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You Ain't Seen Nuttin' Yet!
Pre-Game Action for 'Yins Article by Guest Michael Gee PITTSBURGH, Jan. 27 (AP) - Adam Vinatieri's 54-yard field goal in the second overtime gave the New England Patriots a bizarre 39-36 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. The kick completed a Pats comeback from a 24-0 first-half deficit. The Pats were outgained 217 yards to minus-9 in the first 30 minutes. Vinatieri's 13th field goal of the game narrowly cleared the right upright only because the goalposts were tilting six feet to the left following a moderate earthquake that struck Heinz Field midway through the third quarter. The quake, first in the Pittsburgh area in the current geologic era, caused no injuries, but tilted the goalposts and ruptured the sprinkler system, leaving the south side of the field flooded from the 30-yard line on in, preventing the Steelers from entering the Pats' red zone in overtime. ``We're a team of destiny,'' Pats offensive coordinator Charlie Weis said.
With New England facing third-and-27 from its own 3, Brady tried a sideline pass intended for Troy Brown. The ball was deflected by Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton, spun wildly off Pats tight end Jermaine Wiggins and hit Belichick squarely in the face before being grabbed by Patten, who raced downfield for a 56-yard gain. Replays clearly showed Belichick was struck with the ball and, in fact, he underwent surgery last night to have commissioner Paul Tagliabue's signature removed from his forehead. But after a 45-minute replay delay, referee Walt Coleman ruled the play stood. ``Isn't the coach supposed to be out of bounds?'' asked a spokesman for the family of Steelers coach Bill Cowher. Cowher has been missing since being ejected in the fourth quarter after an apparent Steelers TD was overruled on a Belichick replay challenge. ``If a ball's deflected, it's a live ball and in play until it hits the ground,'' Coleman said. ``According to Rule 3, Section 5, Paragraph 102, Brown Right, Mike Right, Power 6 on 2, Hut, all players are entitled to the ball if it strikes a coach.'' The obscure rule was enacted in 1919 to keep Canton Bulldogs player/coach Jim Thorpe from running trick plays off the sideline, but never used until today. The pass capped an amazing second-half turnaround by Brady. The Pro Bowl quarterback was 1-for-14 for 3 yards with three interceptions in the first half, only to finish the game with 43 straight completions. Though the Patriots never scored a touchdown, they did manage 12 consecutive scoring drives thanks to Brady and Wiggins, who finished with 27 catches for 54 yards and 27 first downs. Vinatieri was able to convert through the angled goal posts on 13-of-13 tries. Steelers booter Kris Brown went 1-for-11. ``I just tilted my head and squinted,'' Vinatieri said. Despite their second-half fade that included nine turnovers, the Steelers appeared to have clinched victory when Plaxico Burress ran 87 yards for a touchdown on a Statue of Liberty handoff from Kordell Stewart on the last play in regulation. But a replay led Coleman to rule Stewart's handoff an incomplete pass, which led to Cowher's ejection. The game lasted an NFL-record nine hours, 54 minutes, forcing the postponement of the NFC title game until tomorrow. The Pats have been installed as 9-point favorites for Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans. The AFC has been the bettors' choice since last Wednesday, when quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Donovan McNabb were injured by falling klieg lights while filming a Campbell's Chunky soup commercial. Okay, folks, enough tongue-in-cheek. Very briefly, here's McMillen & Wife's take on the game. Last week, the catch-phrase was "swagger." This week, it's "destiny." Whatever. The Patriots are a solid, well-coached team, and are probably the toughest opponent we've faced all year. But they're still over-matched across the board. The Steelers are simply too balanced and too physical on both sides of the ball for the Pats to overcome, particularly at Heinz Field. That's not to say this will be a cake walk for the Steelers. Games versus New England have rarely been easy over the years, and Sunday's game will be no exception. The bottom line: I just don't see the Pats being able to hang with us for 60 minutes, bruthas and sistas. Make those reservations for New Orleans! Tims's Prediction: 24-15 Sandy's Prediction: 23-13 See 'yins after the game, bruthas & sistas! Tim McMillen Webmaster, McMillen & Wife |
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