Ok. It's been long enough. Ireland was fired in November, and I think the show is starting to come together. Time to start blogging again.
As I write this, it's halftime of the Charger/Tennessee playoff game with the Titans leading 6-0 at Qualcomm. Ladanian Tomlinson has 6 yards on 7 carries and Antonio Gates is questionable for the 2nd half with a toe injury. If they blow this one, as 9 point favorites, I'm going to seriously re-examine my Charger loyalty.
The best game of the weekend (so far) is Jacksonville's 31-29 win at Pittsburgh. The Jags were in complete control, but the Steelers scored back-to-back-to-back 4th quarter touchdowns to take a 29-28 lead. I'm not sure whether David Garrard is a great quarterback, but he rates with Trent Dilfer as guy who avoids big mistakes and rarely loses a game for you. His biggest play was finding a seam for a 32 yard run to the Steeler 11 on 4th & 2 with less than 2 minutes to play. That set up Josh Scobee's game-winning field goal.
Jack Del Rio is a gambler. Including yesterday, the Jags have gone for it on 4th down a league high 34 time converting an NFL-best 18 times. Del Rio's players love that attitude, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin probably blew the game by being too aggressive. Pittsburgh went for 2 after its final 2 touchdowns, and, if they would have just kicked the extra points, Scobee's kick would have only tied the game.
Poor Dave Damashek. Hopefully Dick Banks can write him a song that'll make he and Steeler fans feel a little better. (Don't be surprised if Damashek complains that the Jags were holding on Garrard's big 4th down run.)
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