Afterthoughts: Steelers vs. Patriots
The game between the Steelers and the Patriots did not turn out favorably for me, but there was a lot to learn in that sixty minutes of game time. For that matter, there is a lot to discuss about both of these teams.
Let me start on the topic of my beloved Steelers going down to the Patriots. I am still saddened by the loss. Anthony Smith aside, there were plenty of reasons that the Steelers did not win. The first half showed that Pittsburgh is good enough to contend with the Pats when they play well. The second half showed why the Steelers miss Ken Whisenhunt. Arians’ play calls after halftime still boggle my mind.
My big problem was his overall philosophy of passing before running. Willie Parker broke off over a c-note in yardage in a game where he did not touch the ball nearly as much as he should have. A mere week before this game we saw what Willis McGahee did to the senile Patriot linebacking core, but Arians chose to go to the skies than exploit this obvious weakness in the NFL’s most dominating team. A semi-reverse to Ward at the goal line? Really? It is not like we have a huge power-back who punches it a yard with ease (and catches ridiculous 40 yard bombs).
The New Evil Empire
Turning my attention to the Patriots, I have several thoughts which I think are getting generally overlooked by broadcasters. Firstly, Randy Moss is MVP. It is going to be awarded to Brady, and that is a joke. How did Brady look against the Ravens and Eagles when Moss was quiet? Normal. Everyone talks about the greatness of the Patriots receivers, but none of them are particularly special with the exception of Moss. Welker catches three-yard passes and lays down. Stallworth is quick, but does not require double coverage. Jabar Gaffney? Please. Randy Moss is far and away the most valuable player to the Patriots, and the most critical to his team’s success.
The other thing that bothers me about Tom Brady is his declining personality. As recently as a year ago he was championed around sports as the “golden boy.” He was one of the most respectful and competitive players of the game. This season, he has degenerated into the tyrannical leader of a band of zombies, just another helpless pawn sipping the Belichick Kool-Aid. Look at his outburst in Anthony Smith’s grill on Sunday for a prime example. Talking trash on a safety only on the field because of injuries to starters? Classy. His post-game comments have gone from humble and polite to subtly arrogant.
This is why the Patriots are hated everywhere but New England, and the Steelers are loved nearly everywhere. Our blue-collar franchise prides itself on dignity and character from the top down. The Rooney family has upheld the legacy of this football franchise by making personnel decisions based upon these qualities. Every one of the fifty states has a Steeler bar where fans can bask in the joy of the black and gold.
A few states over Robert Kraft could not care less about character in his staff. Maybe he wishes everyone has forgetten about his head coach cheating, but not all of us are so quick to forgive. Maybe he thinks that the recent shiny jewelry worn by his players will distract us from their utter lack of respect for the game (see: last year’s win over the Chargers). We have not forgotten, Mr.Kraft. Your franchise may go undefeated (I still do NOT think they will win the Superbowl), but at the cost of becoming the most hated team in the NFL. Your players live in an Orwellian locker room run by Big Brother himself. Thirteen years may have passed, but the bad guy still won.
December 11th, 2007 | 10:58 pm
I have recently wondered to myself why I dislike the Patriots so much. The answer is their arrogance. I personally like to see things done well, and football is no exception. I would have no problem with a team going undefeated. However, the Patriots disgust me by acting as though they are a victim when they go on their furious rampages. They cheated, and that is that. I understand why they get mad when people question there past Superbowl victories, but they act as though people are insulting them in the worst way when they talk about Spygate. This infuriates me. On the other hand, I don’t think that everyone in the Patriots organization is arrogant like Belichick and Brady.
When I think about an MVP, I think about which player’s absence would have the greatest effect on a team. Moss is having a excellent season, but who do the Patriots need more to win? What has Moss been doing the last few years while Brady has been winning Superbowls? Do teams draft wide receivers in the first round of the draft? No, they draft quarterbacks. Moss, like the Patriots, would be nothing without Brady, as we can compare his performance while on a poor Oakland team. The Patriots can win (Superbowls) without Randy Moss. The Patriots cannot win 16 out of 16 games without Tom Brady. That is why he is the Most Valuable Player. I think that your personal dislike for him has caused you to miss that.
December 11th, 2007 | 11:36 pm
I agree with Nathaniel, Tom Brady is hands down MVP over Randy Moss. Like Buck said, Moss was nothing in Oakland without a great quarterback, and Brady was winning championships without Moss. Like you said, Moss was rather non-existent against the Ravens, but Brady still found a way to throw touchdowns and win the game without him. Not to take anything away from Moss, because I think he is the most pure talented receiver ever to play the game. However, Brady overall is more valuable to the Patriots. And Buck, teams do draft wide receivers in the first round of the draft (Santonio Holmes pour example).
December 12th, 2007 | 1:23 am
@Mike, saying Brady found a way to win against Baltimore is like saying my dog found a way to catch the frisbee when I handed it to him. It is not that difficult when it gets delivered to you on a silver platter. Brady’s numbers are padded because of the blowout games he has played this season. Manning sat out nearly the entire second half against Baltimore on Sunday. Do you see that happening when Brady plays the Dolphins in two weeks?
@nathaniel “…which player’s absence would have the greatest effect on a team.” In the two games the Patriots almost lost, Moss had 34 and 43 yard outings. The Patriots can win with Tom Brady. They can only dominate with Randy Moss.
Thank you both for your comments!
December 12th, 2007 | 3:13 am
@Justin, first of all, we all know Oreo can catch anything that is handed or thrown to him. Secondly, regardless of the silver platter (which I agree the Ravens blew it), Brady was still the leader of his team and led them to victory when the game mattered, despite the score. Anyone who knows sports knows it doesn’t matter if you win by one point or 100 points. As long as there is a big fat W next to the game that’s all that counts. The only thing Moss’ low numbers show is that the Patriots still won the games without a big performance from him. If Brady doesn’t come up big with late drives they lose.
I didn’t say anything about Brady’s statistics, because I know that they are padded from the blowout games, but same goes for big Randy. However, look Brady did against the best defense (statistically) in the league, the Steelers. He destroyed them, and yes, Moss had a huge game as well, but thanks to Brady. A receiver cannot catch the ball unless the quarterback puts the ball there, and sometimes the receiver even drops it (i.e. Moss’ third touchdown opportunity). I’m not disagreeing that Moss is no doubt having an MVP season, but it literally is mind blowing to say that a receiver having a huge record breaking year like Moss, can win MVP when his quarterback is having a record breaking season as well, and winning games for his team even when his Pro-Bowl receiver doesn’t show up.
December 12th, 2007 | 3:19 am
As for the Manning comment, I cannot say that I see Brady sitting out against the Dolphins. But, you and I both know that the Patriots are not the same team as the Colts, and their coaches are two totally different people. We all agree that the Patriots are playing for an undefeated season built on pride and arrogance, so of course they’re not gonna sacrifice sitting their best player. Especially when the 0-13 team that they play is none other than the Miami Dolphins. Kinda ironic, don’t you think?
December 12th, 2007 | 6:14 pm
@ Justin “The Patriots can win with Tom Brady. They can only dominate with Randy Moss.”
I believe that you misunderstood what I wrote.
My point, as I already stated, is that the Patriots can win without Randy Moss (as they have proven in the past), but they cannot win without Tom Brady, making him a more valuable player.
Also, like Luke said, this isn’t a battle of statistics, it’s a question of which player is more valuable to a team’s success.
December 12th, 2007 | 7:50 pm
You comment on brady’s arrogance because he was trash talking on anthony smith, a back up only in because of injuries to starters. you sarcastically called him classy for this. He would never have said a word to him if it was not for smith’s comments guaranteeing a win over brady. Brady was just proving a silly boy wrong. The back up thing is irrelevant because after smith made those comments acting like he himself was going to do something to the patriots he made himself a target. He was destroyed all game and brady was showing his superiority. I do believe that brady is arrogant, but i think that this incident trashing talking on the field was totally called for and well deserving.
the steelers love will always remain high on my part, but this article was completely biased for the steelers. Moss is phenomenal, but welker and stallworth are definitely above average. what about the games in the middle of the season where moss did nothing and the other two had huge games, especially welker. You also downplay brady, but he is still the best QB in the league. The only person that comes in conversation with brady is peyton, another one of your favorites. thankfully ben is having an awesome comeback year.
After this apparent defense of the patriots, go steelers.
December 12th, 2007 | 8:03 pm
i also can understand the reasoning why you want to take your quarterback, or other stars, out of the game in the second half if it is a blow out, in either direction, especially in the last couple games of the season. however, as i have mentioned countless times before, this is professional sports. Who said that you had to be nice to your opponent and not embarrass him. if he wants the scoring to stop, then play defense, you are payed millions to do so. I hate belichick incredibly, but i completely agree with him saying, “we do not send the offense out there to punt.” If this was a middle school game, don’t run the score up, professional football, run the score up and show who is the most dominating team in football. Make your next opponent scared to play you.
On the otherhand, when brady is in in the 4th quarter, you hit him twice as hard and you drive everyone into the ground to save your dignity. go out fighting. By no means do i want you to hurt a player, and definitely do not do anything cheap, but show him that you are not going to be pushed over and drive him into the ground. Make him want to get off the field and feel protected. Keep your dignity as a man because the other team has no obligation to you to make you look good on the score sheet.
not running up the score can be classy, but is unnecessary at this level. play hard.