Colts-Steelers WWF Theatrics

[bigunreal]

While still giddy over the fact St. Joe Gibbs didn't win yesterday, I
have just watched one of the most ridiculous, pro-wrestling style
football games in history. What a joke the Colts-Steelers game was. I
can't even begin to count the questionable calls, mostly against Indy.
The final minute was pure Hollywood. I knew that Vanderjadt wouldn't
make the game-tying field goal. Couldn't have the "Bus" be the goat. If
these games are not fixed, then the following is true: Peyton Manning
does indeed choke in the clutch, Tony Dungy cannot win a big game and
Marvin Harrison disappears in big games. The fallout from this fixed
game, by which the mafia probably made millions, will be huge.
Vanderjadt, already hated by the jock-sniffers in the media because he
is an outspoken white player, will probably be the next Scott Norwood.
His career may be over. Peyton Manning will now really be seen as a
"choke artist," who "can't win the big one." Of course, somehow, this
"choke' label will not be placed upon Dungy, who has failed repeatedly
to win playoff games in Tampa Bay and Indianapolis. Although I've
criticized Manning often on this forum for ignoring Stokley and Clark,
I do feel bad for him now. If I thought these games were real, I
wouldn't feel bad for him at all, because I'd have to assume he just
isn't a clutch player.

 

[hedgehog]

Can you imagine if Indianapolis had won, how many stupid comments we would have had to endure all week-regarding "James Dungy up in the heavenswatching out for his fathers team" so in that sense I am glad Pittsburgh won.

 

[backrow]

bad calls were made for both sides... i am amazed by the number of bad calls in this year's playoffs...

no way this game was "fixed"... there were so many questionable calls against Pittsburgh that it wasn't even funny

 

[GWTJ]

What questionable calls against Indy?Edited by: GWTJ

 

[Bart]

Correct me if I'm wrong but, wouldn't it have been wiser for Cowher to have his quarterback take the snap and letting the clock run out? I don't remember the down situation but he certainly didn't have to risk losing the ball. I guess making Bettis look good to cap off the game was more important than strategy. Does anyone remember Joe Pisarchick? I missed a few plays because of having to use the bathroom, could someone fill me in if I'm off the wall?

 

[bigunreal]

Indy had 6 penalties against them in the first half, while only 1 went
against Pittsburgh. When the Steelers were chewing up the clock in the
4th quarter, there was a key 4th and 1, when both sides moved and flags
were thrown. After a long discussion amongst the officials, they
decided there was no foul! Replays clearly showed Alan Faneca moving
first. Then, when Big Ben tried a QB sneak, he appeared to lose
yardage, but they gave him what Dan Dierdorf acknowledged was a "very
generous" spot and the Steelers had another set of downs, running more
time off the clock. Finally, on the last drive by Indy, they could
easily have called pass interference on the Steeler defender covering
Reggie Wayne in the end zone. But then again, as I've mentioned, they
could call pass interference, like holding, on every play. They choose
when to do so.

 

[White Shogun]

I have to laugh guys.

I was coming here to post the following:

"The powers that be without a doubt wanted Indy to win this game. There is no doubt about it."

And then I read the rest of the posts here. It cracked me up.

They took two INT's from Troy Polamalu. The game was basically over with his second INT, yet it was overturned on replay. Un-f-believable.

But I too thought they'd just kneel the ball and kick a field goal if the Colts used their time outs to conserve enough time for another series.

I thought the fix was in when they handed the ball off and Bettis fumbled. I was listening to tomorrow's headlines in my head, "What a comeback by the Colts! What a testament to the courage of Tony Dungy and the Colts, for everything they've been through this season!"

But I also thought how poetic would justice be if Vanderjagt misses the field goal. After Polamalu being ripped off twice with questionable calls, how much sweeter could it be, and how fitting an end to a fairy tale nightmare, if the most accurate kicker in NFL history missed a game tying field goal in the playoffs, at the end of a near perfect season, with the team's beloved coach losing his eldest son to suicide..

And it was so.

So bigunreal, Peyton Manning is a choke artist, Dungy can't win the big one, and Harrison disappears in big games.

But, Ben Roethlisberger is the real deal. Cool as a cucumber and in only his second NFL season. I'm looking forward to their game against Denver.

And I'm glad Indy is gone from the playoffs. As much I wanted them to win one early in the season, I as much did not want them to win now. There would have been to much love thrown around for James "kill-a-cracka" Dungy and his dad, who would have gotten 99% of the credit should the Colts have won. So good bye, good riddance, and see you next year!

 

[backrow]

i totally agree with Shogun...
and they couldnt kneel with over a minute to go and Colts had all 3 timeouts... plus there's not many better goalline backs than Bus...

 

[Don Wassall]

As much as I want Peyton Manning to win some Super Bowls, I think the usual suspects (the media and many fans) will be a little easier on him and the team this offseason because of Dungy's family tragedy.


I also think too many teams panic by overdoing itwhen it comes toresting their starters after clinching playoff position. Just about every preview of this game said the Steelers's best chance to win was by starting off strong in the first quarter against a rusty Colts team, thereby making it tough for them to catch up, and that's exactly what happened.

 

[Poacher]

Headlines on this game so far read: "Peyton Manning fails again in playoffs."



So much for the media taking it easier on him. Tony Dungy is
building up quite a record as a coach who can't win the big one.
But the you-know-who's won't say that. All of the blame will be
heaped on Manning... as usual.

 

[Poacher]

Oh wait, here's another one (from CNNSI):



"Poor playoff performance dooms Manning."

 

[JD074]

What exactly was the ruling on that last INT? Something about his right knee? It seemed so... concocted. That really did raise my eyebrows. Also, interesting that the first two important receptions for the Colts were from Stokley (for a first down after Manning waved the punting team off the field) and Clark (that awesome TD reception.) Why did it take so long to find those guys?

Kudos to Dierdorf for complimenting Clark's speed. He really did blow by those guys. And Miller was great early in the game. Last but not least, the Colts didn't set up that field goal very well. I agree with the commentators that they should've run the ball. Five yards, and getting in the middle of the field, could've made all the difference. They were too aggressive trying to find the end zone.

 

[White Shogun]

i totally agree with Shogun...
and they couldnt kneel with over a minute to go and Colts had all 3 timeouts... plus there's not many better goalline backs than Bus...

What do you think backrow, should they have kicked the field goal? That would have put Indy down by a TD. Kneel twice, kick on 3rd down.. but I guess Cowher was thinking that he needed more than a TD lead to ensure a win. Almost backfired.

The Carolina game was entertaining, one of the best so far. There were quite a few 'non-calls' in this game, too, but I guess the refs are "letting the players settle it on the field." I hate that they change the way they call games in the playoffs. It should be the same year round, regardless of whats at stake and who's playing.

 

[backrow]

i totally agree with Shogun...
and they couldnt kneel with over a minute to go and Colts had all 3 timeouts... plus there's not many better goalline backs than Bus...

What do you think backrow, should they have kicked the field goal? That would have put Indy down by a TD. Kneel twice, kick on 3rd down.. but I guess Cowher was thinking that he needed more than a TD lead to ensure a win. Almost backfired.

it almost did... but like i said they were pretty confident in Bettis, which is quite undertandable... and i guess Cowher didn't want to have Manning and Colts offense o his case in 2 minute drill (even they would have only around 30 secs or so and no TOs left by then)

 

[Deacon]

ILast but not least, the Colts didn't set up that field
goal very well. I agree with the commentators that they should've run
the ball. Five yards, and getting in the middle of the field, could've
made all the difference. They were too aggressive trying to find the
end zone.

Agreed they really messed up there. They had 2nd down
and 2. I mean come on; throw a screen or run Edge. Pick up the first
down then execute out patterns to get more yardage and get out of
bounds to stop the clock.



From the forums I frequent, most are calling Peyton a punk and blamming
him for the loss. Damn, what about Tarik Glen? The guy had two false
start penalties at home, including one at the one yard line which
negated their touchdown. It should've been 14-7 going into halftime not 14-3.



Nick Harper's wife is to blame actually. If that woman didn't stab Nick
in the right knee maybe he could've outran Big Ben for the touchdown. I
was rooting for Indy and when I saw Nicky running with the
ball I was cheering because surely that fast son of a bitch was gonna
run in for the touchdown,
but that dumbass runs right into Big Ben. What a dumbass!! He
sould've ran on the right sideline where he would've cleared sailing.
Was it because he had a three-inch scar on his right knee which
disabled him from making a cut-back courtesy of his wife the night
before? Irony., man.



But somehow I knew Mikey would miss the FG. Just when he was about to
kick the FG the announcers stated that he was perfect and I then
shouted to my GF, "They're jinxing him, damnit!!"

Edited by: Deacon

 

[Deacon]

What questionable calls against Indy?

Allen Faneca
flinched on of Pitts' fourth down plays, I remember. The commentators
mentioned it but it wasn't called. Pitt eventually didn't get any
points from the miss-call but they did burn off at least 4 minutes off
the clock.

Edited by: Deacon

 

[Deacon]

And I'm glad Indy is gone from the playoffs. As much I wanted them
to win one early in the season, I as much did not want them to win now.
There would have been to much love thrown around for James
"kill-a-cracka" Dungy and his dad, who would have gotten 99% of the
credit should the Colts have won. So good bye, good riddance, and see
you next year!

Damn, you really layed it out there with that
one. Good job.

 

[GWTJ]

Allen Faneca's flinch was barely even that. Add the fact that he was in the middle of the line and no line judge could have been expected to see it. When only slow motion, zoom replays can pick something up, it should not be held against the officials for missing something that inperceptable. Those same cameras that caught Faneca flinching took away Palomolu's interception.

Also, if Indy didn't like the spot of the football on that 4th down run by Big Ben, they could have challenged it. This is the second time in the playoffs that I thought a team should have challenged a spot of the ball. The other one was early in the Giants-Panthers game.

 

[foreverfree]

Nick Harper's wife is to blame actually. If that woman didn't stab Nick
in the right knee maybe he could've outran Big Ben for the touchdown. I
was rooting for Indy and when I saw Nicky running with the
ball I was cheering because surely that fast son of a bitch was gonna
run in for the touchdown,
but that dumbass runs right into Big Ben. What  a dumbass!! He
sould've ran on the right sideline where he would've cleared sailing.
Was it because he had a three-inch scar on his right knee which
disabled him from making a cut-back courtesy of his wife the night
before? Irony., man.

I'm out of the loop there as to Mrs. Harper's theatrics, Deacon, please fill me in. Have there been marital problems between the Harpers?

JohnEdited by: foreverfree

 

[Deacon]

Nick Harper's wife is to blame actually. If that woman didn't stab Nick

in the right knee maybe he could've outran Big Ben for the touchdown. I

was rooting for Indy and when I saw Nicky running with the

ball I was cheering because surely that fast son of a bitch was gonna

run in for the touchdown,

but that dumbass runs right into Big Ben. What a dumbass!! He

sould've ran on the right sideline where he would've cleared sailing.

Was it because he had a three-inch scar on his right knee which

disabled him from making a cut-back courtesy of his wife the night

before? Irony., man.

I'm out of the loop there as to Mrs. Harper's theatrics, Deacon,
please fill me in. Have there been marital problems between the Harpers?

John

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/13635687.htm She says it was an accident.



http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/13636312.htm
"The dispute isn't the first between the Harpers. Nick was arrested in
June on a domestic-battery charge after police said he hit his wife."



Ah, wedding bliss.

Edited by: Deacon

 

[Deacon]

Allen Faneca's flinch was barely even that. Add the fact
that he was in the middle of the line and no line judge could have been
expected to see it. When only slow motion, zoom replays can pick
something up, it should not be held against the officials for missing
something that inperceptable. Those same cameras that caught Faneca
flinching took away Palomolu's interception.

.

I didn't even catch it either until Dierdoff said he flinched.
That should've backed the Steelers five yards making them punt with
nine plus minutes to go in the game. Instead they ran it down to four
something.

Edited by: Deacon

 

[White Shogun]

Surprise, surprise:

On the Mike and Mike show on ESPN Radio this morning, they were labelling the performances of all the quarterbacks, running backs, defenses, and coaches in this weekends playoff games, from 1 to 8.

Much to my surprise, they gave Tony Dungy the 8. They said that Edgerrin James wasn't utilized enough, they screwed up the Vanderjagt kick by not going for the first down and getting him closer, and a few other things. Then they said this has been the knock on Dungy for awhile now.

Can't say I disagree, I just didn't expect to hear it from them.

Bill Cowher was #1.

Edited by: White Shogun

 

[White Shogun]

Sorry for the double post, but I wanted to know if any of you guys have heard that Manning called out his offensive line after the game this weekend? Chewed them out, in public no less. I haven't been able to find an article or link to substantiate this.

If so, that takes Peyton down a notch in my book. They might deserve it, but it should be done privately, not in public.

 

[Deacon]

Sorry for the double post, but I wanted to know if
any of you guys have heard that Manning called out his offensive line
after the game this weekend? Chewed them out, in public no less. I
haven't been able to find an article or link to substantiate this.


If so, that takes Peyton down a notch in my book. They might
deserve it, but it should be done privately, not in public.

I
heard about it with Peyton saying that they had 'protection problems."
Well, damn hell they did. See my previous post about Tarik Glenn.



Edited by: Deacon

 

[Kaptain]

I'm happy with the results except for the Pats loss. I've said all year that Indy was overrated, and that dumbing down their offense (less stokely and clark) would come back to bite them. Just look at some of their early season victories against terrible teams. The squeaked by many poor teams in low-scoring snorers.

One thing no one has pointed out about that game was what Harpers' teammates were doing during the run back of Bettis' fumble. Just watch the replay and look at number 21. What the hell was he doing? He was running ahead of Harper and had no intention of blocking anyone. He could have blocked Big Ben or turned around and blocked Heath Miller, who was gaining ground quickly and made it impossible for Harper to cut to the left. I think that guy (21) and a couple of his teammates were more worried about the celebration than finishing the play.
Champ Bailey and his teammates basically did the same thing, but were lucky that the Refs didn't call the touchback as it appeared to be. I wish more people would bring this up.