Signs of Life

This past weekend there were 11 NFL games on at the 1PM Eastern time slot. FOX only had the TV rights to show a single game and chose one of the games in the later timeslot. I live in the Rogers broadcast area and with timeshifting and HD had access to about 10 different channels (CBS affiliates, CBS HD, and Global) showing games. However, all of the channels were showing the same game (Pats at Packers), despite what the guide said. That game was the most one-sided of all (35-0).

There were a lot of close games, including my favourite, the defending Superbowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the Browns in Cleveland.

Unfortunately I had to watch highlights only. The Steelers were trailing the entire time, and were it not for some heroics from "Big" Ben Roethlisberger, they would have lost. However, they managed to score 21 points in the fourth quarter to win 24-20. At the end of both halves the Browns launched passes to the end zone and in both instances, the Browns receiver had a decent chance to come down with the ball. Luckily both times they failed.

So the Steelers are now third in their division at 4-6 trailing Baltimore at 8-2 (whose record is more flattering than their play) and Cincinatti at 5-5.

There are some signs of playoff life - but the Steelers have to win their remaining games - not very likely based on their performance thus far.