Tarlam!
11-19-2007, 03:57 AM
By Vic Carucci | NFL.com
http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsessionid=3BFFA86D71C2FC0685222AFF384E339C? id=09000d5d80452567&template=with-video&confirm=true
is what an elite team is supposed to do: Win decisively against a banged-up, inferior opponent.
This is what an elite team, or at least one on the fringes of elite, cannot afford to do: Lose against a bottom-dwelling club playing for next year.
That was the difference between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11.
The Packers did exactly what they were supposed to do by beating the Carolina Panthers, 31-17, in a game that was not as close as the score indicated. The Steelers? They raised some serious questions about where (or even if) they belong with the NFL's best by losing to the lowly New York Jets, 19-16, in overtime.
The Packers are 9-1 and keeping pace in the NFC with the Dallas Cowboys, who also improved to 9-1 with their 28-23 victory over the Washington Redskins (who, at 5-5, remain in the thick of the NFC wild-card race).
It was the same old story for Green Bay. For the fourth time this season, Brett Favre threw for three touchdowns, two to Donald Lee. His incredible groove is a testament to his freakish skills and ageless body. He still possesses one of the strongest and most accurate arms in the game. And there isn't a coverage or any defensive wrinkle seemingly capable of throwing him off stride. The Panthers tried, and failed, just like most of the others on the Packers' schedule so far.
Green Bay played its usual sound defense, intercepting Vinny Testaverde twice and forcing a fumble. Corey Williams had two sacks and forced two fumbles. Of the Panthers' 12 possessions, five ended in punts and three ended in turnovers. Testaverde did manage a pair of meaningless late scoring throws.
This was a complete team victory by a complete team. Even the Packers' special teams made a strong contribution, with Tramon Williams returning a punt 94 yards for a touchdown. And Ryan Grant had another solid rushing day with 88 yards.
There really is no other way to put this: The Steelers had no business losing to the Jets.
They have an excellent defense. They have a superb running game. They have a top-level quarterback.
What the Steelers (6-3) apparently don't have is the ability to consistently win on the road, where all three of their losses have occurred. And all have come against beatable teams. The Steelers already were having a difficult time living down their losses at Arizona and Denver. Now they carry the stigma of becoming only the second team to lose to the Jets this season.
The Steelers' defense actually did its part, even though Thomas Jones' 107 yards rushing made him first back to crack the 100-yard mark against them since Edgerrin James did so in 2005 for Indianapolis. The story of this game was Pittsburgh's inability to produce more than a Ben Roethlisberger touchdown pass and three Jeff Reed field goals. Willie Parker was limited to 52 yards on the ground.
The Steelers were sloppy in all phases. They allowed Roethlisberger to be sacked seven times. They were penalized eight times for 100 yards, compared to the Jets' four penalties for 30 yards.
In short, they left plenty of doubt as to whether they should be mentioned in the same sentence as the league's big three -- New England, Dallas, and Green Bay.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsessionid=3BFFA86D71C2FC0685222AFF384E339C? id=09000d5d80452567&template=with-video&confirm=true
is what an elite team is supposed to do: Win decisively against a banged-up, inferior opponent.
This is what an elite team, or at least one on the fringes of elite, cannot afford to do: Lose against a bottom-dwelling club playing for next year.
That was the difference between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11.
The Packers did exactly what they were supposed to do by beating the Carolina Panthers, 31-17, in a game that was not as close as the score indicated. The Steelers? They raised some serious questions about where (or even if) they belong with the NFL's best by losing to the lowly New York Jets, 19-16, in overtime.
The Packers are 9-1 and keeping pace in the NFC with the Dallas Cowboys, who also improved to 9-1 with their 28-23 victory over the Washington Redskins (who, at 5-5, remain in the thick of the NFC wild-card race).
It was the same old story for Green Bay. For the fourth time this season, Brett Favre threw for three touchdowns, two to Donald Lee. His incredible groove is a testament to his freakish skills and ageless body. He still possesses one of the strongest and most accurate arms in the game. And there isn't a coverage or any defensive wrinkle seemingly capable of throwing him off stride. The Panthers tried, and failed, just like most of the others on the Packers' schedule so far.
Green Bay played its usual sound defense, intercepting Vinny Testaverde twice and forcing a fumble. Corey Williams had two sacks and forced two fumbles. Of the Panthers' 12 possessions, five ended in punts and three ended in turnovers. Testaverde did manage a pair of meaningless late scoring throws.
This was a complete team victory by a complete team. Even the Packers' special teams made a strong contribution, with Tramon Williams returning a punt 94 yards for a touchdown. And Ryan Grant had another solid rushing day with 88 yards.
There really is no other way to put this: The Steelers had no business losing to the Jets.
They have an excellent defense. They have a superb running game. They have a top-level quarterback.
What the Steelers (6-3) apparently don't have is the ability to consistently win on the road, where all three of their losses have occurred. And all have come against beatable teams. The Steelers already were having a difficult time living down their losses at Arizona and Denver. Now they carry the stigma of becoming only the second team to lose to the Jets this season.
The Steelers' defense actually did its part, even though Thomas Jones' 107 yards rushing made him first back to crack the 100-yard mark against them since Edgerrin James did so in 2005 for Indianapolis. The story of this game was Pittsburgh's inability to produce more than a Ben Roethlisberger touchdown pass and three Jeff Reed field goals. Willie Parker was limited to 52 yards on the ground.
The Steelers were sloppy in all phases. They allowed Roethlisberger to be sacked seven times. They were penalized eight times for 100 yards, compared to the Jets' four penalties for 30 yards.
In short, they left plenty of doubt as to whether they should be mentioned in the same sentence as the league's big three -- New England, Dallas, and Green Bay.