Monday Buzz Column
“We play not to lose.”
That’s not what Marvin Lewis said after his Bengals lost to the Steelers on Sunday but he could have.
Remember what Mike Tomlin said when he was asked about going for it successfully on fourth down twice against the Redskins, including a long touchdown pass?
He said, “We play to win.”
After a pass interference penalty, the Bengals were set up with a first and goal at the one-yard line with 2:58 left in the third quarter.
The Steelers were leading 17-6.
After losing a yard on a run up the middle, Andy Dalton’s pass to C.J. Uzomah was ruled incomplete when he landed out of bounds in the back of the end zone.
Despite the replay showing Uzomah’s foot and a knee landing in bounds, Lewis, for some reason, decided not to throw the challenge flag.
On third and goal from the two, Dalton threw a hideous pass into the end zone dirt.
So, with 2:32 left in the third quarter, Lewis decided to kick a 21-yard field goal.
(Let’s pause here for a reminder. I’ve been saying for several years now that the NFL would be doing football fans everywhere a huge favor if it decided to eliminate the goal posts and Lewis’ decision to bore millions of people with a 21-yarder is a perfect example of why.)
As soon as Mike Nugent’s kick cleared the cross bar, the Bengals’ team bus should have rolled out onto Heinz Field. Lewis should have signaled for his players to board and they should have left for the airport.
Marvin had packed it in.
By making it 17-9, Lewis still would have needed a touchdown and a two-point conversion just to tie the Steelers.
That’s called a two score game.
After what had just happened on first and goal from the one, why would he have any confidence in his team’s ability to get the two points?
Mike Tomlin gets a lot of criticism from Steelers fans and the local media for his game management, but you can be sure he would have gone for six in that situation.
Maybe he wouldn’t have made it, but Tomlin’s approach is going to win more big games in the long run.
-Have you seen enough of Ivan Nova? If you listened to some of the local talk shows, you would think this guy is Bob Gibson.
Fans and a few hosts have been calling on the Nutting family to throw $45 or $50 million at him to keep him from signing somewhere else after becoming a free agent at the end of the season.
Sunday in Cincinnati, he gave up four earned runs on 10 hits in three innings and took his first loss since coming to the Pirates in trade with the Yankees.
That raised his ERA to 4.19, which is just below his career number of 4.30. This is a guy the Pirates have to have?
Nova may have looked like a Hall of Famer since arriving in Pittsburgh but he was also making his first National League go-around after spending his entire career in the American League.
National League hitters hadn’t seen much of him.
Sunday’s three inning wipeout was the Reds’ third look at him this season. [hide]
Nova might be a good guy for the Pirates to keep for pitching depth, but people who want to throw huge, multi-year money at him need to calm down.
-I haven’t watched every minute of Team Canada’s games in the World Cup of Hockey but I’ve seen enough of Sidney Crosby on the ice with some of the best players in the world to know that he’s still the best player in the NHL and it’s not close.
Hey D… Great write up on the recap and aftermath of last nights game! Worth every dime lol
Is this now Insider on USA Hockey? Did I miss something?
No you’re right… it isn’t inside USA hockey so from here on out we can simply ignore everything that happens outside of Pittsburgh unless the Pens were directly involved. I mean excluding the fact that Sullivan was on the bench for the US… and excluding the fact that Crosby was playing for team Canada… and excluding the fact Malkin is playing for Russia.. and excluding the fact that Maatta is in Finland… and excluding the fact that Murray is on North Amreica… OH and excluding the fact that they decided to discuss the ONLY HOCKEY BEING PLAYED AT THE MOMENT… Read more »
Oh… and excluding Johns blurb up top there… and I am sure there is roughly a half dozen or more articles and blurbs that we also have to exclude from the list.
along those lines… d’s coverage from the pens golf outing was pretty spot on. I learned a lot of inside information
Just sitting around the house tonight w my dog. Felt like I should be doing something important, but couldn’t put my finger on it.
— Phil Kessel (@PKessel81)
Must be hungry for a hot dog
Like yo mama crave the bigger blacker dick nightly?
No you are mistaking with npl’s mom
At least you’re consistent. NPL hasnt been around in weeks yet you keep shitting on him… just like Orpig and DB and TK and a myriad of others that no longer play in Pittsburgh lol. Bennett injured yet?
Hope stain and gaydogg realize every time an American team wins a Stanley Cup there is a star Canadian winning for them or a coach .
USA since 1996
That’s absurd… Canadians until recently made up more than 50% of the game so of course that would work out that way. This is the shit that pisses me off about you the most. People out here trash my country because Queeb over here keeps spouting ridiculous nationalistic bullshit. You’re not Canadian… you’re French Canadian. There is a fucken reason you assholes put the French 1st. For every Lemieux, Letang, Brodeur (French Canadians people like) there’s like a dozen of you. English Canada hates your type but o my marginally less than the actual French do. You are the red… Read more »
Yeah that why he has a 20 million dollar worth of house in Montreal. Only reason he stayed in shitsburgh it’s because they owed him money and then made him team owner once again if it wasn’t for Mario this team would’ve been twice lol. Thanks to jew bettman he didint let Jim balsillie bring team to Canada
Those bandwagons don’t deserve Mario, or crosby just look at stain how he thinks sid suckss and wants him traded every night .and chased jagr out of town and when he came back to the NHL they were the first ones drooling over as if nothing happened
You could say the same thing about McDavid in Vancouver and Ladd Hudler in Florida.
Well fuck off then… clearly you are not as big a fan of the team as you claim. Also doesnt Mario also own a massive house in Sewlicky? So he bought himself a place to stay for the holidays he still stayed in Pittsburgh lol.
Because he works in Pittsburgh once he sells it where you think he is going back to Montreal not in Pittsburgh with fat fuckss
Guess we will have to see… I mean owning a place that large? Just to try and sell it upon sale of the team? It’s not out of the realm of possibilities but the reality is his kids grew up in the Pittsburgh area so that will also tie him to the city
*Sewickly
The fact that you wanted to see the franchise moved to kitchener is enough evidence for me that you are an utterly fake fan of the team. While Basille was attempting to hardball the Penguins his company fell apart… thats the kind of guy you want running your team? You, like yoda, are fucking useless to talk to no matter what the subject is.
Well at the end of the day I am originally from kitchener Ontario
So you used to be a Canadian?
I am canadian from kitchener ontario with Armenian decent
moved to Montreal like 27 -28 years ago
montreal used to be good now it has become full of arabs destroying the city just like they are doing in europe
and yeah i am not a huge fan of the PQ. i vote for the Conservatives every time
Love the irony of pointing out your “descent” while showing your racial intolerance in the same sentence
WORTH OF HOUSE!
Don’t worry Zero, most of us Americans don’t hold ignorant piece of garbage like Sam against the whole country. We realize that he’s a huge embarassment to your country like most French Canadians.
Oh I know, it’s why I take so much pleasure in jumping in haha
This game is a Rape fest
Only you would take pleasure in a rape-fest
Thanks fraud pacioretty and now Canada scores
Probably the fact they only took like two players from PQ is why they look so good
You are a fake Canadian I bet you are one of those redneck Americans that crossed the border because you are wanted by the US
You’re not even Canadian so what are you talking about. Go back to your heathen French friends you moron. The difference between me as a Canadian and you? I’m realistic while you’re obnoxious. I appreciate out neighbours while you think you’re better then them. You live in an area that it utterly and totally different than Canada while I live in the area that bank rolls that fuxken province. Eat shit you bum lol
USA USA USA
So much for hoping a new season would bring smarter posts.
Malkin Traded yet? oh forgot we are stuck with that 31 year old bum that steals paychecks and every day his value goes down
retard
Murray becomes the early Xmas decoration as he gets lit up like a tree in the second. I wonder why yoda hasn’t spoke up here. Also those lazy Russians were pretty impressive in that second period. Even after the big push from the kids in the 3rd they managed to stay composed enough to take the game… hows that hit you in the gut sam? Tonite is for all the marbles… Torts and his grand design LMAO. I usually really enjoy the US vs Canada games. The rivalry has grown so much and i get emotionally involved. Not sure how… Read more »
I’m on board for wanting a blow out as well. the u.s. needs to move on from this type of philosophy. f torts and the grinders he rode in on
well apparently U.S GM said they build this years U.S team to beat Canada I rather see Tortz than DB coaching team USA At least Tortz has the ballz to sit some players unlike DB he woul;dnt know who to scratch or make play or do some kind of line adjustment during the game
I dont care about the russians just worry about our russian how he has done so far .oh i forgot he will have the excuse he was injured. I must say he did not disappoint me with last night when he took that lazy penalty that led for the 3rd goal for the NA
Who won that game again?
I’m never one to try to curtail some good Tortarella bashing but I think you’re giving him way to much credit for the debacle that is Team USA, the decision to construct the team this way was decided by Lombardi/Burke long before Tortarella was named the coach. While I’m fully on board with calling Tortarella out for being the buffoon he is, at the end of the day he’s just doing what his bosses asked him to do when they brought him on. Allowing Tortarella to be the scapegoat does nothing to encourage USA Hockey to change, the blame needs… Read more »
maybe US needs a Canadian coach since they are limited between arrogant tortz and bone head db
Or mike fucking Sullivan? Moron
Well he has done a great job of owning the decisions inclusive of curious line up decision since the pre-tourney
John must not be watching much hockey at all because while there’s no denying Crosby is the best player in the world McDavid is closing that gap quickly, enough so that I think saying it’s not even close is a false statement. Vancouver is so fortunate to have him to carry their franchise for the next decade, I predict as early as the 2017-2018 season he’ll as send to wearing the crown of best player in the world.
Neither Crosby nor McDavid is on Vancouver
I’m aware of that. Others on this board not so much.
Trade fleury Yoda. Murray is ready 4 goals on 18 shots . To be more accurate for you Yoda. 4 goals on 9 shots in the second period
You disagreeing with him makes his point stronger. That’s how dumb you are.
For as much as I’ve liked Nova, I have to agree with John. Biggest reason to keep him is lack of depth/uncertainty with Cole and the fact that there aren’t many better options elsewhere. $40-$50 million is way out of range.
Geno’s in playoff form.
you are right he never disappoints with his dumb penalties
Hey stain how was Malkin’s penalty tonight that cost a goal to the russians and made north America have momentum
Any way pens can ship the Russian to the bruins and get Marchand and bergeron I find Marchand is a good fit with sid
“And it’s not close”… while I think I have seen enough out of Sid to confidently say it will probably be at least another year, McDavid is absolutely nipping at his heels
I just hope the kid cam stay healthy. Sid lost a lot of games in his prime. Hopefully the same won’t happen to McDavid.
Agreed… also I find it amazing how many people disagree with this point. I mean what kind of a fucking asshole wants to see the kid get hurt?
he may not be the next bob Gibson, but he could be the second coming of the great Jack Pfiester
Or JA Happ?