Here we go:
Steelers hold on
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison returns an interception for a 100-yard touchdown during the second quarter of the NFL Super Bowl XLIII football game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. At right is Arizona Cardinals guard Reggie Wells. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)Wow, that got interesting, right? After building a 24-point lead, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally closed a 24-19 win over the New York Jets in the AFC title game Sunday night. The win left the 5-at-10 impressed with each team and a bunch of the people involved.
- Mike Tomlin had the Steelers ready to play. Pittsburgh came out quick and strong and efficient. Midway through the second quarter, it looked like the Steelers were going to win 234-6.
- Rex Ryan rallied the Jets to unexpected heights. Ryan, the heavyset Jets coach, is emotional, and yes, let's call him passionate. (Did you see the first-half replay of Ryan after the Jets were called for a personal foul? He unloaded a 10-word rant, and seven of them would have made a sailor blush.) Anyhoo, it was minus-1 degree, the Steelers were bringing it and his team rallied from 24-0 to make it a game.
- Rashard Mendenhall was a beast. Against the Jets defense that was supposed to be the best thing since the 1985 Bears, Mendenhall ran for 121 yards and ran through linebacker Bart Scott for the game's first touchdown. Yes, it was the same Bart Scott that unloaded the famous postgame rant that featured the golden "Can't Stop a Nose Bleed!" line. After Mendenhall pushed the big-lipping Scott, maybe he got a chance to stop a nose bleed.
- I'm not sure of the stats - the research department had some previous engagement this morning - but it sure seems like teams that score a defensive touchdown win like 300 percent of the time. When William Gay returned the Jets' fumble for a score, it proved to be the difference.
Quick sidenote: Did you notice the tension between Phil Simms and Jim Nantz in the announcing booth, especially on their disagreement on the replay review on the Mark Sanchez fumble that turned into Pittsburgh's final touchdown? Interesting.
And finally some numbers that matter:
8 - the number of Super Bowls the Steelers have qualified for; they are 6-1 in Super Bowls heading into Dallas in two weeks.
24-19 - The final score, which was the exact final score that the 5-at-10 predicted on Friday. Yes, Al Davis has already called to offer his congratulations (More on that below).
166 - Rushing yards by the Steelers in their bloody-their-nose approach
311,647 (2,954,957) - The population of the city of Pittsburgh (and the seven-county metro area) and all of them are worried about whether Pro Bowl rookie center Maurkice Pouncey will be able to return from the ankle injury he suffered in the first quarter Sunday.
Packers work through Windy City
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) scrambles past Atlanta Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton (50) on a 7-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)A 21-14 win to get to the Super Bowl is nothing to sneeze at, especially for a proud franchise like the Green Bay Packers, who earned their first Super Bowl trip since 1997 with the win Sunday at Chicago. But there were as many highlights as lowlights in a game that felt more roller derby than rock concert.
- Aaron Rodgers got his team to the Super Bowl, and we all know (wait for it) "it's a quarterback-driven league." Still, Sunday was Rodgers' worst game throwing the ball this season - that pick inside the Bears' 5 was an especially painful mistake and just his second INT in the opponents' red zone in his career. Don't get us wrong, the 5-at-10 still has a man-sized man crush on Rodgers' ability, but it was not the type of performance to which we've become accustomed.
- Greg Jennings continues to be among the game's most underrated wide receivers. He caught eight passes for 130 yards for the Pack on Sunday. Until he changes his name to a Spanish number or does shirtless sit-ups in his driveway or shows up to the postgame news conference to interview himself, Jennings will have to just rely on numbers. It takes a lot of be noticed at receiver nowadays, huh?
- Green Bay had two unlikely heros - defensive coordinator Dom Capers and punter Tim Masthay. Capers, who is coaching his way toward another shot at a head coaching job, was great again Sunday. Masthay, the youngster from Kentucky, punted eight times for a 41.8-yard average. He rendered Bears return stud Devin Hester useless and had five punts downed inside the 20. It's the little things, people.
- Caleb Hanie made himself some money Sunday. Hanie, the Bears' third-string quarterback, replaced the ineffective Todd Collins, who replaced the injured Jay Cutler. Hanie took his opportunity and made the most of it - going 13-for-20 for 153 yards and a touchdown. He engineered both of the Bears' touchdown drives. He was also tricked by a Capers' zone blitz and threw an interception to defensive tackle B.J. Raji, who returned it for a touchdown.
Sidenote: The 5-at-10 loves, Loves, LOVES when the 340-pound guys score touchdowns. As John Madden used to say, the great thing about watching fat guys score is we get to watch fat guys celebrate.
Sidenote No. 2: Another defensive touchdown for the winning team. As soon as the research department gets back to work, the 5-at-10 will get them on this and report back to you.
- Jay Cutler, well, what is there to say at this point. The Bears quarterback (and we all know it's a quarterback-driven league) hurt his knee and missed almost all of the second half. He is scheduled to have an MRI today. His teammates defended Cutler. Several other NFL players are questioning him (including this gem on the Twitter by Arizona defensive tackle Darnell Dockett "If I'm on chicago team jay cutler has to wait till me and the team shower get dressed and leave before he comes in the locker room! #FACT.")The fans are blasting him. The 5-at-10 reserves judgement until we see how serious the injury is. If he has a torn ACL, then that's one thing. If it's a sprain, well, Cutler's going to have to win a Super Bowl at some point for Sunday not to be the defining game of his career.
And finally some numbers that matter:
4 - the number of teams to reach a Super Bowl by winning three road playoff games after the Packers completed the trick with a win in Chicago. The Giants (2007), the Steelers (2005) and the Patriots (1985) are the others.
10 - The differential in quarterback ratings between Rodgers and Hanie - and Hanie had the better score (65.2 to 55.4).
1 - the number of third-down conversions in 13 tries for the Bears. The Packers (2 for-11) were only slightly better.
2.5 - The early line for the Super Bowl, with the Packers starting as the early favorite.
Almost Al Davis to be a regular contributor
Al Davis.The imaginary contributions of everybody's favorite 81-year-old Raiders owner Al Davis to the 5-at-10 have been met with overwhelming fan approval (Thanks, Mom). So Al - the namesake of the All-Al team, will stop by here somewhat regularly.
When asked about his picks - Al liked the Jets and the Bears this weekend - his response was simple. "Bllaaaghhhh. Shut up."
When asked about the 5-at-10 going 3-1 this weekend (only missing the over-under total in the Packers-Bears game): "Bllaaaaaghhhh. Lucky punk."
When asked about his belief on the sectarian violence throughout the Middle East and what the ramifications may be for this generation and generations of the future: "Glad you asked. The viewpoint must be collected and surveyed through the entire prism of diplomacy and perspective that comes.... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Where was I?"
Nice get Dooley
Derek Dooley landed four-star safety Geraldo Orta this weekend, getting a non-binding verbal commitment from the Valdosta, Ga., high school star.
It is the fourth safety in this class, and for this team, the more quality defensive backs the better. Sure, every coach and fan would love to have a symmetric breakdown - and you can NOT have too many defensive linemen in a class - but look at what an overflow of talent at safety could mean for Dooley's team.
First, defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox is hardly bound by numbers or tradition. In the past, he has used an array of defensive looks and frequently used multiple defensive backs.
Second, a big safety can easily become a fast linebacker with a few pounds, a redshirt season and some weight training.
Third, reserve safeties usually make outstanding special-teams players.
Fourth, UT better be ready for current starter and big-time talent Jantzen Jackson to explore the option of leaving for the NFL after next fall.
Fifth, as Dooley and Co. rebuild, aren't all four-stars good stars at this point in the recruiting game?
Nice get.
All in Auburn's Jordan-Hare
Staff Photo by Dan Henry
Charles Haynie, Ryne Haynie, and Andy Norris, from left, watch as fans enter Neyland stadium before the start of Saturday evening's match-up between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Auburn Tigers.The 2010 BCS champion Auburn Tigers opened the doors to Jordan-Hare and had a celebration Saturday. The football program embraced coach Gene Chizik's "All In" phrase this fall as it moved to a record-setting 14-0 run that delivered the program it's first national title since 1957.
More than 78,000 filled in for the shindig, and if the Tigers winning it all is going to be as common as Halley's Comet, then who can blame them, right?
Anyhoo, here's the guestimates for the celebration for each SEC program if it wins the BCS title next year (Hey, the SEC has won five in a row, who's doubting a sixth at this point?):
Alabama - 78,001, just as long as they had one more than Auburn, they're fine with that.
Arkansas - 90,000, and think how great those BCS trophy parties at the Walmart would be in the home state of the Superstore.
Auburn - 39,000 or right at half of the previous year. Come on this title stuff is getting to be old hat.
Georgia - 92,000-plus. The Bulldog Nation would fill Sanford Stadium, and here's betting that the thousands of people calling for Mark Richt's job would also be there and be in full support, huh?
Florida - 45,000-plus. There's a lot to do in Florida on the weekend after all, and they've been a little spoiled by the success.
Kentucky - 60,000-plus, unless they have a basketball game that day, then they'll have to reschedule.
LSU - 50,000, unless they hand out special Les Miles replica hats, then 75,000.
Mississippi - 40,000 in the stadium, but at least 65,000 at the tailgate. They do love a party in Oxford.
Mississippi State - Hard to tell, because if the Bulldogs win the national title, Dan Mullen will be gone in the 10 days in would take to schedule an event like this.
South Carolina - The entire state, and maybe more. Seriously, a fan base that has longed for a championship - their last ring was the 1969 ACC title - for so long and stayed so loyal would deserve a huge shindig.
Tennessee - 100,000-plus. The only stragglers would be those on the West Coast who would spend the day rolling Lane Kiffin's yard.
Vandy - There would be no party, because if Vandy wins a BCS title, the world would implode.
Until tomorrow.