Broncos-Steelers Game Thread

[fishwax]

With all the health problems the Steelers have, the Broncos may have a chance to keep it close for a while, but those who have been clamoring to see Tebow against a top defense are soon to get their wish.

This could be epic.

[joeybee12]

1. With Ben Rapelisberger's bad ankle, I don't expect a high

scoring game...will there be TeBlow time? Doubt it, the Steelers defense won't fall apart at the end.

[fishwax]

3. I don't think they'll have to worry about falling apart at the end because

I think they'll be up by 2+ scores by then. I don't expect a high scoring game, either, but the Broncos defense is going to get worn out eventually.

And after a tough start, Redman is running pretty well.

[Telly Savalas]

2. Tebow.

Tebow, Tebow, Tebow.

Tebow!

Tebow....Tebow? Tebow!

[fishwax]

4. banana fana fo febow

[Auggie]

5. Pittsburgh D has taken away the run

in the first qtr ... forcing Tebow to throw. It's good strategy.

[fishwax]

7. No doubt -- they've got everyone on the line

But Tebow made two good throws on that touchdown drive. That might force the Steelers defense back a bit.

[Auggie]

8. Yeah, right after I posted that

[fishwax]

6. Broncos Touchdown -- pass to Eddie Royal -- 7-6 Broncos

[RagAss]

9. This could shut up Steelers fans for good.

That would be epic !

[fishwax]

13. perhaps, but

I don't want to tempt fate just yet. Plenty of time for Tebow to screw this up

[HuckleB]

14. Not likely.

They're no different than Broncos fans, and they'll rant and rave for years. Besides, the Steelers are much more likely to be competitive in the years to come than the Orange Drivel.

[fishwax]

10. Nantz and Simms having trouble with the rules on these replay challenges

The Steelers challenged a completion to Eric Decker where Decker was hit shortly after catching the ball, fell to the ground head first, and lost the ball when he hit the ground. Nantz and Simms were saying it would be either a turnover or a completion, but it was pretty obvious that the Steelers were challenging the completion rather than the rule that it wasn't a fumble. There was pretty much no way it could be a fumble, since Decker would have been down by contact when his forearm hit the ground.

I guess they forgot the controversy over the "complete the process of the catch" rule that we've heard about multiple times in the last couple of seasons.

[fishwax]

11. Touchdown Broncos -- Tebow 8 yard run up the middle -- 14-6 Broncos

Another good drive by the Broncos--Tebow had a nice pass for 58 yards to get the Broncos to the Steelers 12, then ran twice, for 4 yards and then for 8 yards and the TD.

[fishwax]

12. 17-6 -- Broncos kick a FG after a Roethlisberger interception

[JonLP24]

15. I've been a big Tebow critic

Not very vocal about it but he is playing great so far. I also credit Fox for his play-calling. It is refreshing to see an offense like this with all these teams that pass often. Really opened up the Steelers when they had everyone in the box.

[HuckleB]

16. Yeah, I'd give more credit to Fox, and consider the injuries on the Pittsburgh D.

A few good throws do not make a good quarterback. As has been noted repeatedly, no one will admit that would want Tebow to be their team's QB. I don't think this game is going to change any minds.

On the other hand, the TV is ridiculous. "Look at what Tim is doing on the sideline now!" Shit. That doesn't happen for any of the greats like this. It's just friggin' bizarre. Ugh.

[JonLP24]

18. This game doesn't discount

the games he played terribly. I'm not saying he is a great QB at this point. He has to play like this consistently for me to say that.

I agree about the attention part also.

[Auggie]

22. Credit O.C. Mike McCoy

[JonLP24]

59. Whoever calls the play

I thought of Fox because he generally has strong running teams but I meant whoever is calling the plays.

[madinmaryland]

17. Good point, Jon. Tebow hasn't looked as awkward as he has in the past.

[HuckleB]

19. Perhaps the trainer dissolved a little benzo into his Gatorade.

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Yeah, even I'm not impressed with this attempt at humor.

[fishwax]

20. I agree on all counts, Jon

I've been critical too--I've been happy to see the playoff run, of course, but haven't yet become a believer.

But it's hard to find much to be critical about this game. He's hit every big throw that he's had available, and even though he's only 5-11*, most of his misses have either been smart throwaways, drops, or incompletions because Tebow smartly put it where it was a more difficult catch but had no chance of being picked off.

You're right about the playcalling too. Well-designed plays, called at good moments in the game, and Tebow hit them when he needed to in order to make that game plan work. Good first half, no doubt.

*I had him at 6-12, but apparently one of the early screen passes was ruled a backwards pass/rushing attempt for Decker.

[Kingofalldems]

21. I welcome our new Tebow overlords

[joeybee12]

23. If this keeps up, ESPN will be unwatchable tomorrow...

Hell, all week!!!

[marmar]

25. No doubt......Skip Bayless will need to be bound and gagged.

nt

[fishwax]

26. the truth of that statement is wholly independent of the outcome of this game

[joeybee12]

27. I stand corrected...

MORE unwatchable!

[marmar]

32. LOL....True.

That's every day.

[joeybee12]

29. Just the thought of it makes me

[HuckleB]

33. Once again, I praise Jesus that I don't have cable!!!!!!!!

[fishwax]

24. Horrible call goes against the Broncos there

That was clearly a backwards pass, and the ref who called it incomplete had the perfect angle on it. The Broncos didn't challenge it because the whistle would have made it impossible to award the Broncos possession anyway.

[paulk]

28. terrible call

and now the steelers are marching down the field

really don't feel like wasting 3 hours of my life to have the refs decide the game

[Auggie]

30. Yep

And Pittsburgh scored on the same drive

[fishwax]

31. Steelers score a TD -- 20-13 Broncos

[fishwax]

34. 23-13 Broncos -- 13:10 left in the game

[Condem]

35. Lot of time left, but....

...where the fuck did this performance come from????

[madinmaryland]

36. El Supremo spent the entire week praying for El Tebow!

[Condem]

38. Well, he better pray harder.

Should be Steeler ball!

[ScreamingMeemie]

37. Hey... I remember that poster. That was the year that Brett purposely

threw that interception to let his childhood idol win the Super Bowl. If only he had known he would never go back...

[fishwax]

39. lol -- yep, that's the one

Good times

[Condem]

40. Bailey should of had that.

Instead a TD. That's how karma works, Baby Jeebus!

[fishwax]

42. yeah, he should have had that, but karma ain't fair if it punishes Bailey for Tebow's sins

[Condem]

43. Not true, fishwax.

Karma is beyond us all.

[fishwax]

41. tie game with 3:30 left

[fishwax]

44. OVERTIME!

[charlie and algernon]

45. this has been a great game

best one this weekend.

[Auggie]

46. Blown call on the dropped lateral changed the game

Wouldn't have made it to OT

[OKNancy]

47. I've been watching football since noon.. but had to come to this thread

love to see all the comments.

[fishwax]

48. .

[charlie and algernon]

49. well holy shit!

[Condem]

50. Fuck me.

The legend grows!

[Ruby the Liberal]

51. On the first play?

Really?

Wow.

Congrats Denver fans!

[trumad]

52. Yeah---I gotta say congrats to Bronco fans.

Good win.

[fishwax]

55. that was wild

[Condem]

53. The fucking OT rules suck.

The other team should have a possession to answer. NFL bullshit.

[Ruby the Liberal]

54. Well, thats why its Sudden death and not a 5th quarter.

[Condem]

57. No, Ruby. It wasn't sudden death.

The rules were changed last year. A FG wouldn't of ended the game. The Steelers would of had a shot.

[fishwax]

56. after all that time explaining the new rules, it all ends on the first play

[joeglow3]

58. Why? All Pitt had to do was stop them. They failed and deserved to lose.

[Condem]

61. Disagree.

Why shouldn't the Steelers have a chance to answer? If they don't, game over.

[Ruby the Liberal]

64. Ah - I think I am following you now.

Last 4 years being sucked in to textbooks for my MBA and I am not up on a boatload of stuff.

So you are saying that each team should be given 1 possession minimum, or that after a score, the other team gets 1 possession to answer?

[Condem]

70. What I'm suggesting is simple, Ruby.

College rules. But start from the kickoff. Not the 25. Easy.

[joeglow3]

67. They had a chance to answer and allowed an 80 yard pass.

There are multiple facets to football and the notion that an overtime period should allow both teams equal opportunities for each facet is bull shit. What happens if Pitt gets a pick six? Does Denver get a chance to play defense and Pitt is required to throw the ball and try to score?

[Condem]

69. Nope.

Doesn't happen that way in college ball, either. Game would have been over.

[joeglow3]

71. Why is that fair? Why would Denver's defense not get an equal chance

And, simply stating that is the way college does it does not make it correct. Many of us think the college way is crap.

[Condem]

72. Yeah, joeglow.

Giving each team a shot is fucking crap. I'm on board with that.

[joeglow3]

73. But, you refuse to apply your logic consistently

Like I said, if Pitt got a pick six, using your logic, it would not be fair for Denver's D to be refused to opportunity to also get a pick 6.

The reality is that too many people see football as an offense only sport. Like I said, Pitt. had a chance to stop Denver, get the ball in kick ass field position (something Denver did not get) and only drive the ball 20 yards for a game winning field goal. It didn't happen because Pitt. fucked up.

[Condem]

74. What are you talking about, joe?

Say Denver wins the toss and starts with the ball. They throw a pick six, the game is over. They do nothing and Pitt comes down and kicks a FG. Game over. It's very, very simple.

[joeglow3]

79. Let me explain it again

1. Denver starts with the ball and scores. You say this is not fair, as Pittsburg's offense did not get an equal chance.

2. Denver's offense throws a pick 6. You say this is fair, even though Denver's defense did not get an equal chance.

The problem I see with your view is that you focus too much on just the offensive side of the game. Defense and special teams are equally important. Thus, your are applying your logic inconsistently.

[Condem]

82. And how fair is it that Pittsburgh didn't get a chance on offense?

The team wins the toss, goes on offense and throws an INT. Who's fucking fault is that???

[joeglow3]

83. But, their defense should also have the chance to intercept Pitt and score

It is only fair, right?

[Condem]

86. Not a fucking clue.

[Old and In the Way]

93. But that scenario never happens.

Denver's defense never gets the chance for a quick 6 pic because Pittsburgh simply takes a knee for 4 downs. Game over, Pittsburgh wins. But that's non-nonsensical - Pittsburgh scores and Denver kicks off to Pittsburgh? Besides, why would Denver get a 2nd chance to score after Pittsburgh gets their pick 6?

I have to agree with Condem (and I have 0 skin in this game's results)...winning on a coin toss sudden death, for football, doesn't make much sense. In some sports, like hockey, a first score sudden death it works. Some sports, like football, it doesn't.

[JonLP24]

100. The offense who threw the pick

Now whose fault is it Denver went 80 yards on one play? Pittsburgh.

[Goblinmonger]

76. Seems pretty silly to give Denver's D a chance.

I'm just a high school English teacher, and even I know that the four plays from Pitt in this example would be to take a knee. I'm sure an NFL OC would figure that one out.

[Condem]

77. What in the fuck are you talking about, Goblin?

They still have to score. Pittsburgh, that is.

[Goblinmonger]

78. I thought the scenario was Pitt gets a pick six.

Game's over. You don't need to give the other team a shot.

joeglow said "Like I said, if Pitt got a pick six, using your logic, it would not be fair for Denver's D to be refused to opportunity to also get a pick 6. "

[Condem]

80. Look at #74, Goblin.

Once a fuck again. The team who wins the toss. Decides to take the ball. Or defers. Doesn't fucking matter. Just like college. With the exception that they start from the kick off. They score 7 or 3 or do nothing. Other teams ball. Or if the defense earns a TO. Their ball. They score, game over. They don't, we go on. How fucking hard is this??

[Goblinmonger]

85. Dude, I'm on your side.

Though I'm rethinking that particular choice right about now.

I'm saying that giving the other team's D a chance if the first D gets a pick-six is silly.

[Old and In the Way]

89. I agree with you.

The current playoff sudden death is unfair and really favors the toss of the coin winner.

Denver wins toss and scores, Pittsburgh should have gotten chance to tie or win with a 2 pointer (or lose).
Denver wins toss and throws a pick 6, game is over - they lost on offense. Giving Denver's defense a quick 6 chance never happens as you point out.

[joeglow3]

81. I agree with you.

In fact, I would say the game should be over. I am simply showing the flaw in Condem's logic. Sadly, there are too many people like him/her who think there is only one side of football that matters (offense). I am questioning why both offense's should have equal opportunities to perform but he does not feel the same about defenses (or special teams for that matter). The reality is all 3 facets make a football team and if one facet fucks up, it costs the whole team. That is EXACTLY what Pitt's D did. I don't buy into this whiney pussy shit that it is not fair that their offense didn't get another chance.

[joeglow3]

88. No. Cowboys fan.

Don't like Denver one bit (although, I find the anti-Tebow crowd quite amusing).

[HuckleB]

92. I'd say it's amusing that someone on DU finds "the anti-Tebow crowd quite amusing."

Or maybe I'd something more. I probably should say something more, since Tebow is against everything DU is about.

[joeglow3]

95. I think wishing the entire Denver team (& Tebow) loses for his views is petty

Sorry if that is not your thought. However, I wish I could judge everyone (including people on DU) as quickly and easily as you do.

[HuckleB]

98. I'd say it's far less petty than most reasons for rooting against a team.

Tebow is working against progressives, any way you look at it. That's not petty. That's ugly.

[Goblinmonger]

87. I have a problem when a coin flip

has a statistical chance of deciding the game. That shouldn't happen.

I've always thought it might be interesting to at least do the OT coin flip at the half. So that each team knows who will get the ball first in the case of a tie.

[Old and In the Way]

94. He's agreeing with you Condem...

[Bluzmann57]

62. Con I hate to disagree with you but...

This is the NFL. This is where men play and Pittsburgh did not stop the play, therefore they deserved to lose.

[Condem]

68. Respectfully disagree, Bluz.

The other team should have a shot. Doesn't have to be from the 25 yard line,like college. But, gawddammitt, they should have a shot. I'd say it if anyone was playing.

[HuckleB]

90. It's the rules of the game as they stand.

If they're changed, great, but that has nothing to do with today's game.

[cherokeeprogressive]

96. Zactly. n/t

[fishwax]

65. I dunno -- that would give an advantage to the other team

They'd essentially have an extra down to play with through their entire drive, since they'd never have to worry about kicking.

Of course, they still have that advantage if the receiving team kicks a FG, but it isn't as pronounced.

[Old and In the Way]

60. See you next Saturday at Foxboro Bronco fans!

because Spiralhawk couldn't be here-

<>

[fishwax]

63. That's going to be ugly

I'm happy with the win today, though!

[Renew Deal]

66. I spent the entire overtime in the bathroom

[bluedigger]

75. That's quick work, youngun!

Us old duffers take a little longer.

[HuckleB]

91. +1

[kaitcat]

97. Congrats to the Broncos.

My hatred of the Steelers stemming from the "critical mistakes" made by the officials against the Seahawks in SBXL wins out over my revulsion at Tebow's idolatrous religiosity. I guess I'll root for the Pats next week.

[wilt the stilt]

99. I do think some people don't like Tebow

because he wears his religion on his sleeve. To me he is not a phony. I believe he is what he is. That being said I think he can be good. Way to many people are to harsh o him. This is his first year. Give him the time like some other guys. He was great today. He was terrible last week.

[taterguy]

101. It's Tebow's second year in the league, person of questionable intellect. (Happy now, jury?)