Week Sixteen: Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) @ Detroit Lions (8-6)

[lordstanley]

4 hours ago, Motown Bombers said:

What were they talking for so long if the penalty ended the game?

Exactly, you must be correct. The pool report doesn't make sense in that respect. To me the only thing that could have taken time was to see whether Goff had crossed the goal line before the clock hit 0 (he hadn't). Because if he had scored with one second to go instead of after time had expired, then probably (unless there's a 10 second runoff?) an accepted penalty would have meant one more play from around the 15 yard line. But the pool report doesn't mention that. And the explanation on the TeSlaa call that "the offending player picked one of the defenders creating an opportunity..." is b.s. The opportunity was created by the one defender lined up with ASB abandoning ASB to go with TeSlaa instead. 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 05:11 AM by lordstanley

[romad1]

The NFL brought to you by Draft Kings

[romad1]

I saw in the comments on POD's board that the guy in the blue wig was a horrible person etc.  
Not accepting that narrative at all.  

Some comment that this was the reason "no FA want to sign in Detroit"  

Come on man.  Philadelphia exists.  

[Sports_Freak]

2 hours ago, romad1 said:

I saw in the comments on POD's board that the guy in the blue wig was a horrible person etc.  
Not accepting that narrative at all.  

Some comment that this was the reason "no FA want to sign in Detroit"  

Come on man.  Philadelphia exists.  

Called him by his given name? Those are fightin' words...🤣🤣🤣

 

DeKaylin Zecharius "DK" Metcalf

[romad1]

2 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

Called him by his given name? Those are fightin' words...🤣🤣🤣

 

DeKaylin Zecharius "DK" Metcalf

the Pittsburgh player claimed the guy called him all kinds of bad names.  The NFL immediately convened a drumhead trial and made the Lions lose. 

[Sports_Freak]

3 minutes ago, romad1 said:

the Pittsburgh player claimed the guy called him all kinds of bad names.  The NFL immediately convened a drumhead trial and made the Lions lose. 

The NFL wants Rodgers in the playoffs. Its almost inhumane, let the old guy retire in peace. What if he decides to play in '26? Lmao

[Mr.TaterSalad]

They mentioned this stat from a ticket texter on 97.1 that if you take away the Steelers 45 yard runs, they still averaged over 5.5/ypc. The run defense used to be another strength of their that took a big step back yesterday and this season. Paging Alim McNeill, Alim McNeill to the service desk please.

[buddha]

This is the saddest i've been as a lions fan in a really long time.  it feels like the window is closing.  otoh, a one year blip happens a lot in nfl history.  this could be just a blip for them.

now, the fact that the LIONS had a window at all is amazing.  but ragnow's retirement devastated their identity and they havent recovered.  the dline is a major disappointment and brad holmes has to take a lot of the blame there.

 the lions have a lot of talent that is still in its prime.  the best rt in football.  maybe the best rb in football.  the best slot receiver in football.  a very good pass rushing end, a very good mlb.  some safeties who can play.

getting mcneill healthy will be key.  getting a cb who can cover and stay healthy for a year is important.  but getting someone - ANYONE - who can rush the damn passer consistently is the most important thing.

this year isnt over yet.  there's a non-zero chance green bay loses out and the lions win out.  its plausible.  but the way the year has gone is a real disappointment.

[RatkoVarda]

this team is really, really talented AND they have a QB, so the foundation is very strong. they just need to fix the OL, but even still they may lead the league in scoring with a crap OL! I think the D will take a while (2 seasons) to fix.

Brad failed to do job #1 as GM - build strong OL and DL

[Sports_Freak]

3 hours ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

They mentioned this stat from a ticket texter on 97.1 that if you take away the Steelers 45 yard runs, they still averaged over 5.5/ypc. The run defense used to be another strength of their that took a big step back yesterday and this season. Paging Alim McNeill, Alim McNeill to the service desk please.

Even with the offensive apparent struggles, an argument could be made that the reason we lost to the Steelers was because of our inability to stop the run. Yes, the OL struggled and needs attention this off-season but stop those 2 long runs and we win the game.

[number20]

26 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Even with the offensive apparent struggles, an argument could be made that the reason we lost to the Steelers was because of our inability to stop the run. Yes, the OL struggled and needs attention this off-season but stop those 2 long runs and we win the game.

A big part of that was Branch. His importance gets routinely overlooked. You saw yesterday what the run defense is without him. It's like taking a queen off your chessboard. I doubt the Steelers rip both of those 45yd TD runs with a healthy Branch in the secondary. He and Jack Campbell were pretty formidable together.

I think the offense will be fine. Something needs to be done about the defense as a unit though. Yes the back end is completely drained, but we're out of excuses for the first two levels. They've been relatively healthy the last few games, no starters or key players out. Something's not working. And I have a feeling Holmes is just going to run it all back

[gehringer_2]

football teams have terrible injury years, nothing you can do but reload and try again. As long as it's Holmes picking the talent they'll be back.

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, number20 said:

A big part of that was Branch. His importance gets routinely overlooked. You saw yesterday what the run defense is without him. It's like taking a queen off your chessboard. I doubt the Steelers rip both of those 45yd TD runs with a healthy Branch in the secondary. He and Jack Campbell were pretty formidable together.

I think the offense will be fine. Something needs to be done about the defense as a unit though. Yes the back end is completely drained, but we're out of excuses for the first two levels. They've been relatively healthy the last few games, no starters or key players out. Something's not working. And I have a feeling Holmes is just going to run it all back

What's the story on our safeties? Is the Injury to Branch a threat to his career? If he can come back, when is the estimate? And the knee injury to Kirby is concerning. We have the draft and free agency to get secondary help, an edge rusher and OL depth, or starters. I guess the salary cap numbers will be coming into play. Branch was due for an extension but he may need a year to prove he still "has" it. And will we find a quality OC? Brad has his work cut out for himself 

[Motown Bombers]

6 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

What's the story on our safeties? Is the Injury to Branch a threat to his career? If he can come back, when is the estimate? And the knee injury to Kirby is concerning. We have the draft and free agency to get secondary help, an edge rusher and OL depth, or starters. I guess the salary cap numbers will be coming into play. Branch was due for an extension but he may need a year to prove he still "has" it. And will we find a quality OC? Brad has his work cut out for himself 

An Achilles is the worst possible injury for a safety to have. Sports medicine has come along way but Branch is going to have to prove himself. 

[Sports_Freak]

5 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

An Achilles is the worst possible injury for a safety to have. Sports medicine has come along way but Branch is going to have to prove himself. 

I heard it takes around a year or so to make it back. If so, we're going to need at least one quality safety and, depending on Kirby's knee, maybe 2 safeties. Others have questioned if they could have prevented all those rushing yards the Steelers had. The running back was barely touched on those 45 yard runs.

[lordstanley]

Wild, the Ford Field crowd must have felt they got punk’d. 

The scoreboard said 29-24 before the ref’s announcement. Switched it to 30-29 AFTER the ref’s announcement. 

Edited 7 hours ago by lordstanley