Tag: Week 15

If Only The NFL Knew What A Catch Was….

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Jesse-James-TD

Good morning sports fans, and welcome to another episode of What’s A Catch?! In this controversial episode, the NFL has its fingerprints all over the outcome of Week 15’s ‘Game of the Week’. The New England Patriots took their talents to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. A game with major playoff implications in the AFC could only be called by the one, the only (broadcaster who doesn’t know how to shut up), Tony Romo!!

Through the cold and rain, the 1st quarter remained even. After Rex Burkhead dove in for a 1-yard touchdown, the Steelers marched down the field, tying the game at 7 on an Eli Rogers touchdown. The energy at Heinz Field was intense, as this game lived up to the hype.

Despite carrying a 17-10 lead into halftime, the 2nd quarter was a living nightmare for the Steelers. With just over 13 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, Ben Roethlisberger attempted to hit his favorite target, Antonio Brown, in the end zone. Brown was unable to hang on to the 25-yard touchdown pass, as his leg was slammed between 2 Patriots’ defenders. Brown fell to the ground clutching his left calf. Early reports indicate Brown has a partially torn left calf muscle. To see the play, click here.

Without Brown, the other B stepped up; Le’Veon Bell. Bell had 165 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. He walked into the end zone from 3 yards out with 1:33 left in the 3rd quarter, giving the Steelers a 24-16 lead. That would be the last time the Steelers would score. Football fans over the past 15 years know that’s not a recipe for success against Tom Brady. 1 Patriots’ field goal and a Steelers’ 3-and-out later, Tom Brady had the ball, down 5, with 2:06 remaining.

Sounds familiar doesn’t it??

Brady targeted Rob Gronkowski 4 times during this 2-minute drill. Gronk would haul in 3 of those targets for 69 yards. It was like there was no one else on the field, and Brady and Gronk were playing catch in the backyard. In UnBradyLike fashion, the Patriots scored with too much time left on the clock (56 seconds). 1 play later, Big Ben and the Steelers were on the Patriots 10-yard line. Here’s where it gets interesting….

After the Steelers burned their final timeout, Big Ben connected with tight end, Jesse James, for a 10-yard touchdown. Heinz Field erupted. Jesse James and company celebrated. And Jim Nantz and Tony Romo saw nothing to suggest the play was in question. And then the review (every scoring play is reviewed) started to take a minute. 2 minutes. 3 minutes. A line from Cinderella Man instantly popped into my head:

“I’ll tell you this much, when they take this long to make a decision, they’re gonna decide to screw somebody.”   

Obviously, the touchdown was overturned. Watch the play, then we’ll talk….

I don’t care that the NFL says a player must maintain possession of the ball through the entire motion of a catch (including contact with the ground). That silly rule doesn’t apply here. Jesse James scored a touchdown yesterday. He caught the ball while hitting the ground, THEN turned up field and reached for the end zone. After crossing the plane, and theoretically already scoring a touchdown, the ball jars loose from his Kung-Fu Grip, barely touching the ground.

Sooooo, the Steelers dusted themselves off, and took 2 more shots at the end zone. After a completion to the 7-yard line, the Steelers hurried back to the line. Big Ben faked a spike (that faked out 2 of his own receivers), and threw into traffic. A Patriots’ defender batted the ball up in the air, and it was intercepted. No touchdown. No field goal. No overtime. The Patriots stole another one against the Steelers, 27-24.

Home field, in the AFC, goes through Foxborough — for now.

 

Was it a catch???? Tell me in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

Pull Up A Chair — An Epic NFL Weekend Is Upon Us!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Pittsburgh Steelers v New England Patriots

Take the night off.

Since the NFL decided to put the worst football game in the history of football games on Thursday night, take the night off. Go finish your Christmas shopping. Go cook a nice meal. Go to bed early. And gear up for a FANTASTIC weekend of football.

Week 15 is poised to be historic. The amount of games with major playoff implications is staggering. Don’t forget, Saturday football starts this week as well. Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Yes, the NFL is taking over the calendar.

Here are the top 4 games of Week 15:

4.) Los Angeles Chargers (7-6) @ Kansas City Chiefs (7-6), Saturday @ 8:25 P.M.

Can I get some Saturday Night Football here?? Not only can you stay home and watch football on Saturday night, but you’ll be blessed with an AFC West showdown. That’s 1 part serious, 1 part sarcasm. Bad or not, this game may determine the winner of the AFC West. Philip Rivers is playing some of the best football of his career. Melvin Gordon is on his way to the 1st 1,000 yard season of his career. And the Chargers pass rush is as good as it gets. I don’t care that the Chiefs finally won a game, I’ll stick with the team playing as well as anyone in the league; the Chargers.

Prediction: Chargers 27, Chiefs 24

3.) Green Bay Packers (7-6) @ Carolina Panthers (9-4), Sunday @ 1:00 P.M.

It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for. The Baaaaad Man is back!! Aaron Rodgers has been medically cleared to play, and will be under center this coming Sunday. Rodgers hasn’t played football since he broke his collarbone against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 6. Let’s give Brett Hundley credit for the job he did over the past 8 games. He led the Packers to a 3-5 record. It’s not easy to fill Aaron Rodgers shoes, but Hundley kept the Packers afloat. Now, Rodgers must do the improbable — run the table. I think we’ll see some rust from Rodgers, but ultimately he’ll be the best player on the field.

Prediction: Packers 24, Panthers 18

2.) Los Angeles Rams (9-4) @ Seattle Seahawks (8-5), Sunday @ 4:05 P.M.

Talk about an important game. A potential playoff berth, and the lead in the NFC West hangs in the balance. Despite the level Russell Wilson is playing, football is not a 1-man sport. The Rams are a more complete team. One of Jared Goff’s favorite weapons, Robert Woods, will return to the field this week after missing 3 straight games with a shoulder injury. This will be a close, hard fought game. But Jared Goff, Todd Gurley III, Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, and Cooper Kupp will prove too much for this stripped down, Seahawks’ defense.

Prediction: Rams 28, Seahawks 24

1.) New England Patriots (10-3) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2), Sunday @ 4:25 P.M.

You wanted the game of the week. You got the game of the week. Sunday afternoon, the class of the AFC, will throw down at Heinz Field. The Patriots and Steelers are the only 2 teams in the AFC with double-digit wins. The Steelers offense is firing on all cylinders. Big Ben has turned back the clock, and Leveon Bell and Antonio Brown are the best, at their respective position, in the league. But the Patriots play well everywhere. Duh! It’s noteworthy when you handle the 2nd best team in the AFC (for the past 15 years), year in and year out. The Patriots are 5-2, including playoffs, at Heinz Field since 2002.  Plus, since the start of the 2003 season, the Patriots are 40-5 following a loss. THAT’S INSANE!! That means they’ve only lost consecutive games 5 times in nearly 15 seasons.

Prediction: Patriots 27, Steelers 20

 

What is the most exciting game of Week 15?? Post your predictions in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!