Eagles vs Steelers game thread

[Seabiscuit36]

Pimp Jackson is officially an NFL'er as Lebeau definitely gameplanned around him

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

It was over when ...
Steelers backup QB Byron Leftwich threw incomplete on fourth-and-10 with 35 seconds remaining to end Pittsburgh's slim chances of an improbable comeback. The Eagles took over on downs and kneeled down to run out the clock.

Game ball
This contest featured a dominant performance by the Eagles' front seven on defense, but not to be overlooked was the sensational effort from Philadelphia punter Sav Rocca. Rocca punted three times in the fourth quarter and all left the Steelers in challenging field position and allowed the Eagles to keep the defensive pressure on.

Key stat
The Eagles recorded nine sacks and a safety and had at least twice that many knock-downs. And those numbers don't count the four times Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger barely escaped sacks and was credited with 6 total rushing yards. If Roethlisberger was less elusive, the Eagles very easily could have tallied 15 sacks or more.

Noteworthy
Eagles RB Brian Westbrook left in the second quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. ... Roethlisberger left late in the fourth quarter with a hand injury and did not return. ... The Steelers did not have a play of 20 yards or more until Heath Miller's 21-yard grab with less than two minutes left. ... In one eight-play stretch of the second quarter, the Steelers gave up five sacks, committed a false start penalty and threw an interception. ... Pittsburgh did not get into the red zone until its final drive. ... Donovan McNabb set a new Eagles franchise record with his 176th career touchdown pass.

[ice grillin you]

i cant believe how terrible that safety call was

[Feva]

What do you mean?

[ice grillin you]

it should have been an incomplete pass

he was so clearly throwing it to mewelde moore it wasnt even funny

[TexasEagle]

In case you're not being sarcastic, his knee was down before he even let go of the ball, it was a safety regardless of who he threw it to.

[Feva]

If they were really watching the replay though... they would have noticed that Ben's knee was down before he got rid of the ball, though.

So, it may have been a safety on a "bad" call, but it was still a safety.

[rjs246]

In case you're not being sarcastic, his knee was down before he even let go of the ball, it was a safety regardless of who he threw it to.

Exactly.

[Seabiscuit36]

Probably couldnt tell that from the stadium, but his knee was down before he threw it. 

[Feva]

3...2...1...

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

i cant believe how terrible that safety call was

It was as bad as your prediction of the game's outcome was good.

[General_Failure]

I was under the impression that you're not allowed to throw it away when you're in the process of being tackled, and doing so results in a grounding penalty.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I was under the impression that you're not allowed to throw it away when you're in the process of being tackled, and doing so results in a grounding penalty.

The QB is always allowed to attempt to get the ball to an eligible receiver and is also allowed to throw it away past the line of scrimmage if out of the pocket.  Since the ball didn't get back to the line of scrimmage, the Steelers were arguing that Ben intended to throw it to his checkdown.  It's clear that is a possibility but hard to tell because the ball didn't get anywhere near any eligible receiver.

And, ultimately, the call was right anyway because his knee was down before he let go of the ball.  I think that might have been mentioned.


You might also be thinking of "in the grasp," but a whistle has to blow on that.

[ice grillin you]

it was a horrible call because they called it grounding not his knee down...he actually made a great attempt to get the ball out to moore

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

it was a horrible call because they called it grounding not his knee down...he actually made a great attempt to get the ball out to moore

You would think you'd reserve the word "horrible" for a call that incorrectly changes the game.  Considering the incorrect call turned out to have the correct outcome, I'm really confused as to why you'd make a big deal out of it.