Ouch. Cincinnati fans have to be crying in their Cheerios this morning after suffering a monumentally crushing loss yesterday at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Seemingly in command after going up 16-15 late in the 4th quarter, and getting a pick from the volatile Vontzae Burfict. 1:30 left and in position to run out the clock, or at least go up by 4, Jeremy Hill fumbled the ball away on the very first play.
A wounded Ben Roethlesberger came back from his own injury to lead a drive that included short passes, and questionable actions by Burfict and the always crazy Pacman Jones. Those 30 yards in penalties with 18 seconds left sealed the deal.
There was already heightened awareness around the bad blood between these teams, and both sides were ready to throw down at a moment’s notice. The coaching staff went so far as to create a barricade of sorts between the teams as they warmed up. Yet the refs let things get way out of hand when Giovanni Bernard was knocked cold with a helmet-to-helmet hit by Ryan Shazier. Instead of a penalty, Pittsburgh was awarded the ball on the fumble, but didn’t get the TD that should have been awarded as the whistle was blown.
Thing is, this seemed to wake up the scoreless Bengals as their comeback immediately followed the hit. Unfortunately, Burfict decided to head hunt Antonio Brown on an incompletion over the middle with time winding down, and Pacman bumped a ref while fighting with a Pittsburgh coach.
Curious to me is all the justification from Simms and the other idiotic announcers that the hit was clean on Bernard. There was a play earlier in the 3rd quarter where a Pittsburgh WR got hit after catching a ball over the middle. He took 3 steps and was leveled with a hit high on his shoulder. Thing is, the play was entirely in front of him. He saw the defender coming. Penalty? No. Bad call. Bernard was hit on his play with his back to Shazier, and Shazier closing at full speed. He caught it, turned around and was speared in his facemask. No penalty? Ridiculous. I’m as ambivalent as a lot of folks around the over-flagging of the game, but that was as blatant a spear as you can see. The refs then viewed the replay, not to check for the spearing, but for the fumble that ensued as Bernard was knocked unconscious. To me, this opened up the door for more head hunting and more reckless play. Which came to pass, to the detriment of the Bengals.
The NFL talks about player safety, but allows shit like this. If that was Brady/Manning running down the field, Shazier would have gotten the heave-ho. So, as bad as the fumble was, the refs played their part in this galling loss for Cincy. Cincy did themselves no favors by coming unglued, but both sides were over the line with late hits and shit.
And yes, the context for the fumble is, of course, Preston Riley, and Roger Craig. Two plays I still haven’t gotten over.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
Vikes lose today. Hawks too damn tough.
Packers lose in the second game. How the mighty have fallen.
Jed is sucking on his thumb mubbling “yes sir Trent…..that’s right Trent.”
Bungles beat Bengals. Nuff said.
“Given Arians’ success, and that of those others nearing senior citizenship, why does it appear Holmgren and Shanahan will remain sidelined?
Vermeil’s theory? He thinks some general managers are “afraid of hiring people smarter and more experienced than they are.”
“And there are more owners that own football teams that don’t know anything about football,” Vermeil said. “They made their money doing something else or else they inherited it. And then they surround themselves with people who know less.”
Sound familiar?
I’ll tell you, the Vikings are playing well but they’re letting Seattle hang around and that’s nothing but playing with fire.
From the previous post I don’t care how bad the Niners get, I am a fan, that BS about Walsh’s teams in today’s NFL is just plain stupid!! Ronny Lott would have been flagged on every tackle. Don’t even get me started on the hits to the QB. So yeah I will continue to watch. For those of you who continue to compare that is the height of stupidity. With the whole new medical issues with concussions yes the quality of the players is only going to get worse. And that is because teams cannot afford (see salary capp) to have enough quality players on the bench. This is now the NFL.
chuck- Talk about the agony of defeat, those two miscues will always be attached to those names.
Agree, Minn has got to put some points on the board or they are through. Seattle is a 4th quarter powerhouse.
Vikings in the middle of another epic choke job. Bridgewater has no business quarterbacking an NFL team.
Kevin, you’re neglecting to mention one thing, if the Walsh Niners were playing now they’d be playing under the new rules. I’m pretty sure they could adjust to those rules just like every other team has to. Those teams were stacked with hall of famers. You make it sound like they couldn’t or wouldn’t do that. Rule changes are an ever present part of the game in any era. Remember the big pass interference flap of the ’80’s?
I don’t like comparing eras, never have, but it’s not the height of stupidity to do so in this case, it’s just a waste of time.
You can see it in Minnesota’s body language. They’re done.
Not yet.
Damn the TE should have stayed in bounds. They could have run the clock to 0:02.
You gotta be shitting me.
Jesus.
Wow.
I’ve never seen a team that gets more unforced errors in their favor than Seattle. Unbelievable.
Hope the S.kins throttle the fucking Packers. Well, we have another choke job to end a game; Refs and chokes.
Irish, of course you’re going to continue to watch that’s what the NFL expects from guppies. Only a few will not tolerate the integrity of the sport being compromised or the removal of an impact sport that it was since its conception. What the NFL refuses to mention is that these players are getting paid millions of dollars to be in that situation and to take that chance. I get paid very well at my job because of the chance of casualties involved, like a fireman or policeman. If the risk factor is no longer then lets pay these primadonnas less what’s wrong with that? Let average people afford to go to the game with their kids. If they can’t touch anyone anymore then lets lower their salary and put them if suits and call it a day. Every year more and more every thing that once was associated with only men has been altered for females and a broader audience while they pin their hopes that you don’t complain and you will still watch. This has nothing to do with player’s safety and everything to do with expanding and connecting with a broader audience that felt the sport was too violent to watch in a family setting.
None of these players care about the game anymore because this is what happens when you continue the alter the sport. There’s no more rivalries, no more hatred for the other team, everyone’s getting paid and the sport is no longer as money replaced it. Penalties after penalties, flags everywhere. All these teams left are weak because of parity and the need to give everyone a chance to win the Super Bowl instead of holding owners accountable for doing the right things and spending what it takes to win. It’s sad to think that Walsh’s Back ups would wipe out any of these teams left in the playoffs right now and that’s what happens when you remove true and real competition of a once great quality, impact sport.
V looks to the sky and yup a big white one comes plopping down on his nose. The bird sales over not minding this experience at all.
sails…..another oops.
Jesus, how many handles do you have?
Hmm, did you watch the Cincy game, V? I think there was some rivalry action going on there you stupid dolt.
Uh oh, your goats are escaping.
Wow Chuck two teams in the entire NFL that care about winning, lets start comparing them to the 70’s Steel Curtain, Raiders or the 80’s Niners, only a fool wouldn’t notice a difference. I understand some will stay silent no matter what transpires and others just feel it’s a need to tell the truth in a sheep herd society we now live in.
Look at Chuck for example he asked me a question knowing damn well that he banned me from posting. What are you scared of? What you can’t handle an opposite view? What kind of site is this when you know if you’re allowed to post here you must have the same view points of the guy running this site? And he gets mad at Skeebers for in turn doing the same thing he does. Can you say Hypocrite?
To those who ask why so many handles? It’s because some can’t handle the truth and feel a need to silence those who tell it like it is. That’s why Trump is way up in the poles people appreciate someone finally telling them the truth regardless of those who feel so little about our first amendment rights who live only to silence those with other views.
V likes Trump. News at Eleven! Oh and it’s going to rain on Wed.
Scared of pointless drivel? No. Fuck off and die you worthless piece of shit.
No, dumbass, there’s Cowboys, redskins. There’s Niners Seahawks, Giants Eagles, pats Broncos. And plenty more Rivalries aren’t the problem with the NFL.
stupid rules, inordinate commercial time, corporate shitty refs, corporate hegemony, insane prices, on and on.
The game isn’t the problem. It’s everything else around it.
TEST
Hey now….Looks like I’m back in business.
David Bowie has departed this life at 69 😦
R.I.P.
Chuck, several guys to watch tonight in the Championship game.
‘Bama DLine –
A’Shawn Robinson and Jaraan Reed
Clemson – (If he plays) –
DE/OLB Shaq Lawson
He tweaked a knee in the earlier matchup but should be good to go for this one.
Wow. David Bowie died this morning.
Sad news indeed. He was a very creative person and opened a lot of doors in the rock world. RIP
The Niner season died a few days ago. Now the FO on life support is attempting to find another scapegoat to take it’s worthless HC job. Roster is leaking worse than a 59 Ford. Help I’ve fallen down and can’t get up!
I can’t even remember what a 59 Ford looked like. i had a 59 Plymouth, and a 59 chevy, they were good cars and big. Call Jed, maybe he can help you up.
Whatever happened to Plymouth?
They went the way of the Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn, and many others.
I do miss the Superbirds, though.
I bet Chuck’s dog knows. Woof!
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3050632/1959-ford-fairlane/
new thread is up
Wow, you know Chuck’s pissed when he breaks out the word hegemony. lol
Hah!
Bummer about Bowie’s passing, but he crammed a lot living into his 69 years. RIP David.