Had I bet on the Steelers vs the Chiefs, and I never bet, I would have lost. No way I was picking the up and down Black and Gold to go into hostile KC and beat the NFL’s only unbeaten team. We really shouldn’t be surprised. Such is life in the unpredictable NFL. The Steelers looked like the Steelers of old, dominating time of possession with a great run game and smothering defense in the NFL’s loudest stadium. And even though it got a little to hairy in the game’s final minutes, the Steelers didn’t fold. The win puts Pittsburgh at 4-2. After what’s happened so far this season, I’ll take it.
• I didn’t understand why Mike Tomlin didn’t go for it in the third quarter when the Steelers had it fourth and two at the KC 35. I can understand passing up a 52 yard field goal, but even if the Steelers didn’t covert it wasn’t as if they would have given the Chiefs the ball at midfield. I thought that was a coaching mistake by Tomlin. I really didn’t understand why Chiefs’ coach Andy Reid didn’t go for the field goal when his team had a fourth and goal inside the Pittsburgh five. It was a two score game at that point and he needed points. Instead, the Chiefs went for it and were turned away. Baffling decision by Reid.
• Le’Veon is back and is once again the Steelers’ most reliable offensive weapon. Bell looked like his All Pro self while running through the Chiefs. He’s a guy who can almost win a game by himself at times. Bell was the Steelers’ MVP in the win at KC. Other than his ridiculous touchdown celebration, which is hard to do in today’s NFL, Bell was near perfect. The Steelers will ride him until the wheels fall off.
• Just when you think you’ve seen it all from Antonio Brown, the Steelers’ All World receiver makes a play that makes you shake your head. His fourth quarter touchdown, which came on a deflected pass, was a thing of beauty and just what the Steelers needed at the time. Brown is the best wide receiver in football, hands down.
• What a win for IUP. The Crimson Hawks started slowly then blew out Slippery Rock to go to 7-0. IUP is on a mission. Wins over California and The Rock in back to back weeks convince me that IUP will finish the regular season undefeated, and make a long run in the NCAA playoffs.
• South Fayette put up 56 points against Indiana a few minutes into the second quarter Friday night. I’ve never seen a team do something like that. South Fayette could have scored over 100 points if they wanted to. They’ve now won 55 straight regular season games. I’ll be shocked if anyone beats them again this year.
• Penn State is rested after a week off and now has a three game stretch against Michigan, Ohio State on the road, and then a trip to Michigan State. That’s a tough schedule. ESPN’s Game Day will be in Happy Valley for the showdown versus the Wolverines. I like Penn State in their white out game. It should be a great atmosphere.
• Pitt is a disaster. The Panthers lost to NC State on Homecoming in a game that was played before more empty seats than Panthers’ fans. Pitt is now playing its third quarterback of the season, a true freshman. It’s going to be a long year for the Blue and Gold.
• It’s hard to get too excited about hockey in October, but I’m one of those fans who watches most every game the Pens play. The defending Stanley Cup Champions have been up and down to start the season. Sidney Crosby is one reason I always try to catch the Pens. His goal against the Panthers, where he batted a puck out of the air and banked it off the goaltender, was another one for the highlight reels. Few players in hockey could make such a play. We are so lucky to get to watch a player like Sidney Crosby. I hope fans appreciate just how good he is.
• I despise the NCAA, and not just because they hammered my beloved Penn State with sanctions when they broke no NCAA rules. Now, after years of investigating North Carolina, the NCAA let the Tar Heels off with no penalties despite the fact that UNC had athletes in classes that never met. It was the biggest academic scandal in NCAA history, and yet Carolina received no penalties. My late father taught at UNC Chapel Hill for a number of years, so it’s not like I’m anti Carolina. Anyone with half a brain knows that Carolina was guilty of lack of institutional control. It’s an absolute joke.
