coaching. Those players line up and make plays on offense and defense. Belichick is a great leader and an excellent defensive coach but its the players who win games. Remember how he was fired or "run off" in Cleveland and the media said he wasnt a good head coach just a great def coordinator under Parcells. He did not magically become a great headcoach..its just now he has better players who are able to make plays. NFL games usually come down to 6-8 plays as the difference makers and the PATS make ALL of those plays, whether it is defense stopping a 4th and 1;, making an interception or sack; or Brady with a pinpoint pass for a TD or when he is off target the receivers make great catches. Brady is damn good. I used to think he was average QB in the right place at the right time. I will root for the Iggles but I finally admit respect for the PATS.

posted by McLaw at 11:29 AM on January 24, 2005

me: Schilling was born in Arkansas usfbull: Schilling was born in Alaska. Argh. That's what I meant, but it was 2am and I wasn't my sharpest. :( yerfatma: And thank you Bill Cowher for tightening up just like you always do. Going for a field goal instead of the TD late in the 3rd? I don't understand the criticism of Cowher going for the FG; I agree with that! There was plenty of time left on the clock, you cut the lead to 8- one possession's worth- rather than gamble and be still down two possessions with a quarter to go. If Cowher is to be criticized, it should be for his trashing of his own QB in the post-game; his comments (I don't have the verbatim) basically where "Sure, Big Ben does some things right, but you can't throw 3 interceptions in a game of this magnitude." What the heck was that?!? You're rookie stud, your Tom Brady for the Steelers and your franchise QB for several years to come, just led your team to a 15-1 record and an AFC Championship game; maybe you ought to say things to build up his confidence and set him up to potential win this game next year. McLaw: New England is the most physical team in the NFL. Forget all the media hype of Belichick's schemes and coaching. Those players line up and make plays on offense and defense. I don't know that Belichick has so little direct impact; on that 4th and 1 stop of the Steelers where Bettis was stopped, stripped and NE recovered, just before the play Belichick was caught on camera calling over a middle linebacker, shouting something, and sending him back. Next thing you know it's a critical stop and turnover. That says to me that while he's got great players, he has them all working in his schemes, and with his vision, such that they are prepared to make those great plays. Man, this Patriots run is pretty amazing, regardless of the outcome on February 8th. I think I'm finally realizing what it must have felt like to be a Yankees fan back in the 90's, when you felt your team was almost supernaturally invincible (you know, before they became the greatest choke artists in the history of sports).

posted by hincandenza at 12:04 PM on January 24, 2005

(you know, before they became the greatest choke artists in the history of sports) Off-topic, but that title still has to go to the 1944-45 Detroit Red Wings (losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs). They did the same thing as the Yankees (go up 3-0, still lose series), but did it in the FINALS. That's a bigger choke than doing it in the semi-finals.

posted by grum@work at 12:22 PM on January 24, 2005

Hal: I don't understand the criticism of Cowher going for the FG; I agree with that! There was plenty of time left on the clock, you cut the lead to 8- one possession's worth- rather than gamble and be still down two possessions with a quarter to go. When the Steelers kicked that FG, it put them down by 11 -- not 8 -- still two two possessions down (the TD would have put it at a 7 point, one posession game). Hal: I don't know that Belichick has so little direct impact; on that 4th and 1 stop of the Steelers where Bettis was stopped, stripped and NE recovered, just before the play Belichick was caught on camera calling over a middle linebacker, shouting something, and sending him back. Next thing you know it's a critical stop and turnover. That says to me that while he's got great players, he has them all working in his schemes, and with his vision, such that they are prepared to make those great plays. From Len Pasquarelli's column: "Just before the fourth-down play, Belichick had meandered about 10 yards on the field, to signal in the defense with a series of gestures. Asked about what defensive call Belichick screamed to his charges, Colvin laughed, and noted: 'I think he gave us the 'stop 'em' signal. Works every time, huh?'" Don't know whether Roosevelt Colvin was just goofing around, but it's a funny quote. grum: Off-topic, but that title still has to go to the 1944-45 Detroit Red Wings (losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs). They did the same thing as the Yankees (go up 3-0, still lose series), but did it in the FINALS. That's a bigger choke than doing it in the semi-finals. I don't know, we're talking about a bigger rivalry for Boston-NY (although Detroit-Toronto was always a great rivalry prior to the teams being put in different conferences) and NY has the history and had, this year, one of the greatest line-ups ever assembled. Maybe a choke of a similar magnitude by the Montreal Canadiens would be more comparable, but I still think considering all factors, the Yankees choke was bigger even though it happened in the semifinal round.

posted by holden at 12:51 PM on January 24, 2005

...the matchups being just about a dead heat on paper. Agreed. And the interception returned for a TD could be viewed as a 14 point swing (the Steelers were on an impressive drive) and was the biggest difference in the game.

posted by smithnyiu at 01:29 PM on January 24, 2005

In a seven-game series on neutral ice, I would take the Red Wings over the Yankees.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 01:57 PM on January 24, 2005

Since when did Brady start throwing huge passes? Whatever works, right? You've got a better chance against two-elevenths of the league's best defence than you do against all eleven.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 02:10 PM on January 24, 2005

Ah, but can Superman beat up Batman? The burning question is can he beat up Bugs Bunny? I say no.

posted by rocketman at 02:29 PM on January 24, 2005

he burning question is can he beat up Bugs Bunny? I say no. bugs bunny is a cartoon. superman's a real guy. there's no way a cartoon could beat up a real guy.

posted by goddam at 02:35 PM on January 24, 2005

lil: I could be misremembering, but I recall quite a few in the '02 season -- as well as quite a few razzle-dazzle plays. Not many of either this year, so far, but who knows what we'll see in Jacksonville? I remember him trying a bunch of long passes and not doing so well. I remember thinking during the game something along the lines of what DrJohn just wrote. The Steelers didn't expect that from Brady (and neither did I) and that became one of the things that took them down. Tell me again - at what point are we allowed to acknowledge that Brady is a great QB?

posted by Joey Michaels at 03:53 PM on January 24, 2005

Tell me again - at what point are we allowed to acknowledge that Brady is a great QB? After he wins five or six more rings. Modesty works well for the Pats, IMO. It keeps 'em working hard and not celebrating until the fat lady sings. Others who showboated or called them "ripe for the picking" and whatnot are watching it all on tee vee. Don't jinx um! And what about the unwritten rule that a QB coming into the league needs to "mature" for 5 or 6 years before hitting his stride? Is he the exception, or is that a bogus statement? I thought big Ben was another exception to the "rule" until last night... Well, I suppose it's always possible that Brady hasn't even hit his stride yet -- frightening thought. One difference between him and Big Ben, though, was that Brady didn't start in his rookie year -- he sat on the bench until the following year, and went in in an emergency situation. If Bledsoe hadn't been hurt, or if the injury hadn't been bad enough to keep him out as long as it did, things might have worked out differently for Brady...but that's another discussion. Anyway, yesterday one of the CBS commentators claimed that Belichick says that he has no ERWs (guys who eat, ride and watch, but don't play). Clearly that's a bit of an exaggeration -- the Pats do have a backup quarterback, and I don't know when I've seen him play last. But that year that Brady got between joining the team and starting in a game could be a very important difference between him and Roethlisberger.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 04:30 PM on January 24, 2005

Big Ben is going to be a force to be reckoned with. I would not at all be surprised to see the Steelers in the show next year - I wouldn't have been surprised to see them this year. That being said, I am persuaded that you are right regarding Ben's rookie years versus Tom's "non-rookie" year. Watching Bledsoe play for a year was probably an excellent education for him.

posted by Joey Michaels at 05:19 PM on January 24, 2005

I'm officially shutting up about Brady being overrated.

posted by rcade at 07:47 PM on January 24, 2005

It could conceivably be a very good game.

posted by chicobangs at 12:45 AM on January 25, 2005

I can see him now in the P box with a gash over his left eye, his purple lips swollen from the beating Derian Hatcher gave him... I only wish it were so.

posted by chris2sy at 11:42 AM on January 25, 2005

Well, the cold probably did him a world of good, then.

posted by chicobangs at 08:46 PM on January 25, 2005

I prescribe a massive dosage of the new Om album, Variations on a Theme, to rid yourself of the dreaded Foreigner earworm. Om won't rock it out of your head, they will vibrate it out. Of course, what else would you expect from 2/3 of Sleep?

posted by NoMich at 10:01 AM on January 26, 2005

And yes, I freely admit I'm a nerd. you're not the only one. whenever i get "hot blooded" in my head i often hear it as the weird al version.

posted by goddam at 03:38 PM on January 26, 2005

make sure the Foreigner belt isn't set on headgames... I learn from TV.

posted by chris2sy at 07:18 PM on January 26, 2005