Tell the truth. In the fourth quarter last night, didn’t you think the Steelers would complete a comeback from a 29-point deficit? Or, better put, weren’t you certain the Vikings would blow a 29-point lead? Because, you know, that’s what the Vikings do?
Yeah, Pittsburgh scored 28 second half points, but the Steelers are a mess. Chuck Noll is spinning. That is not a tough team. That is not a physical team. That is not a disciplined team. And here’s the truth. They’re just not listening to Tomlin anymore. It eventually happens with every coach, no matter how great.
Dalvin Cook goes off for 205. 205. Somewhere Joe Greene is mumbling to himself.
I sat down at my keyboard at 4:05 a.m. to the news that Demaryius Thomas had died. I just stared at the screen for ten minutes. I’ll simply echo Peyton Manning’s reaction. “Devastated.” I put a lot of stock in how teammates feel about a guy. D was universally beloved. I mean, beloved. And now he’s gone, two weeks before what would have been his 34th birthday. On Christmas. Initial indications are it was a medical issue.
More than ever, the NFL is all about attrition. The Packers are getting pretty thin at WR. They had already lost Robert Tonyan. Now we learn that Randall Cobb had core muscle surgery during the Pack’s bye week. Green Bay will be fortunate if they get him back for the playoffs.
WTH got into Mike McCarthy? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not offended. In fact, I kinda liked it. Mikey Mac returns to the team after ten days in COVID lockdown and immediately tells reporters, “We’re going to win this game,” meaning Sunday’s joust with the WFT. Continues Mikey, “I’m confident in that.”
I’m glad he is. I’m not so sure. Washington has won four straight. That defense has gotten itself together. Taylor Heinicke is a swashbuckler. Tony Pollard is questionable with a torn plantar fascia, which is the medical term for, “My foot hurts like hell!” And Zeke, soldiering through a knee injury, has not rushed for more than 51 yards in his last six games.
Spoiler alert. You can go bowling tomorrow night instead of watching the Heisman ceremony. That’s a wrap after Bryce Young picked up the Maxwell. I’m good. One, I’ve never really cared about the Heisman, and, two, Young has earned it. That 43-4 touchdown pass to interception ratio sorta got my attention.
But you better be hunkered down in front of your tv tomorrow afternoon! It’s your American duty! Army-Navy! My favorite game. I love watching service academy football. Army is better than Navy this year. But not so much better that the Midshipmen can’t pull an upset.
The Ducks are trying to get the band back together. Persistent rumors that Chip Kelly is headed back to Oregon. I tend to believe that. I also think it will prove disastrous.
