Last
weeks article was entitled �Sometimes the Ball Just Bounces Your Way� this
weeks title is �And Sometimes it Doesn�t�, but perhaps it would be better
entitled �Sometimes the Ball Just Doesn�t fly Your Way�, or maybe �Wide Right�,
or maybe the one thought that has been going through my mind all day �DAMN
KICKER!�
Kris
Brown sliced 3 kicks all to the right. It looked just like my golf game, except
that I can figure out that to correct this problem all I have to do is AIM
LEFT! Why couldn't Brown figure that one out? Damn Kicker.� He gets one of my Goof Balls for almost
single handedly losing this game.
But
Brown is not completely alone. Troy Edwards also gets a goof ball for his two
fumbles, and Mark Bruener gets one for missing a block which allowed the Ravens
to block a FG and ruff up our kicker.
I
hate to sound like a poor loser, but I�ve got to give a Goof Ball to the Refs
as well. That was one of the worst called games I�ve seen in recent memory. I
actually missed the scabs.
Turning
to the positives, my Game Balls go to:
Kordell
Stewart: I have been one of his harshest critics, often calling for the
Steelers to get a real QB. Today he looked like one. He hit his WRs in stride
and on target. To bad they dropped so many balls. Late in the game I was even
calling for a return to the early passing game where he was throwing to Burress
and Ward almost exclusively. Stewart was incredibly accurate, and that is
something I never thought I�d say about him. I anxiously await the next game to
see if this kind of play will continue or if his new found accuracy is some
sort of fluke.
The
Running Game: That�s the O-line and Bettis. Nobody, No one, has moved the ball
like that against the Ravens.
Oliver
Ross: First NFL start and he pulls the Ravens. He played well. It looks like
Cowher may have made the right choice in keeping him over Tharpe.
My
last game ball goes to the Chicago Bears for pulling out an amazing OT win over
the Browns allowing the Steelers maintain a one game lead in the AFC Central.
I�d
like to give a game ball to the defense. They did play well, but I�m just so
ticked at the image of Ken Bell and Earl Holmes looking at each other in
confusion as Shannon Sharpe celebrates behind them in the end zone. They can�t
have even a single mental break down like that when playing the world champs.
Bottom
line on this game is that the Ravens know they got beat up and that they stole
a game. The didn�t earn this win. The ball just bounced (or flew) their way
today. It happens and it ought to motivate this team. The next three games will
tell us what this teams is made of as will the revenge match against these
Ravens on December 16th.
�