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Leave YOUR Writing on the Wall! Send your postgame critiques, analysis, ranting and raving about the last game as well as your predictions, smak, & insults about our upcoming opponent. Whether your message is a simple "Go Steelers" or detailed, in-depth analysis, tell us what you think and we'll post it below.
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Steelers at Saints (29-32)
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Fan Poll |  |
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Who deserves the blame for this week's loss to the Saints?
• The "Defense"
• Kordell Stewart
• Bill Cowher
• Tim Lewis
• Tommy Maddox
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Scoring Summary
First Quarter
NO - FG, John Carney 40 Yd.
NO - TD, Jerome Pathon, 15 Yd pass from Aaron Brooks (kick is good).
Second Quarter
NO - FG, John Carney 48 Yd.
PIT - TD, Plaxico Burress, 20 Yd pass from Tommy Maddox (kick is good).
NO - TD, Deuce McAllister, 1 Yd run (2-pt conversion fails).
PIT - TD, Hines Ward, 2 Yd pass from Tommy Maddox (kick is good).
Third Quarter
NO - TD, Deuce McAllister, 52 Yd run (kick is good).
PIT - TD, Jerome Bettis, 6 Yd run (kick is good).
NO - FG, John Carney 31 Yd.
Fourth Quarter
NO - FG, John Carney 48 Yd.
PIT - TD, Terance Mathis, 14 Yd pass from Tommy Maddox (kick is good).
Key Stats & Facts
• Kordell Stewart gets more blame in poll than Maddox & ties Cowher for 2nd??? Some of you people have serious issues. Certainly, I'm not saying that I think Maddox deserves the blame for the loss. Madd-Ox played pretty darn well. I just put Kordell Stewart in the poll as a little joke to thumb my noses at those who feel compelled to blame him for everything from the economy to terrosism. Stewart -- who didn't one friggin' down -- received 12% of the votes (tied for 2nd), while Maddox (who had a fumble and an INT) received less votes than anyone with 1%. Some of you people are just plain messed up.
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Steelers Offensive Leaders | |
PASSING |
ATT |
CMP |
YDS |
TD |
INT | |
Maddox |
38 |
22 |
268 |
3 |
1 |
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RUSHING |
ATT |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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Bettis |
19 |
84 |
1 |
13 |
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Zereoue |
5 |
35 |
0 |
15 |
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RECEIVING |
REC |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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Zereoue |
3 |
84 |
0 |
54 |
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Burress |
4 |
59 |
1 |
22 |
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Randle El |
5 |
48 |
0 |
22 |
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Ward |
5 |
45 |
1 |
21 |
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Saints Offensive Leaders | |
PASSING |
ATT |
CMP |
YDS |
TD |
INT | |
Brooks |
24 |
14 |
207 |
1 |
0 |
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RUSHING |
ATT |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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McCallister |
23 |
123 |
52 |
2 |
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Brooks |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
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RECEIVING |
REC |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
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Pathon |
2 |
79 |
1 |
64 |
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Horn |
6 |
70 |
0 |
21 |
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Reed |
2 |
22 |
0 |
13 |
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Key Defensive Players | |
DEFENSE |
T-A |
SCK |
INT |
FF |
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Smith |
7-1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Scott |
6-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Porter |
4-1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
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Hampton |
4-1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Gildon |
3-1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
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Key Defensive Players | |
DEFENSE |
T-A |
SCK |
INT |
FF |
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Smith |
8-3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
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Grant |
6-2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
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Bellamy |
6-1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Knight |
4-1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
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Thomas |
6-1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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"The Flying Fs"
The Dolphins of the '80s had the "Killer Bs." We're stuck with the "Flying Fs."
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No Place Like Holmes?
Weak Inside Linebackers Glaring Problem
Article by McMillen & Wife
The Miami Dolphins made it to the Super Bowl in '82 with a defense known as "the Killer B's." The nickname came because Miami's defense was comprised almost entirely of players who's last name began with the letter "B." Fast forward 20 years, and Bill Cowher has assembled a group that I'm dubbing "the Flying F's." As in the phrase, "I don't give a 'Flying F#&%' who you put in there as long as it's not Foote, Fiala or Farrior." And let's not forget Flowers, while we're at it.
Of these, rookie ILB Larry Foote is by far the biggest "Flying F." The guy put on an F-ing clinic on how NOT to be in position to make a tackle. After I finished watching the Browns go down in flames to the Ravens Sunday night (hee hee), I rewound the tape of the New Orleans debacle and dug in. As I watched, one thing became abundantly clear: Foote has two left feet.
Foote didn't just miss tackles. He completely whiffed 'em. And in the process, he was flailing around so wildly out of postition that he frequently tripped up his own teammates, preventing them from making the tackle. Go back and watch the tape, folks. If it hadn't happened to the Steelers, it would be pretty damn funny. In all seriousness, Foote was as disruptive to the Steelers' defense as anything the Saints did.
The most glaring example of Foote's ineptness came on Deuce McAllister's 52-yard TD run in the 3rd quarter. As McCallister ran to his left, the hole was clogged, so he cut back to the right where Larry Foote had prematurely vacated his gap in pursuit. Downfield, Lee Flowers was busy over-pursuing McCallister as well. When McCallister cut back, Flowers tried (too late) to adjust and get back outside. Meanwhile, Foote's arms pinwheeled madly as he tried to change directions only to flail at the air where Deuce had been an instant before. Foote then collided with Flowers, who fell down grasping for McCallister's feet, and Foote tripped over Flowers. That play pretty much summed up the afternoon for Foote & Flowers.
I could go on pointing out the seemingly endless gaffes by the Flying F's, but I won't. Suffice it to say that Foote was at the heart of nearly every sizable run, Flowers was beaten repeatedly in pass coverage (if only Chad Scott's name had an "F" in it so I could pound him, too!), Farrior called a miserable game at best and Fiala (who eventually replaced Little Foote) was meaningless.
The case could be made that we sorely miss Earl Holmes. But I think the real issue is that we need Kendrell Bell to get healthy. Kendrell's return to the outside would allow Joey Porter to replace Foote inside, and people, that will make all the difference in the world. Plug Bell in there and McCallister finishes the day with 60 yards, max. And although Farrior has struggled a bit so far, I think he'll be just fine once the proper surrounding cast is in place. If our LB's are making tackles inside (Joey Porter does NOT miss tackles), the pressure will come off of our secondary considerably because they won't have to be so friggin' preoccupied with stopping the run.
Of course, teams might then revert to using 5-wide spread sets against us again... Yoi!
In spite of our defensive woes, I was greatly encouraged by the offense. For the first time this season, our offense played well enough to win. There were still too many breakdowns on the offensive line for my liking, but they put in their best effort of the year by far. Alan Faneca was a total champ. Tommy Maddox looked pretty good for his first start in 10 years, our receivers didn't drop a single pass that I can recall, Bettis was playing like his old self again and Amos Zereoue had the game of his life (even if he does always run out of steam inside the 5 on his breakaways)!
The bottom line: This team has lot's of problems right now. But if we can somehow get our defense performing to even a fraction of its potential, we should still end up with a pretty good ball club. That's a big "if" though, people. If you read my Raiders Postgame analysis, "Why Are We Losing," then you know my concerns about the personnel problems we have on defense that may make it nearly impossible to adjust. We simply may not be able to stop the bleeding. So far, I've seen nothing to convince me I'm wrong, but I'm still hoping for a solution. I've pretty much given up on the special teams ever being anything more than a liability, so let's pray for our defense, eh?
Next up, the Cincinnati Bengals. Let's hope we can keep them in the ranks of the winless. If not, it might be time for Bill Cowher to start wondering about life after football. Until then, bruthas & sistas!
Tim McMillen
Webmaster, McMillen & Wife
Mac & Wife is Hosted and Sponsored by Pittsburgh's Finest!
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Fan Smak & Analysis
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The following articles are listed in the order they were received (with the most recent entries at the BOTTOM). This isn't a "guestbook" format... I read and manually insert every message, so you may not see your submission show up immediately. Thanks a million for your comments, people!
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Author: steelerfan1977
Comment: your post on Bell's return
I agree with you 100% but I am confused by one thing. In your post you said "Kendrell's return to the outside would allow Joey Porter to replace Foote inside, and people, that will make all the difference in the world" Are you talking about in dime situations? In the 3-4 Porter is the outside. In the Dime though, which you are probably talking about, Bells return would allow Porter to drop into pass coverage while giving us a very needed boost in rushing the passer. Back in preseason when Bell first got hurt I got a sick feeling and it hasn't left since. I hope these things cause our secondary to play better. Without a pass rush they will continue to be beat.
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Author: McMillen & Wife
Comment: Re: your post on bells return
Actually, I was still under the assumption that Bell was going to be moved outside to take advantage of his pass-rushing skills as was discussed in the preseason. A quick peek at the current depth chart tells me you're right, though... Bell is still listed inside. Perhaps that high ankle sprain took enough off his burst to force him back inside. Then again, maybe Cowher decided to use him inside all along and I just missed the memo. Either way, the interior problems will be lessened greatly (if not solved) if/when Kendrell gets back in the lineup, dontcha' think?
I've gotta be honest... part of me says Bell's return is wishful thinking. High ankle sprains are a bitch, especially for explosive guys like Bell. Didn't a high ankle sprain signal the beginning of the end for Terrell Davis?
I shudder at the thought.
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Author: Sharon Brown
Comment: Saints game
It didnt take long, did it ?You can stick a knife in us we're DONE!
Who ya blame now?
Kordell ?
The Bus ?
Plexiglass?
It's the DEFENSE ! I 'll say it again .DEFENSE !!!!!!
Arron Smith : 1 sack
Jason Gildon: 1 sack
Chad (Toasted) Scott : Blazed
Dewayne Washington : Washed up
Lethon Flowers : ???????
Brent Alexander ( my old college classmate): MIA
James Farrior : Wasted money
Larry Foote : Why the hell is he starting ????
There are only 3 players who can say that they have earned money on Defense,
Kimo, Hampton,Porter
This is sad !!!!!
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Author: Radu
Comment: Is it just me
Or does Foote #50 just suck? I never seen a player get so out of position in my life. He doesnt even deserve to wear #50 after seeing the the way he tackles. I cant tell you how many times he lets guys break his tackles , slip through his arms,gets in the way of his own team members, or is just is out of place. Like when deuce ran for that big TD.That was his place and he got juked right out of it even before deuce was past the line of scrimage. He has done this over and over all year. Cant wait till Bell is back
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Author: kevwil
Comment: What is up with the D??
Can someone please answer the question how in the world do you go from the #1 D in the NFL to something so terrible??
We stole the win vs. Cleveland.
The problem is not talent, its all the $$ thrown out this year in signing bonuses and contracts. There is no hunger!!
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Author: Author: Tommy Coleman
Comment: Post Game 10/6/02
I don't know, but those time outs the Steelers took into the locker-room at half time must have tasted good on toast. I'd ask Chad Scott but picking on a burn victim isn't nice. Why Bill Cowher, would you use a time out to stop the clock, get the ball back and then have your offense walk with out a seeming care in the world up to line wasting 25/30 seconds and then when your QB gets sacked with STILL 2 seconds on the clock just Gooooooooo into the locker-room with time outs on the board? whhhho caaares? Lah de dah BULLSHIT ! Major clock mismanagement, MAJOR Coaching blunder! WHY? Why did they use the first one to get the ball back for? And to add insult to injury the VooDaints got the ball to start the second half...AND SCORED. So essentially Bill you used 1 timeout to get the ball so you could give the ball back to the opponent. DUMB!
One bright spot: After a good start by THE BUS, Mike Mularkey went pass pass pass punt and I thought "What the !*&!...but Coach Mularkey went back to the run and called a pretty good game. Tommy Maddox = Solid and Alan Faneca...YES SIR...that's what I'm talkiN' about. A nasty gash in the head and two plays later he's head butting Jerome for inspiration...Nice Job Alan.Nice effort Jerome.
Marvel I said I'd be watching you and well...have you come out of your stance yet...games over Mr. Smith. What was he doing ? Were his eyes shut? Missing the snap count is one thing, taking a nap on the field is another.
Bad calls, No call bad calls, yet it was the Steelers who shot themselves in the foot, time and time again. That being said the ref who was looking right at Hines Ward and called that a incompletion should be fired. So obvious. Then the head ref patting him on the back as he came back on the field, after a small vacation watching something(?) cause the replay was as obvious the first 10 times we saw it... well wasn't that just...precious...awwwwh.
Game ball if one is deserved in a loss goes to Amos Zereoue.
Guess you can't "BUY" a championship can you?
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Author: JW
Comment: RUN RUN RUN!
Hey Guys,
Just giving my 2 cents worth. WHY CAN'T WE RUN THE DAMN BALL!!!!? All this focus on who should QB is just a distraction! If we don't get back to running the ball like only the STILLERS can!!!! I am going to loose the rest of my hair!!!! HEY O-LINE!! MAKE SOME FREAKING WHOLES!!!! MORE FU AND AMOS is a GOOD thing!!! Hey Jerome SACK UP BUDDY!!!!
" THE BUCK STOPS HERE!" Coach Cowher
Truer words were never spoken!!
JW
From Cambridge Springs, PA -- now stuck down here in Richmond, VA the capitol of stupidity (Damn Redskins fans EVERYWHERE!)
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Author: Bill
Comment: We Need Help!
One thing is that the offense has finally showed a little sign of life and Maddox in my opinion did fine on his first game .... He posted some points !!
What is wrong with our team ?? For a defense to go from first to last and give up that many points, come on ..... They showed a few interesting stats on Fox yesterday and I understand why we are sinking, we need to come toghter RIGHT NOW AND WIN GAMES .... Crap, we are almost as bad as those Bungals ... I work down here in the middle of Redskin & Raven Country and I get harrassed all the time - I am still a PROUD STEELER FAN and ALWAYS WILL BE - Win or Lose, WE WILL BE BACK !
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Author: Steelermike
Comment: Average Defense is hard to watch
Let me tell you, after finally establishing a running game, to watch our defense give up those big plays aginst the Saints, it was difficult! The Steelers are Defense and running game. Always have been. We just can't seem to get it together. I am beginning to question whether Deshea Townsend should be in there. I'm not blaming our entire secondary problems on him, but I have noticed that since the start of the season, he is not playing very well.
Can anyone give me some reasons why our secondary and defense as a whole is playing so poorly? I'm telling you, watching our Steelers give up 30 pts three out of four games is SCARY. Buy the way LaSTYLE and Steeler Lou, can we leave KS outta this one?
SteelerMike
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Author: Representing LA Style
Comment: When are all of our teams going to play well?
Can anyone remember when the Steelers defense, offense, and special teams collectively, had a good game? I cant!!! Our defense is soft and teams are doing what they want with us. We finally put some points on the board but our defense falls asleep. What about special teams? Wasn't this problem supposed to be taken care of? At least now, we have a descent quarterback.
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Author: smitty
Comment: This is a really bad team
Special teams suck, defense sucks, offensive line sucks, and the coaching sucks. This is pitiful. If I were rooney I would lay down the law with Cowher right now. Mistake after mistake after mistake, penalty after penalty. This is all discipline related!!!
Watch our kickoff team, the return guy is at the 20 before you see the first steeler. Did you see the saints they were making our return guys work from the 10, not the 20. The result is our opponents almost always start beyond the 30. Every week we have a disaster of special teams. this is from poor discipline!! Last year we held the ball long enough to mask this problem until the AFC championship. Not this year.... Poor Coaching.
The Defense sucks. Our offense was able to control the possession clock last year therefore our defense was on the field less that all other teams. Not the case this year. Our defense seems "slow" this year. Watch the hitting... we are getting hit, I mean run over by running backs. This never happened last year. We psychologically defeated teams through sacks, and big hits last year.. not this year. What's the deal, have teams figured out our defense? are we calling the wrong defensive schemes on almost every play? are our players that much worse than last year? is there no desire to win, or is Kendrell Bell really that good? I hope it's the last one!!
Our offense was very effective last year. Even when we did not score we had the ball. Remember all the times we drove the ball 40,50,60 yards last year and had to settle for a field goal. We were also taking 4 to 8 minutes off the clock. Our offense is exposing how mediocre our defense is by giving them a chance to play!
Big problems in steel city this year.
Cowher has the talent to win with, Rooney has spent the money, and we can't blame today's loss on Kordell. I can't wait for an idiot to reply to this message, saying "if Kordell would have played we would have lost by even more!!"
1 - 3, give me a break!!
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Author: FETCH
Comment: SUPERBOWL TALK????
I REMEMBER WHEN ALL WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS THE SUPERBOWL, NOW ITS DROPPED TO JUST MAKING THE PLAY OFFS. JUST MAKING THE PLAYOFFS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH, IF THATS ALL WE DO THEN THINGS MUST CHANGE, MAYBE COWHER ?? I LIKE COWHER BUT A PATTERN HAS DEFINITELY EMERGED. I HEAR A LOT OF THE PLAYERS DO NOT REALLY LIKE HIM, AND THATS NOT JUST THIS YEAR. I ONCE HEARD ROD WOODSON IN AN INTERVIEW, AND THE QUESTION CAME ABOUT PLAYING FOR BILL COWHER, WELL ROD GAVE A VERY POLITICAL ANSWER BUT NEVER SAID HE LIKED PLAYING FOR HIM. I'VE HEARD RUMORS OF OTHER PLAYERS SAYING THAT ALSO. MY LAST STATEMENTS COULD BE TOTALLY WRONG BUT MAYBE THERE IS SOME TRUTH TO IT. BY NO MEANS SHOULD A COACH BABY HIS PLAYERS BUT IF A REASONABLE NUMBER OF THEM DONT LIKE PLAYING FOR HIM, WELL A DECISION MUST BE MADE ...FIND PLAYERS WHO CAN BE MOTIVATED OR GET A COACH WHO MOTIVATES PLAYERS OR KEEP ON LOSING
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Author: baday12345
Comment: its not how you start!....
When are all of our teams going to play well?...its how you finish! 4 games does not a season make!
despite the repeated breakdowns of our team in every facet of the game, there is still time to pull it together and spread fear again through the rest of the league.
i just have a weird feeling that we will be in the hunt late this season. forget the superbowl for now, but if we get hot in the playoffs, who knows?
with all the crap that happens in the NFL today, why not us?
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Author: baday12345
Comment: foote gets the boot
larry foote may become a fine linebacker someday.... but he has no biz playing D for the steelers right now. looks like a boy out there playing a mans game.
very embarassing that this is what our depth looks like now. the jury is still out on fiala.
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Author: Author: Tommy Coleman
Comment: Bill Cowher Dropped "THE BALL"
The following is the last possession of the first half for the Steelers against the Saints last Sunday. Keep in mind they had used a "time out", strategically, to get the ball back before the the half and also keep in mind they had 2, THAT'S TWO, more TOs to use and didn't. Also keep in mind that the Saints were to get the ball first in the second half and as we all saw, they did and scored.(Deuce McAllister, 52 Yd run (John Carney kick is good), 12:54. Drive: 4 plays, 69 yards in 2:06.)
Pittsburgh Steelers at 00:38 second quarter:
1-10-PIT26 (:38) PENALTY on NO-C.Grant Defensive Offside 5 yards enforced at PIT 26 - No Play.
1-5-PIT31 (:38) (Shotgun) T.Maddox pass to A.Randle El to PIT 32 for 1 yard (F.Brown). Pass 1 Run 0
Ahh, let me interject here: TO or move your asses, am I wrong people?
2-4-PIT32 (:07) (Shotgun) T.Maddox pass incomplete to T.Mathis (F.Brown).
3-5-PIT32 (:05) (Shotgun) T.Maddox sacked at PIT 27 for -5 yards (Da.Smith).
Dear Bill,
60 minutes isn't just a stale news show hosted by Ultra Liberal Mummies. Sixty minutes of football minus :38 seconds = 59:22 or a 3 point loss.
Not the only reason but a darn obvious flaw that has been evident throughout your tenure.
Still love you Bill but...
PUUHHLLEEEZE !
Tommy Coleman
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