Playing with fire at home leads to a loss

New York Giants burn Pittsburgh 21-14

We have all been warned about the dangers of playing with fire. For whatever reason, the Pittsburgh Steelers went back to their childhood to play games. Frankly, the Giants could have won this game 42-14 if it wasn’t for the Steelers’ defense. Basically, the entire first half was played on the Steelers’ end of the field. 9 out of 10 times the team with the best field position wins. At halftime, the Giants’ average starting position was the Steelers 47-yard line! Yes midfield. That’s pathetic and unacceptable at the NFL level.

However, the game started with promise. The Steelers flexed their muscles and opted to give the Giants the ball first. New York started at its own 20-yard line and lost 3 yards on its first play, as James Farrior and LaMarr Woodley gave Giants running back Brandon Jacobs an idea of ​​how the Giants running game would be received this afternoon. The Giants would gain 83 yards at the end of the day.

On fourth down on this opening possession, the Giants made it to the 21-yard line and had to punt. The Steelers started their first drive on their own 40-yard line. The Steelers get a first down on their first play. 22-yard pass to Heath Miller. The Steelers then turn the ball over to Mewelde Moore, who once again started for the injured Willie Parker. Moore collected 6 yards. The Steelers go back to Moore, who burst into daylight and won the 32-yard run against the Giants’ secondary. Pittsburgh 7 to 0.

The Giants got the ball back at their own 35-yard line and began a 6-minute, 36-second drive that ended in a 26-yard field goal by John Carney. This series was indicative of the first half for the Giants. They would get favorable field position, but the Steelers’ defense would deny them a touchdown.

Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, their next drive was very lackluster and that would be indicative of their first half. Only they didn’t even flirt with scoring the rest of the half. In fact, Ben Roethlisberger threw his first interception near the end of the first quarter, giving the Giants the ball at the Pittsburgh 42-yard line. The first quarter ended with Pittsburgh 7 and New York 3.

In the 2nd quarter the Giants would continue with the offense that resulted from the interception. At one point it became a 3-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Brandon Jacobs got the call and scored. Or did he do it? Pittsburgh’s head coach wisely dropped the defiance flag and the decision was reversed. Jacobs was clearly down on contact before the touchdown. He now he was on fourth down and less than a yard from a touchdown. The Giants opt to go for the touchdown on fourth down and get Jacobs into the goal line. This time Giants head coach Tom Coughlin defies and this time the call is not reversed and the Steelers dodge their first bullet of the day.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Ben leads his team 4 yards down their own 5-yard line. Steelers Mitch Berger then punts the ball 42 yards to the Steelers 47 where New York’s Dominik Hixon receives the punt and returns it 28 yards to the Steelers 19. Once again, the Steelers mimicked the steel curtain and held New York for another Carney kick. Pittsburgh 7 and New York 6.

The Steelers get New York’s post-kickoff and look awful again on offense. In fact, they advanced and then were penalized and fell back. The Giants get the ball back and drive into the red zone again only to be held up for another field goal. Half finished NY 9th and Pittsburgh 7th.

By halftime, Pittsburgh punter Mitch Berger had been clutching his left thigh and wincing. This made every next clearance an adventure. Also by half time it was evident that both defenses were playing very well. Although the Steelers were being tested more.

The second half began with Pittsburgh receiving and having the ball for a few minutes and having to punt. Then the Giants take over and are met with resistance and have to clear. Finally, Pittsburgh came out of its offensive coma and Roethlisberger hit Nate Washington for a 65-yard touchdown. Now it’s Steelers 14 and Giants 9.

The Giants once again get the ball and go nowhere against the “D” Steelers and have to punt. Then, in a kind of role reversal, the Steelers get the ball back and move it pretty well. They then shoot back into the end zone from 53 yards toward Washington and score. Wow, they shot themselves in the foot, though, and the TD is called back after offensive lineman Willie Colón is flagged for holding. After that, the Giants’ “D” put the brakes on the Steelers’ offense and Berger had to limp off and punt again.

The fourth quarter started with the same paint as the first half. Once again, the Giants walked away from a touchdown and got another field goal. The Steelers also reverted to their incompetent version of the offense and had to punt from their end zone. Which turned out to be more of a challenge than usual considering the Steelers’ long snapper had been kicked off the field earlier in the game.

So All-Pro linebacker James Harrison reappears. To Harrison’s credit, the spiral was nice and tight in the middle, only it flew over Berger’s head and out of the end zone for a Giants safety. Game tied at 14 just like that.

To add insult to injury to my head injury, the injured Berger had to kick the ball as a result of safety rules. The Giants get the ball back in midfield. I had a bad feeling at this point. I don’t want to be a critic, but the Steelers’ defense had been behind the eight ball all day. I always say that you can heal the sick but you can’t raise the dead. This was going to be one time too many and it was. The Giants score the go-ahead touchdown. New York 21 – Pittsburgh 14.

As if I didn’t feel bad enough, I had to watch Ben and the offense get… well, pretty offensive for all of his fans. They got 2 more attempts to score and fell very, very small.

As an overview, the opposing defenses made both QBs look very ordinary. Ben was an ineffective 13 for 29 and 189 yards. He also had a back breaking 4 interceptions. Although for his defense 1 of those interceptions was the result of a great play by the Giants secondary to shake a fumble by Pittsburgh’s Nate Washington.

On a bright note, Mewelde Moore continues to play from good to great as he rushed for a solid 89 yards on 19 carries. He also scored a TD.

As incredible as the Steelers’ defense was, they were outclassed by the Giants’ defense overall. Including the fact that the Giants had 5 sacks and the Steelers, the league leaders in sacks, 0.

This was a missed opportunity in your own building. Yes, I know the Giants are the reigning Super Bowl champions and I know the effort from our Steelers was there. But in sports, effort is not enough. Ask yourself: would you prefer a surgeon who works hard or one who does his job professionally and accurately? These are professionals, not a college team. The execution is the only thing that matters.

I personally question offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and Ben Roethlisberger when I see yet another week of failed third-down conversions.

Which brings me to my last point. I hope Santonio “bloated” Holmes is happy. Because he missed his presence so much. He Way to Get High! I hope that sucking on some weed is so awesome and fun that it’s more important than your work and your team.

Next stopWashington DC.