NFL Open Thread: Steelers vs Chargers
posted at 10:55 am on January 11, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
As it turns out, I got to watch both NFL playoff games yesterday after all. I threw out my back on Friday, so we canceled most of our schedule and I stayed at home and rested the back. The Ravens-Titans game didn’t disappoint, and I actually called the score exactly correct, 13-10 … but for the wrong team. It looked like the two offenses might dominate after the first quarter, but instead the Titans squandered several scoring opportunities with turnovers, allowing Baltimore to beat them and hit the road one more week.
I watched the second game mostly on tape, so that the First Mate and I could watch the first two episodes of The Tudors from DirecTV’s On Demand service. Needless to say, my prediction yesterday was far off of what actually happened, which was that Jake Delhomme started giving footballs away to charity early and often. I stuck out the game all the way to the end, mostly to see how fast I can move through a recorded game that lasted over three and a half hours in normal time. Answer: about 45 minutes. I got to halftime in twenty or so, and the FM couldn’t believe all the “gabbing” that I avoided.
“Why do you watch four hours of football for a half hour of action?” Man, if you have to ask …
Anyway, today better be the day that home-field advantage starts to count for something. The Chargers visit the Steelers after beating the Colts and Peyton Manning last week at home. The Chargers finished the season strong, but then again, so did the Steelers, dropping only the road game to the Titans before clobbering the Browns in a meaningless finale. I’ll have to catch this game on the DVR too, as we’ll be doing all of the things we didn’t do yesterday as well as going to the Vatican Splendors exhibit. I’m picking the Steelers in a relatively easy victory, 31-14.
Philadelphia travels to the Meadowlands in the early game to take on the previous Super Bowl champs, the Giants. In keeping with my previous agreement with Jazz Shaw, I’ll pick against the Giants and give the Eagles the nod in an upset, 24-20. Home field is 2-4 so far in this playoffs, and it should be an even split today.
If I’m right — and I rarely am in these predictions — we’ll see Baltimore at Pittsburgh and the Eagles at the Cardinals next week for the conference championships.
Blowback
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I am no Eagles fan Go Cards!
Gatordoug on January 11, 2009 at 5:59 PM
There is passion, then there is being an ass!
Gatordoug on January 11, 2009 at 6:00 PM
From the years I lived down there and attended many games with the Eagles and the Phillies, I mostly recall our fans being known for throwing anything from ice packed snowballs to broken bottles at the players. And that was the PHILLY players if they weren’t performing.
Jazz Shaw on January 11, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Jamson04 — Huh?
I kinda picked the Steelers. And it sure will not be 40 – 10 Bolts. Sheeshhh.
Reading comprehension.
IlikedAUH2O on January 11, 2009 at 6:29 PM
well, my prediction was good for the first half, i see….
Go Stillers!!!!!!
(and no I dont mean ben and jerry)
mrfixit on January 11, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Steelers are starting to roll
Gatordoug on January 11, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Philly fans threw snowballs at Santa Claus and booed Micheal Schmidt. Anyone who boos Mike Schmidt is an idiot and doesn’t deserve to watch a winner.
rbj on January 11, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Stillers got too greedy… instead of taking the 3 points, and spotting a 2 TD lead for their awesome defense, they turned the ball over on downs at the goal line…
If Rivers can throw the ball for a six the other way, the game turns around completely.. in a few seconds..
well they just got a first down.. Chargers just got a fresh breath of life… bad decision Tomlin.
nagee76 on January 11, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Well now that the Giants and the Titans are out of it (they both played poorly and deserved to get beat), I guess I’ll throw my moral support to Pittsburgh. My heart will not be in the rest of the playoffs or the super bowl.
simkeith on January 11, 2009 at 7:07 PM
See ya San Diego!
Gatordoug on January 11, 2009 at 7:11 PM
That’s the game. It’s now three possessions.
rbj on January 11, 2009 at 7:12 PM
Bring on the Ravens!
Gatordoug on January 11, 2009 at 7:14 PM
Ok, stillers just scored… let me recant.. Tomlin is a genius.. Stillers have an 18 point lead in the 4th quarter… game over for all practical reasons..
This sets up Round 3 of Stillers and Ravens… two teams that play physical and have hated each other for ever.
As Seinfeld’s Karmer would say, “Giddy up. !!”
nagee76 on January 11, 2009 at 7:14 PM
Flipping over to the Golden Globes red carpet show for a moment, and it seems that cleavage is back in style.
God bless America.
rbj on January 11, 2009 at 7:16 PM
Read your own post -maybe you should learn to write a coherent sentence. Your post says 40 to 10…. idiot.
Jamson64 on January 11, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Bolts scored a TD making it a two possession game again… stillers have to atleast score a FG.. otherwise this game is still wide open..
just when i wanted to see the boobs at the golden globes, the chargers made the game a little interesting..
nagee76 on January 11, 2009 at 7:31 PM
Steelers roll!
Gatordoug on January 11, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Nagee- no longer wide open– gotta love it
Jamson64 on January 11, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Another holding that should have been called on Harrison and he still got the sack.
Jamson64 on January 11, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Um Jameson…..IlikedAUH2O was mocking doriangrey in that particular post – read up a comment or three….
Perhaps you should rescind that “idiot” – or else look in the mirror while saying it…..
LL
Lady Logician on January 11, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Looks like Ed was right all the way along!!
Sultry Beauty on January 11, 2009 at 7:47 PM
I’m an idiot, google it…
abobo on January 11, 2009 at 7:47 PM
THANKS Steelers for kicking the Chargers out of the playoffs. I can rest easy knowing Norville Q. Turner has failed again. Someone buy Marty a beer.
fiatboomer on January 11, 2009 at 7:48 PM
LL ok ok
your jackass buddy can write mockingly about comprehension and i should take it./sarc
Jamson64 on January 11, 2009 at 7:51 PM
google jackass
Jamson64 on January 11, 2009 at 7:52 PM
I can’t believe how well the Steelers offensive line played.
If they keep that up, they have a good chance at another trophy.
forest on January 11, 2009 at 8:14 PM
There MUST be something very wrong with me when I do a couple of hundred words attacking the Bolts and somebody concludes that I am favoring them! Wow!
I had Bolts fans offering to meet me on street corners last time. With much the same material.
They may have good dope in places other than Cali!
But all is well…the good guys won. Now about the politics of their owner…
IlikedAUH2O on January 11, 2009 at 8:22 PM
Jamson64,
I just didnt feel like counting the Chargers out – remember they have no business being here after being 4-8 and essentially playing play off type football for the month of December ?
since they ve got nothing to lose, and they were down by 11, I thought that a quick TD could turn around their fortunes..
But the stillers proved why they are the.. STILLERS :-)
Looking forward to some old fashioned smash mouth football next Sunday..
nagee76 on January 11, 2009 at 8:23 PM
wow, there are some norv turner haters here… as the sports guy at espn used to remind us, norv turner could nt win the big game..
but i feel a little sad for him.. seems to be a decent guy…..although i could be wrong.
nagee76 on January 11, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Nice to see the Cards in a big game and do well, charity or not. The Bolts have some schoolin’ coming to them in PB. The Steel Curtain is being raised as I type this.
I see Eagles over Giants, and Steelers over Bolts – not that I’ve ever been good at picking.
Bigurn on January 11, 2009 at 11:25 AM
There is going to be some schoolin going on in Pittsburgh alright, but it’s going to be the Steelers getting schooled by the Bolts… ;)
doriangrey on January 11, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Dorian, please enjoy watching the teams play. Enjoy the offseason while we keep playing. Nice doing business with you.
Honestly, it was classic PB. They got stronger and stronger as the game went on. I think it would have been different with LT, but the same team would have won.
Bigurn on January 11, 2009 at 9:13 PM
That game was good one! Went to a meeting at work yesterday. A woman from Aflec was there. Got two things which is a great price. All of the women drivers except me are Charger fans. Not that is means anything but I was the only straight driver there. The women are dykes, and two pretty but Lesbians. Very nice women though. I told them the Steelers would win. So guess I better hide!
sheebe on January 11, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Take solace in knowing The Steelers won it. I am no predictor but here’s how I see The Super Bowl…
There is the possibility of a Keystone State Showdown, Steelers/Eagles. Will not happen. The Cardinals are in Arizona, momentum on their side, Warner still proving he is no old man. McNabb STILL has something to prove. And if Westbrook is injured it’s trouble.
Edgerin James will give the Cards the edge, thus sending all the Madison Avenue ad honchos heading for the windows as no one will watch a Super Bowl with a team from Arizona. Sure I know the 2001 World Series where the D-Backs shocked my Yankees, but this was after 9/11. In other words Cardinals rep the NFC.
The AFC, do not count out Big Ben of the Steelers. This kid Flacco for Baltimore is bound to run into trouble. And w/the game at the big Ketchup Bottle and those terrible towels a-waving, Lewis, Flacco and company can only do do much in terms of playing the ball. It won’t be enough. Steelers take it.
So there you have it, Cardinals/Steelers for the Super Bowl. But would I watch even if it was an all PA showdown? Maybe.
BobAnthony on January 11, 2009 at 9:52 PM
I meant do SO much!
BobAnthony on January 11, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Sounds good to me! I am glad that Steelers did win. Chargers yuck! Loved your post, very informative too.
sheebe on January 12, 2009 at 1:06 AM
I give the Terrible Towel boys credit. They’ve earned their reputation as a solid team and franchise. Another exhibit was on display again today.
But believe me, as a San Diegan, I’ve got something on them big time.
I’m going to enjoy the day that this Charger team finally one-ups them.
Hawkins1701 on January 12, 2009 at 1:23 AM
PHX is the sixth-largest city in the USA, & the suburbs & Tucson add some more millions.
jgapinoy on January 12, 2009 at 8:12 AM
I’m not a football fan, but I hope the Cards win it all just to be able to hear Kurt Warner say again, “I give God the glory.” I love ya, man!
jgapinoy on January 12, 2009 at 8:13 AM
Yes, but few of them are Cardinals fans. So many transplants, lots of Cowboy fans.
I work with a guy from Philly and he said you can buy a ticket on stubhub for the AFC Championship for $160.
Please. I paid $250 for a ticket to the Penn State – Ohio State game and that was at Beaver Stadium, which has 110,000+ seats.
Seats at Heinz on Sunday will be going for $500.00+ and that’s if you can even find one.
NoDonkey on January 12, 2009 at 8:31 AM
Next Sunday big Ben will throw Ed Reed two touchdown balls and Heinz field will be a ghost town by the 4th quarter.
Dukehoopsfan on January 12, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Their passing game seemed a bit off, though. Hopefully their receivers will have wiped the butter off their fingers by the time they Baltimore.
adagioforstrings on January 12, 2009 at 4:14 PM
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