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.
Forty Niners Forever 
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.