This is the last installment of this opinionated feature, until next season. Naturally, depression has already set in, knowing there will be no more football until then.
Pittsburgh 27 - Arizona 23
The keys to this game were, as follows.
1. Penalties - Arizona shot themselves in the foot with some silly ones, usually holding. The Cards were penalized 106 yards to the Steelers' 56. Both sides were commiting them, but I thought the Steelers got away with more than the Cards.
2. Turnovers - Arizona had one lost fumble to none, for Pittsburgh. The biggest TO was the 100 yard interception return by Harrison. He showed why he is the defensive player of the game on that one. That (in my opinion) was the difference in the game, despite the fact the Cards came back in the 4th. On the 2-yd line ready to score before the half, and whammo. The Steelers sucked the life out and turned the momentum around in an instant. Big, big play right there.
3. The Refs - I thought there were numerous questionable "no calls" that went in the Steelers' favor. I agreed with Madden that Harrison should have been tossed for that cheap shot late in the game. But since he was the defensive player of the year, he wasn't. In the interception return, he showed why he was the man. In this play, he showed why he was the punk.
Nothing wrong with playing hard and hitting hard, but I thought the refs calls were setting the Steelers up to allow them free reign to play their style of game, better. Pittsburgh sensed it and tried to intimidate Arizona at every possible opportunity.
But in the end, the Cardinals had their chance to seal this with another great defensive stand. They didn't do it. I am sure Steelerville is happy and will be as obnoxious as they ever were at workplaces around the nation today. But from a neutral fan of the game, they got the breaks in this one.
Until September, this is NFL bloviater LASunsett, out.
6 comments:
Have the game on TIVO (had to work) so I'll go back and check out some of your astute points.
You're right about Steeler fans--we've got a lot of 'em too. At least Arizona gave them a nice scare.
AC,
For as bad as Arizona played throughout most of the first half, they were still in the game until the end. They proved they belonged in the big one.
I thought this was an absolute howl.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7864733.stm
Rocket, I heard or read somewhere that it was Comcast. I have Comcast at home, but was at a SB party, so I don't know whether we were watching Comcast, another cable company, or satellite.
We didn't see it.
At least it was a decent game. Too bad we all know those were NOT the best two teams in the NFL. Refs made bad calls. Last play by Arizona should've been reviewed. Whatever.
//Last play by Arizona should've been reviewed.//
I thought so too, but it would have made no difference in the score. One hail mary pass is all they would have had time for. The Steelers would have kept everyone in front of them and would have stopped them short.
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