If you were wondering what goes through the mind of a head coach when you have the division lead on the line, needing 92 yards and a touchdown to win the game with little time on the clock, Jim Harbaugh gave us an insight this week.
It’s music, apparently.
Before Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco handed the Pittsburgh Steelers their second loss of the season, Harbaugh was incensed by a statistical comparison shown on the Heinz Field video board and the accompanying song.
The comparison showed the stats of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger to Flacco and the song playing during the break was Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “What’s Your Name,” a song that has in the lyrics, “What’s your name, little girl?”
Harbaugh took that as a sleight to Flacco, who went on to engineer a 92-yard game-winning scoring drive. The coach believed his quarterback was being called ‘little girl’ and it is alleged that he voiced his discontent to at least one reporter.
It’s hard not to feel sorry for the Pittsburgh PA announcer or the fans, as the Steelers are one of six NFL teams who suffer from not having any cheerleaders to distract them, though quite why Harbaugh feels he should have to defend Flacco like this is a mystery.
But there really is a simple solution.
When Baltimore play the Steelers at home next season, their own PA announcer should play one of the truly awful songs recorded by Pittsburgh’s legendary quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
In the 70s Bradshaw could croon with the best of them, but 20 years later the three-time divorcee, prone to anxiety attacks and frequent sobbing, produced a truly desperate Christmas album entitled: Terry Bradshaw Sings Christmas Songs For The Whole Family.
Swap your ‘Terrible Towels’ and say hello to Terrible Tunes.
Recording a Christmas album for kids during this low point in his life wasn’t his finest hour (think Ron Atkinson’s “It’s Christmas – Let’s Give Love A Try” and multiply by a million).
Baldy Bradshaw truly sounds disturbed, like a lonely old man in a cruel world seeking solace in the open-heartedness of children (I stole that line, but it succinctly sums the album up).
Message to huffy Harbaugh: Play a Bradshaw Christmas song and take the rise out of the Steelers.
Alternatively, the next time you are in Pittsburgh, simply Look Away, as these great men in skirts advise…
Baltimore travel to Seattle on Sunday hoping that they won’t suffer a monumental let-down on their travels as they did after beating Pittsburgh in Week 2 and Houston in Week 7. Respective and unexpected losses followed at Tennessee and Jacksonville. The wise guys in Vegas may well go against the grain and side with Seattle should the handicap line move the other side of seven points, but I’d be a buyer of the Ravens regardless.
Pittsburgh head to AFC North division rivals Cincinnati, whose schedule has been so soft and fluffy it would probably roll on its back and mew at us.
The Bengals are not exactly paper tigers. Their defence certainly isn’t. But they have only faced two teams who possess a winning record; they lost to San Francisco at home and beat Buffalo by three points.
The Steelers have won nine of their last 10 visits to Paul Brown Stadium and Cincinnati’s rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has not faced a Dick LeBeau defence yet.
Despite the fact that LaMarr Woodley and Troy Polamalu have both missed significant practice time this week, the Steelers’ defence will be playing with a chip on their shoulder. Dalton would be wise to buckle up because he’s in for a bumpy ride.
Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler has had a couple of weeks where he hasn’t been sacked on every other play, but normal service will be resumed when the Bears entertain Detroit.
The Bears are on a three-game winning streak, but the teams they beat – Minnesota, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia – are average at best.
Cutler will be under heavy pressure all afternoon and it could be that the Lions sneak a rare win in Chi-town.
The visitors’ inability to stop the run is cause for concern, particularly when faced with the dynamic Matt Forte, who is as complete a weapon as you could ask for.
However, the Beras come off a short week after their Monday night win in Philadelphia, while the rested Lions are coming off a bye.
Traditionally there are never that many points scored when these two meet in the Windy City. In fact, the points haul has eclipsed the 45-point mark just three times in their last 12 meetings, so the percentage play is to go with the unders.
Conversely, there could be a few more points than expected when Jacksonville travel to AFC South division rivals Indianapolis.
While many are questioning Jack Del Rio’s decision to ditch quarterback David Garrard on the eve of the season, particularly since they have managed a miserable 12.2 points per game average since, it must not be forgotten that the Jaguars have faced a very tough schedule.
In their last four games rookie passer Blaine Gabbert has tackled Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Houston, who have tighter defences than your high school prom date.
The Colts are allowing a ridiculous 31.4 points per game and haven’t looked like coming close to being competitive.
This game will go some way to determining if Gabbert is a legitimate quarterback of the future. If he can’t beat Indy in their current malaise, he’ll be hard pushed to beat anyone.
Suggestions:
Detroit at Chicago – Under 46.5 points
Pittsburgh -3
Jacksonville -3
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