View topic - THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES

[steelwest Profile]

The NFL should do away with these. When I looked at the schedule earlier this year, my single thought on last night's contest was that the Steelers could not possibly lose to the Browns at home on a Sunday, but on a Thursday being a bit banged up from the week before, with little preparation, and not exactly thinking the Browns are world-beaters, it was going to be close. Not surprisingly, we got just what you would expect. Each year, in the NFL and in college, there are a few absurd Thursday results simply because the clubs are not used to playing on Thursdays and it mutes preparation and makes the games more about energy, injuries, and turnovers. All of these factors give the underdog a better chance when it is supposed to be a one-sided contest. Other than Thanksgiving (which tends not to suffer as much from this problem), having Thursday games is not worth it. If they want to do short weeks, Fridays or Saturdays are the way to go.

In particular, when you have a rivalry game, unless the better team is clicking early and puts the game away, it is eventually going to look horrible. That is what we say last night.

That being said, it is becoming almost impossible to evaluate the Steelers. They will not be able to get away with all of the schlock against good teams. But it also seems effort is key for them, and they play better against the better teams. We must hope so as any team that cannot score on first and goal from the two against the Browns typically needs to give it up for the year and regroup in training camp. The injuries are starting to be a HUGE concern as well.