Steelers echoed Niners in final Super Bowl drive
SAN FRANCISCO -- One last word on last weekend's Super Bowl: When football's ultimate game finally reached its breath-taking finish, don't be surprised if long-time Niners fans felt awash with deja vu. They'd seen that kind of finish before. Twenty years ago.
In fact, Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers could be credited with reincarnating Joe Montana and the 49ers' game-winning drive from Super Bowl XXIII.
The Steelers began their last-chance drive with 2:30 remaining, down three points after an Arizona touchdown. Twenty years ago, the 49ers sent out their offense back onto the field with 3:20 left, down three points after a Cincinnati Bengals field goal.
Even though both teams could have forced overtime once in field-goal range, both Roethlisberger and Montana went one better.
Coming out of the two-minute warning, both teams needed a key third-down play to keep their chances alive. The Steelers faced a third-and-6 at their 26-yard line. The Niners? A third-and-2 at their 31.
Sunday, Roethlisberger hit Santonio Holmes for 10 yards and a first down. Twenty years ago, Roger Craig ran off right tackle for 4 yards and a first down. New life on both accounts.
Roethlisberger then connected with Nate Washington for 11 yards and another first down at midfield. Montana and Jerry Rice connected on a sideline pattern for 17 yards for a first down at the Bengals 48.
After running his team to the line of scrimmage, Roethlisberger had to scramble 4 yards to the Arizona 46, forcing the Steelers to call timeout with 1:02 left to play.
Montana managed the clock a bit differently, completing an 11-yarder to Roger Craig, only to be momentarily derailed by an incomplete pass followed by a penalty that put the Niners on the Bengals 45 with 1:17 to play.
At this point, both quarterbacks set the stage for a win rather than a tie.
Roethlisberger and Holmes connected for a short pass and a long run netting 40 yards and a first down at the Cardinals 6. Montana hit Rice over the middle for 27 yards, setting the Niners up for first-and-10 on the Bengals 18.
Roethlisberger then threw his only incompletion of the drive, giving the Steelers a second-and-6 at the Cardinals 6 with 42 seconds left.
Montana's next play was a completion to Roger Craig that went for 8 yards, forcing the Niners to call timeout faced with a second-and-2 at the 10-yard line with 39 seconds left.
Roethlisberger's game-winning pass was a 6-yard beauty to Holmes in the right corner. Montana's was a 10-yarder to John Taylor.
The Steelers led by four points with 35 seconds left. The Niners led by four points with 34 seconds left. Both would become Super Bowl champions.
In the final two minutes, with Super Bowl victory and defeat hanging in the balance, Roethlisberger went 5-for-6 for 70 yards and the deciding touchdown, Montana went 4-for-5 for 75 yards and the deciding touchdown.
For Niners fans, an unbelieveable finishing was simply history repeating itself.
sfexaminer.com
Steelers land a big one
TAMPA, FLA. - Move over, Cowboys. There's a new America's Team and it's located in the heart of the Rust Belt in western Pennsylvania.
Riding the greatest play in Super Bowl history and surviving one of the wildest fourth quarters in the game's 43-year existence, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 on Sunday in Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium.
It's a record sixth Super Bowl title for the league's best franchise, bar none. A franchise that doesn't sign thugs named Pacman or problem children named T.O., or make news for any other silliness off the field.
The Steelers make news for winning. Winning Super Bowls, in particular. Chuck Noll won the first of four in his sixth season. Bill Cowher led the Steelers to a Super Bowl in his fourth season and won one in his 14th. And now Mike Tomlin has won his first in his second season to become the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl (36) and, believe it or not, the third former Vikings coordinator to go on and win a Super Bowl as a head coach elsewhere since 2000.
"I'm not concerned about my personal milestones," Tomlin said. "I just want to contribute to the legacy of the Pittsburgh Steelers."
He did. And in doing so, the Steelers turned in a play that will be discussed for the next XLIII years and beyond.
Of course, that's what happens when you combine the NFL Defensive Player of the Year (James Harrison) with a defensive coordinator (Dick LeBeau) who has been a part of the NFL for 50 years.
The Cardinals were trailing 10-7 and had the ball at the Pittsburgh 2 with 18 seconds left in the first half. Harrison, playing right outside linebacker, took a quick step toward the line of scrimmage, making it look like he was going to blitz.
Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, whose strength is anticipation, threw a slant pass intended for Anquan Boldin. Harrison quickly dropped a step back and was right in the path of the ball. He made the interception and took off 100 yards for the longest play in Super Bowl history.
(c) 2009 Star Tribune
Reliving the NFL dream
Rochester, N.Y. -- Tony Jordan will be just like the rest of us on Sunday - sitting in front of the television watching the Cardinals play the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII (that's 43, folks). Except he'll be reliving the dream.
East High School Class of 1983 on his way to the National Football League via Kansas State University, Jordan was a 6-foot-2, 220-pound power running back and the fifth-round draft pick of the freshly relocated Phoenix Cardinals, who had been in St. Louis the year before. It was actually a pretty good football team.
"We beat the 49ers in 1988 when they won it all," said Jordan. "We got off to a 7-4 start."
These were the Cardinals of Neil Lomax, Stump Mitchell and Roy Green. But Lomax, the quarterback, went down with an injury and Phoenix lost its last five games to finish 7-9.
1989 was worse. Lomax was done. Coach Gene Stallings was fired. The Cardinals were 5-11. It was the third season in a run of 22 out of 23 years the team failed to win more than it lost. That's how you develop a losing reputation.
"Guys don't think they can't win," said Jordan. "They always think they're just one or two players away."
Still, the losing gets to you. "You get a paycheck but it's miserable when you don't win."
Over those two years, Jordan played in 22 NFL games, he ran the football 144 times for 341 yards. Those were his final career statistics. He spent the 1990 season on the injured list followed by a totally uneventful year with the Houston Oilers. He wound up in the Dallas Cowboys' training camp in 1992.
You remember those guys. The Cowboys went 13-3 in 1992 under coach Jimmy Johnson and beat the Buffalo Bills 52-17 in the Super Bowl. Dallas was looking for a backup for running back Emmitt Smith. Tony could have been that guy, but Jimmy didn't like him.
"You have to understand how destiny works," said Jordan. "There was dew on the practice field in training camp one day. During a drill, I slipped and fell on a lineman, a high draft pick or something. Anyway, Jimmy lost it on me. Yelling at me, saying, 'You can't do that.' The very next play, Emmitt slips and falls on the same guy. Jimmy doesn't say anything. He moves the drill to a drier spot. But he stayed mad at me the whole camp."
Jordan chose to retire and return to Rochester rather than wait to be cut. He regretted it just once.
"The Cowboys were playing on Thanksgiving and the guy who got my job, (Swurvin') Curvin Richards out of Pittsburgh, fumbled twice in that game. Jimmy cut him the next day."
Not that Jordan would change too much.
"It was a gift to have played," he says. "I think I played so I could do other things. I use it when it's relevant."
Jordan is a manager at the Rochester City Recreation Department. He does a lot of public speaking, talks to a lot of kids. Occasionally he'll wear his Cardinals cap. He's still a Cardinals fan.
He especially respects quarterback Kurt Warner, who he met while working at Roland Williams Football Camp in 1999. Warner was a guest.
"When the other players would take a break, Kurt kept working with the kids. He's a good Christian man. What you see is what you get. He's not a phony."
So Jordan will be watching the game Sunday pulling hard for Arizona. "I'm ecstatic for those guys."
Reliving the dream.
Copyright (c) 2009 GateHouse Media, Inc
I'm 4-6 heading into The Super Bowl
OK, I admit, as I have admitted in previous blogs, that I'm not real good at predictions.
But heading into the final game of the 2008-09 National Football League season, I'm 4-6 in playoff predictions.
Not bad. But not great.
To make matters worse, I'll finish 4-7 in those predictions.
By the way, how did all of you do? Did you fair better? Did you actually predict a Pittsburgh-Arizona matchup?
Highly doubtful. But then again, I'll give praise to anyone who did.
In the first week of playoff action, I accurately predicted Indianapolis and Minnesota getting beat, as San Diego knocked off the Colts and Philadelphia defeated my beloved Vikings.
I lost my picks in both the Baltimore-Miami contest and Arizona-Atlanta game, as the Ravens and Cardinals both advanced.
In the second week, the Divisional Playoffs, I lost the Baltimore-Tennessee game, the Arizona-Carolina game and the Philadelphia-New York Giants game. However, I managed to escape with one win as Pittsburgh defeated San Diego.
One of my Super Bowl picks, Carolina, went down that week. In fact, I had the Panthers winning it all.
So, I had one team remaining in the final week of playoff games before the Super Bowl.
The Steelers.
My fiance absolutely hates the Steelers and has despised Pittsburgh since 1995, when the Steelers defeated the Colts in the AFC Championship Game when Indy was led by "Captain Comeback," Jim Harbaugh. She was rooting for Baltimore all evening, despite not being a fan of the Ravens either.
But she really doesn't like Pittsburgh. There's an anger in her voice that I have never heard when the topic of Steeler football comes up. It's almost comical and yet, very disturbing.
On Sunday, I effectively lost one game as Arizona knocked off the Eagles, 32-25. But I picked up a win when the Steelers held off the Ravens for the third time this season, 23-14.
That means I'm 4-6. But I can't get a fifth win, unfortunately and I'd like to thank Carolina for that.
Thanks a bunch!
In two weeks, most of the country will have their television sets tuned in to NBC at 6 p.m., when Pittsburgh and Arizona face each other in the Super Bowl.
The Steelers have a good track record when it comes to Super Bowls, winning five of six. Terry Bradshaw guided the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories while Ben Roethlisberger has already won one in his career.
So, I'm not ashamed to point out I went 4-7 in the world of predictions.
But I'd be willing to be that nobody had the Cardinals against the Steelers in the Super Bowl.
Did you?
(c)2009 Brazil Times
Offensive line paramount in Steelers' win
Following the Steelers' 35-24 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sought out the offensive linemen that protect him and gave each one a hug.
Nothing was more telling about the job the oft-criticized line did in the win that puts the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. The Steelers rolled up 165 rushing yards. Roethlisberger threw for 181 yards and a touchdown and got sacked just one time.
Starting right tackle Willie Colon said offensive coordinator Bruce Arians challenged the line before the AFC divisional playoff game to win the battle up front. To say the group did that might be an understatement considering how much running room Willie Parker had and how much time Roethlisberger had to throw.
"To win the game, (Arians) said it had to be on us," Colon said. "We knew we could get after them. It was just a matter of doing it."
- Comcast cable television service did something the Chargers couldn't: Stop the Steelers in the third quarter of Sunday's game. Service problems interrupted the TV broadcast to an undetermined number of fans in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Armstrong and Indiana counties.
A recorded message cited "network issues" in the Greensburg area for all services and "technical issues" in the Kiski, Blairsville, Murrysville, Tarentum, Rural Valley and Plum areas that affected digital and analog cable service.
"We had a full bar in front of the HD (high definition) TVs, and they had nothing to watch," lamented Tony Sachs, manager of the Red Star Brewery & Grille at the Greensburg Train Station. Sachs said two analog TVs kept operating, so customers could watch the Steelers cruise to victory. HD service was restored before game's end.
- The Steelers hadn't returned a punt for a touchdown this season prior to yesterday. That wasn't the only reason why Santonio Holmes' 67-yard punt return against the Chargers was a rare feat. Holmes' touchdown was the first one given up by San Diego since 2003. It also marked the first punt return for a touchdown yielded by the Chargers in the postseason since the 1965 AFL Championship Game.
- The Steelers had another rarity on special teams when they attempted a fake punt under coach Mike Tomlin for just the second time. The direct snap to upback Ryan Clark in the second quarter didn't fool anybody and led to a Chargers field goal, but Tomlin stood behind the call.The Steelers did something on special teams they had never done under coach Mike Tomlin when they tried a fake punt. The direct snap to upback Ryan Clark in the second quarter didn't fool anybody and led to a Chargers field goal, but Tomlin stood behind the call.
"I was going to be aggressive," Tomlin said. "I want our football team to know that I have a great deal of belief in them and that we are not going to play scared."
- The return of Clark to active duty turned free safety Anthony Smith into a spectator yesterday. Joining him on the Steelers' inactive list were outside linebacker Bruce Davis, defensive end Orpheus Roye, cornerback Fernando Bryant, offensive tackles Tony Hills and Jason Capizzi, defensive tackle Scott Paxson and quarterback Dennis Dixon.
- San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson didn't play yesterday because of a groin injury. The five-time Pro Bowler and 2006 league MVP was doubtful for the game because of a torn tendon. Darren Sproles started in place of Tomlinson and managed just 15 rushing yards on 11 carries, but he did catch a 62-yard touchdown pass.
- Hines Ward, who had four receptions for 70 yards, became the first player in Steelers history to catch at least 70 postseason passes. He also moved into second place on the Steelers' all-time list for postseason receiving yards (966).
- Tomlin said the Steelers didn't suffer any significant injuries yesterday. As for how Roethlisberger played two weeks after sustaining a concussion, Tomlin said: "Like I said leading up to the game, it was a non-issue for us."
Digits
13 - Advantage in minutes the Steelers had in time of possession yesterday.
26 - Plays the Steelers ran in the third quarter compared to one by the Chargers.
pittsburghlive.com
Can't Miss NFL Playoff Picks and Updated Mock Drafts
Are you scratching your head wondering what teams to pick this week in your office NFL Playoff pool? Today, I'm going to bring you a classic, tried-and-true method to pick teams in the NFL. We will also take a look at the Updated NFL Mock Draft Database, where many Mock Drafts have been adjusted for the New Year.
You want to know how to pick these games first, huh? Okay, I'm going to tell you something that is so simple that you will wonder how you didn't think of it. Some of you kids may have heard about this method from your Father or Grandfather.
There was once a wizard prognosticator named Diane Chambers. She worked out of a bar in Boston, a nice small little place where everyone seemed to know your name. Chambers drew from the works of Charles Darwin and determined that you could predict the outcome of football games simply be looking at who would take out who if it came to blows.
This week we will apply The Chambers Theory to the NFL Playoff Games.*
Cardinals vs. Panthers (-10)
Birds are not given much credit as kick a$$ creatures, Cardinals in particular. Out of the eight playoff teams that played in the wild-card round, half of them were birds. The Cardinals took out a seemingly tougher bird in the Falcons. While that is impressive and all, the bird is no match to a Panther.
They have big claws and stuff, and when the cat is not named Sylvester, the cat usually wins this matchup.
Ravens vs. Titans (-3)
Another bird. This a bigger and scarier bird. There was once even a pretty popular story about a scary Raven. To get here they took out a big fish. It wasn't like it was a Shark or anything, if you play combine the word sissy with swimming mammal, you get Dolphin.
Dolphins don't have swords like Titans do either. This one is tough to call because if the Raven can avoid the big blade they could pull this one out. If it's straight up, take the Titans and the carving knife.
Eagles vs. Giants (-4)
Another friggen bird. Hitchcock would be inspired. The Eagles are a big bird. Not big and yellow but bigger than a Raven or Cardinal. The Eagles showed that you can take out a big unshaven guy with a sword, giving the Ravens hope this week.
We have to think though that although annoyingly flying around like a fly, they will be brushed off by the Giant. Big and sometimes clumsy, the Giant can be overcome. We have to lean in his favor though.
Chargers vs. Steelers (-6)
This is where it gets tricky. Electricity really can't hurt you if you stay away and don't mess with it. It's not going to "come after" you right? Even lightning isn't very good at that.
But what if you have to pass by it? The Colts learned. Why do you think they surround fields full of animals with electric fences out there in the country? Because the stuff hurts.
If at all possible, other than water, what do you NOT want to come in contact with electricity? Metal...STEEL. This poses a problem for the Steelers. In a normal situation, I would have to take the Steelers in this game but using The Chambers Theory, we have to go with the Chargers.
So there you have it. Your tool for gaining riches in the new year! Speaking of new year, we have had some updates already to the NFL Mock Drafts in our Mock Draft Database.
We list the top three picks for from each and then the links for you to go check them out for yourself. Let's have a look at the score for the number one pick for the Lions so far...
Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia 14
Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma 13
Andre Smith, OT, Alabama 6
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia, 1
Everett Brown, DE, Florida State 1
Copyright (c) 2008 Bleacher Report, Inc
Browns searching for head coach, GM as overhaul commences
The Browns fired head coach Romeo Crennel on Monday, the second major move made by owner Randy Lerner in consecutive days as he overhauls his football operations. Crennel, who was 24-40 in four seasons on the job, was fired 11 months to the day of signing a contract extension through the 2011 season and one day after the Browns fired general manager Phil Savage. But when the Browns never threatened to compete for the AFC North title, and with the club uncompetitive in the final weeks of the season, Crennel was fighting a losing battle to keep his first-ever NFL head-coaching job.
Cross ex-Steelers head coach Bill Cowher off the list of candidates to replace Crennel; Browns owner Randy Lerner said Monday that he met with Cowher on Saturday night and that Cowher, now an analyst for CBS, said he was not interested in returning to coaching in 2009. Lerner will interview Patriots vice president-player personnel Scott Pioli for the GM job. Lerner has also sought permission to interview another unnamed executive.
The PFW spin
There are rumblings Pioli may be interesting in striking out on his own after a successful stint working closely with Bill Belichick in New England, and the feeling has long been he'll have his pick of jobs.
If that's the case, what would convince him to take the Browns' job? Well, Pioli once worked with the Browns before the franchise was moved to Baltimore. Lerner isn't afraid to spend big to lure talent, so that's a plus, too.
But the job has its negatives, too. The defense has one blue-chip player (DT Shaun Rogers) and a lot of question marks thereafter. Whomever takes the GM job will also have to decide whether Brady Quinn, who's made all of three career starts, will be the starting quarterback - or whether Derek Anderson, who did not play well in 2008 but helped lead Cleveland to a 10-6 mark in '07, merits a chance to compete for the job. There is also the issue of what to do with WR Braylon Edwards, who didn't play like an elite receiver this season but will want a second contract that pays him like one before or after his rookie deal expires next season. TE Kellen Winslow's future is also in question after a disappointing '08 campaign; he's signed for two more seasons.
Whomever takes the GM job will have to deal with those issues and will have to get creative to get much depth out of the 2009 draft. Savage dealt third- and fifth-round picks in '09 in trades for a pair of rookies (TE Martin Rucker and WR Paul Hubbard) who didn't make an impact this season.
As the Browns' GM search gets into full-swing, Lerner is also trying to find a head coach. Lerner has said Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is a candidate. He also indicated ex-Jets head coach Eric Mangini could also be in the mix. A Pioli-McDaniels pairing would make sense, but could Pioli and Mangini work together given the nasty turn the Jets-Patriots rivalry - and the Mangini-Belichick relationship - has taken the last several years?
Lerner has left himself with a lot of work to do in a short amount of time. With several other head-coaching jobs opening, he needs to act smartly - and efficiently as possible - to find the right replacement for Crennel. And the new head coach will have to act quickly to put together a strong coaching staff. The latter point is especially important. The Browns were just simply too slow, or perhaps unwilling, to adjust this season. Back-to-back losses to Baltimore and Denver were marked by defensive collapse. The offense didn’t seem to utilize RB Jerome Harrison and WR Joshua Cribbs enough.
Lerner has suggested Crennel could stay on as an assistant coach. While Crennel is respected by the players, keeping him on the staff is precisely the wrong move. If Lerner is going to start over, it’s time to start over completely. This is a team that needs some fresh sets of eyes.
And it is not a quick fix for whomever who signs on to lead yet another attempt at a turnaround.
(c)2002-2008 by Pro Football Weekly LLC
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