Some Trivial Notes

One hell of a game was played on Sunday and to be frank, I did not expect this outcome.  As a fan of history, we did not have a chance, historically speaking of course.  I fully expected the Colts to come out on fire and torch us, forcing us to play catch-up all afternoon or get involved in a football slinging contest in which Manning would most likely win.  I in fact, thought Indy was a better team than the 2005-06 Stillers.  This is crow that I will happily eat.

As it turned out, Cowher and crew devised a game plan that was solid if not brilliant in the first half.  His plan defeated the crowd early and helped to defeat the #1 QB in the NFL.  The Stillers took a rare early lead and played solid football.  This game will go down in the books as one of the most exciting NFL playoff games in history.  The funny thing is that one of the other great nail bitter playoff games was the Stillers against Indy on January 14, 1996.  That 20-16 win put the Stillers in the Super Bowl.

Some random notes:

• Manning.  I like Manning and think he is a great QB.  He puts more effort and study into the game and strives for perfection than many of his peers.  His off-season preparation is intense and rigorous.  He did not show up yesterday though.  I�ll harp on champion qualities a little latter, but Manning did not lead his team and did not produce.  His playoff performance thus far is what is keeping him from going into the books as a great QB.  Manning also did the worst thing a team player can do.  In his post-game interview, he basically called out his O-line and criticized the pass protection.  This will get you nowhere, except for a few look out blocks.  �Look out Peyton, ouch, looks like that hurt.�  Manning was 100% correct in his assessment of his line�s play but this stuff gets aired out in the locker room or the film sessions, not on National TV.  Manning let his team down both on the field and off.  Believe me, this will not soon be forgotten.

• Officiating.  Much has been written on our boards about the ineptness of Pete Morelli and his crew.  The NFL released a statement on Monday saying that the wrong call was made on Troy�s INT.  The nine year NFL official (I think he has only been a referee for two or three years) and High School principal made blunders left and right and he did it with a huge audience watching.  The NFL must and will take some action.  I doubt you�ll see #135 calling any playoff games in the near future.  If he does, I�ll be completely shocked.  I trust the NFL and Ed Hochuli (NFL Officials President) will do the right thing.  They most likely won�t get fined, but as an official, not being able to work future marquee games is a severe punishment.  The NFL has set precedence by firing crews that have performed poorly.  As much as we complain about the NFL, this organization is fairly reliable policing itself up.  They are not often reactive in nature (like MLB), but proactive when it comes to image.  I�m not a media fan, but this is a case in which the big time media help change something.  Every top sports writer in the Nation is calling the officiating in this game an outrage.  Fans are complaining and starting petitions.  The NFL big wigs witnessed this officiating abortion and have no choice but to correct it.  Porter should get fined for publicly criticizing the officials.  Right or wrong, he should not have made those comments.  In sport, coaches and athletes have a code of conduct/ethics outlined in their rules books.  Publicly criticizing officials is listed as a violation and should not be tolerated.  Being objective, this game was horribly officiated and the Stillers and Colts were the recipients of the blunders.  We need to put that behind us though.  The game is over and we need to focus on Denver.  An old coach of mine used to always tell us �don�t put yourself in a position that makes a referee determine the outcome.�

• Bill Cowher.  I was pleased with Cowher�s coaching on Sunday.  He did things that we haven�t witnessed him do in a playoff game.  He attacked!  As discussed above, he silenced a deafening crowd and came out firing letting Ben do his thing.  The result was an early lead and dominating football.  My old coach that cautioned us about officials also told us to go for the jugular and anything can happen in a short period of time.  I hate lead protection even though Cowher has an impressive record doing so.  14 points in the modern NFL means nothing.  Kitna or Carr can quickly close a gap and Manning sure as shit can.  I felt we shut down to early with a weapon on the other sideline that could strike at any moment and close the gap.  My only beef with the coaching was the use of the TEs.  Miller and Tuman had a great first half and after that were silent other than executing their blocking responsibilities.  Miller should be the Rookie of the Year, but we did not employ him to his full capacity.  Miller is a gamer and is most impressive trait is his yards after catch.

• Porter.  Porter is actually (statistically) having one of his better seasons.  He has been relatively quiet though.  I won�t pretend to be a LB guru, but he has generated less than he should.  He did perform when the team needed him yesterday.  His two sacks, albeit in the last three minutes of the game, were huge.  His silence for a good chunk of the regular season was erased by his sacks yesterday.  I don�t care if he was untouched, he did his job well and had some decent pressure on Manning, forcing some hurries.

• Bettis.  Laid the egg, IMO.  I�ve been one of the rare Bus supporters on this site, but his fumble was un-champion like.  I�ve supported Bettis, as noted here:  http://www.stillers.com/articles/1631.aspx

Champions make clutch play and the Bus fell short.  Bettis may be a first round Hall of Famer and I hope he is.  His fumble though does not support a Hall of Fame performance.  Hall of Famers produce when the pressure is on.  I posted this on the message board but feel it warrants repeating:

�Champions do extraordinary things when something is on the line. I've not been a Porter fan much this year but he stepped up and made two big time plays when the team needed him to do so. I used to have high regards for Manning (until his O-Line comment) but he did not play like a champion yesterday, the Stillers had a vote but you must admit that Manning did not show up. Bettis did not play like a champion either, IMO. That fumble has horrendous and unbelievably did not cause a loss or thanks to Vandy, overtime. Bettis needs to make that play to ice the game. As much as I like Bettis, playoff games have not been kind to him. In the last four playoff games, Bettis has coughed up the ball three times. Once against the Jets and Pats last year and this one in Indy.

There is no better time to execute and demonstrate champion qualities when you have:

-1st and Goal from you opponent�s 2 yard line
-1:20 left in a game that advances an underdog team to the next round
-The heavily favored team trailing by three points
-The number one QB in the NFL on the sidelines
-A kicker who was 100% on FGs in the Dome this season warming up on the sidelines
-The losing team has three remaining timeouts.�

As much as I�ve lauded Jerome, playoffs have been his nemesis.  See table below:

This is certainly a game to savor and I will do so.  This game is sure to be stored in the NFL archives for future episodes of greatest games.  We head to Mile High or whatever they call their place now and face a very good team at altitude.  The Ponies have quietly placed themselves on top and have been playing very solid football.  Their running game should be a stern test for the Stiller rush defense and I don�t think they will abandon it like Cinci or Indy did in the second half. 

Pittsburgh has not faired well in Denver.  They will go into this game at 3-8-1 on the road.  The all time series is 8-14-1.  We are not favored again.  Four point underdogs is the latest line I�ve read.  Our seed also makes us an underdog forcing another away game (which may be a blessing in disguise).  I do like being the underdog!

Go Stillers.