The Steelers go into their bye week with a 6-2 record and on top of the AFC. The Black and Gold were able to survive in Detroit. It wasn’t the best performance by the Steelers. The offense left a lot of points out there, and the defense was torched by Matthew Stafford. Still, the Steelers made some plays when they had to. Ben Roethlisberger’s 97 yard touchdown pass to emerging rookie Juju Smith-Schuster was the highlight of the night for the Steelers. And when they had to make a stop the Steelers’ D turned back the Lions a couple of times. The Steelers are glad to get out of the Motor City with a win. But they still have a ton of things they must fix.
• I’m a little concerned about Ben Roethlisberger. He has been very inconsistent through the first half of the season. Big Ben missed some wide open receivers in Detroit, throws he usually makes in his sleep. He rebounded from his dismal performance against Jacksonville to show he can still play. Nonetheless, Big Ben needs to play better if the Steelers are going to make a long run in the playoffs.
• Martavis Bryant needs to grow up. It’s as simple as that. I applaud the Steelers for suspending Bryant for the game against the Lions. His actions and remarks last week could not be tolerated. All that said, I still hope that Bryant can turn it around and help the Steelers this season. The guy has a lot of talent, and tall receivers with his skills are not exactly plentiful in the NFL. Bryant showed what he could do as a rookie. His best football should still be ahead of him. If he can put it together he will help himself earn a nice second contract. More importantly, he’ll help the Steelers contend for another Super Bowl.
• IUP wrapped up the PSAC West title with its win over Gannon. It’s now hard to imagine this team not running the table in the regular season. IUP scored over 40 points once again. It’s already been a special year for the Hawks. Who knows how special it could be.
• Penn State is not better than Ohio State, yet the Nittany Lions could have and probably should have won in Columbus. The Lions had eighteen point leads twice, and led by double digits with five or so minutes to play. But they couldn’t finish. Penn State was dominated on both lines of scrimmage in the fourth quarter as the Bucs made their classic comeback and Penn State melted down. It was a devastating loss and most likely ends Penn State’s chances to win the Big Ten East.
• Saquon Barkley could still win the Heisman Trophy, but I doubt he will. He’s clearly the most dynamic player in college football. Unfortunately, Barkley’s offensive line hasn’t done its job. If Barkley wins the Heisman he did it in spite of his O line. If he doesn’t win it, the reason is Penn State’s offensive line didn’t do their part.
• Pitt is starting to look like a real football team again. The Panthers won again at home against reeling Virginia. Pitt may still make it to a bowl game this year. Who would have believed that was possible just a few weeks ago.
• Once again, the Penguins were clobbered in the second of back to back games. Last night’s game in Winnipeg was much like what we’ve seen in the earlier season blowouts. The Pens were terrible. The new backup goaltender, Casey Desmith, struggled and had little help on defense. The Penguins already cut their backup goalie this season. Will Jim Rutherford be forced to make a deal for another one? It wouldn’t surprise me at all.
• Phil Kessel sure had a great week for the Pens. He scored back to back overtime goals to lift the Pens to wins over Edmonton and Winnipeg. His game winner against the Jets also happened to be his 300th career goal. Talk about a flair for the dramatic. And to think that some people thought the Pens should trade Kessel.
• I went to the Pens-Edmonton game last week just so I could finally see Connor McDavid. Last year’s MVP is regarded as “The Next One”. McDavid showed his speed against the Pens, but was held in check for most of the game. That is until he scored on a blistering shot in the final minutes of regulation to tie the game. Sidney Crosby is still the face of the NHL, but one day he will pass the torch to the Edmonton star.
• I went to bed late Sunday night thinking the Dodgers were on their way to a 3-2 lead in the World Series. I woke up to find out the Astros had rallied again and now lead the Dodgers as the Series goes back to LA for Game Six and a possible Game Seven. It’s a shame that most of the nation has missed two great games that went to extra innings in this series. But that’s the state of baseball these days.
• Joe Girardi lasted ten years in New York as manager of the Yankees, and that was with Hal Steinbrenner as owner. Girardi would never have lasted that long under Hal’s father, George, who delighted in firing his skippers. It’s not like the young Yankees had a bad year. They were one win from the World Series and that still wasn’t enough for Girardi to keep his job. Nonetheless, Girardi won titles as Yankees player and led them to their last World Series championship. For New York, that’s quite a resume.
