Credit: cc / daveynin @ flickr
Polamalu fan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- AFC North
- 7 wins, 3 losses
After having last week off, the well-rested Steelers have one question to answer:
Is Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger going to play? He broke his right thumb in the last game they played against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he played that whole game, and we’ve seen him play through a broken nose, so this fracture shouldn’t be a big deal for him. The only difference we may see is a change in the formation. He may not take snaps from the center for the whole night, he may need a break, even with a splint on under his glove. If it gets too sore he may use a shotgun formation where the QB stands back a step or two and the center snaps him the ball from there. This would lessen the impact on his sore thumb.
Keep an eye out for receiver Mike Wallace who averages over 17 yards per catch. That’s a lot. Roethlisberger will also be looking to receiver Antonio Brown when Wallace is covered.
The defense will be tough, as safety (and my favorite) Troy Polamalu and the rest of the guys are the 3rd ranked pass defense in the NFL. Polamalu had sore ribs in the last game, but he’s listed as ‘probable’ for the game.
Seeing as this is in away game for Pittsburgh we’ll have to see if we can spy any of their fans waving their yellow “Terrible Towels”. They won’t be hard to spot.
Kansas City Chiefs
- AFC West
- 4 wins, 6 losses
We don’t get to see the Chiefs play that often in these Sunday night games.
From what I’ve read they give up big passing plays fairly often, so their defense is not strong this year. They also struggle to stop the pass rush, and they’re last in sacks in the NFL. This does not bode well for trying to stand up to the Pittsburgh offense, even with Roethlisberger’s injured thumb.
Starting Quarterback Matt Cassel is out on injured reserve for the rest of the season after having surgery on his injured hand. (What’s up with the hand injuries, boys?) Tyler Palko will start as QB and his primary target will be receiver Dwayne Bowe.
The key for Kansas City on defense is to create turnovers and disrupt whatever the Steelers try to do.
The best thing about this game is that both teams need to win, and that gives us an added element of unpredictability because the pressure is on for playoff spots. A loss for the Steelers could significantly change their playoff position, and KC wants to try to increase their chances to get into the playoffs in the first place.
Good evening
howdy, i'm still awake. just.
Thanks for hosting us. I was wondering if you'd schedule it or put it up manually.
coulda scheduled it, but then i'd have had to check what time it started :)
am just watching whatever's on C4 and reading GP+
About 20 minutes until kickoff. Other games ran into overtime, but that shouldn't affect the start time.
Officer and a Gentleman
oh right. seems highly dramatic.
I have never watched it. The only thing I know about it is that Richard Gere is a sailor who carried a woman out of a factory and everyone in the factory clapped while that song was played.
All I remember from it is Richard Gere having a few fits about things.
The Colts couldn't even beat the Panthers. That's 11 straight losses
awful
And despite that there are still two teams within 2 games of pinching their nexr star QB
oooh, that song.
Is the song at the end of the film?
no but the clapping is in the video.
up where we belong.
That's the one
Mike Carlson doesn't rate the Chiefs back up QB who is starting today's game. He was cut by the California Redwoods and some other team I have never heard of in the same season. How did he ever get an NFL contract?
fiiight!
Good question. Never heard of him.
in your house, in the game, or in the movie?
heh!
pre-game. sorry, assumed you saw it too.
oh, we just got the video.
ok guys, let's go. I have a bit of a cold and I need happiness in the form of my friend Polamalu.
Apparently the team started in 2009 and is now called the Sacremento Mountain Lions. They play in the UFL which is a 4 team league
he beat out Joe Flacco for a job?
Polamalu against a dud QB. Can't see what could go wrong for the Chiefs there
That is crazy
oh, good block there, though. Keep at it, Troy.
Bowe's pants came off!
oh no. Troy, get up.
Did you see the size of the guy he hit?
I guess the guy's knees didn't taste all that good.
Whoever is doing the graphics for the game centre isn't concentrating. THey have the 25 yard pass going backwards
:)
The Chiefs are really pumped up for this game.
I wonder why we see so little of them. The only time we saw a lot of them was when Montana went there
That was so close to being intercepted
so close.
offsetting penalties, lucky for KC
Nice! Way to go, Brown.
oh no, this game looks like it could be good. That's not good for me to get sleep and get rid of this cold. :(
THe corner back never even saw the pass get caught, He has to have his head turned much earlier.
Like it says in the post they both need to win
i don't have a cold, but i do need sleep. i like it though.
yeah, but I didn't expect to be right. :)
:D
Fumbled it
NO WAY!
whooooooops.
I think that is exactly what his coach said
hehe
I'm VERY impressed by the Chiefs' intensity.
:)
:)
Quite a statement when Polamalu is on the other team
I was just trying to make it sound interesting.... :)
I hope he's passed all of his concussion tests on the sidelines.
You convinced me to watch. Wonder what happened to Pete
36F=2C for our UK friends...
zzzzzz maybe.
temp at the game
And so many of them are wearing short sleeves. I would want to be way more wrapped up
Big ole 99 is all over it!
New QB so there is always a risk of problems when the cetre gives him the ball
yes, true.
I held my breath when he left the pocket.
That is the kind of situation where he should have changed the call. All those guys set to blitz and they couldn't make a pass
Looks like a fumble to me.
That call could go either way
Should have been called a fumble based on the last replay.
that's what I thought, too.
I wasn't sure at first but the ball was loose from the tackle and he never had proper control again
They sacked him at last
Big ole 99 on the other side brings it!
3rd and 29
pppphhhheeewwwwww
Big shove by a KC player on the punt
I saw that.
Interception again
Time to try the new QB even if he doesn't know the playbook
That pass was 10 yards short
Either he settles down immediately or he's just out of his depth and they get him out.
Another interception
That's it. Take him out. THREE turnovers!
That was thrown to no-one. I think he is really right handed
Horrendous passing by Palko. He's single handedly taken all of the steam out of the rest of KC.
The Chiefs defence has been great and he keeps undoing all their good work
yep
holy guacamole
How are KC still in this game?
they have huge plays, then have huge losses
TD
WOW! Another great reception , and Ben throws it from a collapsed pocket.
great catch!
Interesting point from Carlson. Because of the thumb he is taking the ball from the centre with his other hand
and still running away from Chiefs and making the big throws. He's playing well, even if I once hated him.
You have forgiven him?
I give him proper credit for playing well even if he's made some bad decisions and hurt people.
I'd have to see how he's acting in his life to see if he merits forgiveness. Tonight I just appreciate his play.
Seems reasoable
Palko better sit with the big guys on the team, for his own protection.
Mike Carlson said he looked a better player in college than Stanzi did and has a lot more experience too
well, he's freakin' out tonight or something.
So do you want one of those Polamalu wigs for Christmas, like the one in the pic with this post? I can put a word in with Santa for you. :)
hehe
I could grow my hair that long by Xmas. I need something that stops my hair growing
My hair grows fast, too. Mine grows out, though, and gets all big and puffy...so I keep it on the shorter side.
Good catch by KC.
Polamalu looks very frustrated on the side line
Poor Troy. :(
Glad he's being safe, though. His brain is more important than this game.
yeah, it must be so hard to watch.
Long field goal. 49 yards
cheers for the conversation all. i must nap now.
Night MrC
g'night
good job, Sanders, getting the tipped ball.
oh, I wish he woulda caught that. Great KC defense tonight.
Good point by the announcers - can't believe it's only a 4 point game.
The Chiefs started as the Dallas Texans. Never heard of them
I guess KC can thank the defence for that
yeah, 'cos they won't be thanking the offense!
me neither
Mike Carlson says it has been proved mathematically that calling a time out to put a kicker off does not work because they make a higher percentage of kicks if a time out is called
interesting.
Lions player got ejected for gross stupidity on Thursday. I haven't seen a player ejected in years
great Thanksgiving Day role model for the kids.
I saw that story. He has a habit of acting poorly and talking his way out of it. Hopefully not anymore.
Great commentary now by Bob Costas about the "buffoonery" of TD celebrations that are costing their teams money and yardage.
At least they threw him out of the game rather than just giving a few penalty yards
We just saw Plaxico's OTT celebration
that was good.
Troy's not going to play tonight. I'm glad they'll keep him out, but sad not to see him play. :(
I always look forward to seeing him play but I would rather they played safe in this case
same here
Hines Ward = great guy
Interception
Yes
they needed that
offense can't convert, again, but at least they kept the Steelers from going further ahead for a few minutes.
We were supposed to get Colts / Patriots next week but instead we are getting Lions / Saints
Love that camera angle from the line of scrimmage
should be a better game than watching the Colts.
Pre-season that looked like a great game. Now, not so much
I keep wanting to type yellow flag
safety car!
Yes
:)
Great runs on this drive by everyone, including Big Ben.
No-one in the stadium believed they were going to go for 4th and 4
so much for that
I was 10 when my dad taught me to run to the ball.
:D
Fake punt = first down
Crazy
There are some odd things in this game
End of the 3rd. I have to get some sleep. I hope I feel better tomorrow.
This was fun. Thanks.
Carlson says KC almost blew the fake punt because the punter stepped right way too early. It worked because half of the Steelers picked it up and the other half didn't
he did 'tell' it.
The Grey Cup final was today and the team who won lost their first 5 games of the season
At the CFL Hall of Fame dinner to 70 year olds got involved in a stand up fight
what? hehe
ok, I have to turn in.
Thanks for the company. I'm really curious to see how this turns out.
Good night. Hope the cold gets better