As the game approached, I was in desperate need of a 5-Hour Energy shot. The tryptophan from a large turkey dinner was taking it's toll. But I was determined to hang it there for what would be another hard fought battle between the division rivals. So, I popped open a cold Sam Adams Oktoberfest and got ready for kick-off.
The usual gathering of family members who join us for Thanksgiving dinner hung out to to watch the game. A few good friends also came over to cheer on the Ravens. However, for the first time ever, I allowed a Steeler's fan to join us. Not only did he join us, but he also donned the team's jersey. I was a little worried that this had the potential to turn into Jerry Springer episode.
As the game progressed, the Ravens took a small, but seemingly, comfortable lead. But as we've come to expect, the Steelers would eventually come back to make it another nail-biter.
The most controversial play came when Baltimore's Jacoby Jones returned a punt for 73 yards. As Jones blazed down the sideline, it appeared that he would go all the way for a touchdown. But as he approached the 20-yard line, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin was standing on the sideline in front of Jones, The Ravens punt returner had to cut in towards the middle of the field to avoid hitting Tomlin. As a result, Jones was tackled by Steelers' cornerback, Cortex Allen. The Ravens ultimately settled for a field goal.
Tomlin's excuse was that he was watching the punt return on the stadium's JumboTron. Perhaps that's true. But how can he not see that he's in the way? I mean, the JumboTron is 24 feet high and 100 feet wide. Even Stevie Wonder should have been able to see that he was in Jones' way!
With the referee a few feet behind the play, I can't believe that a flag wasn't thrown. The Ravens should have been awarded a touchdown. But for some reason, beyond my comprehension, the officials let it go.
Now, if I could rewind the clock, I would have liked to have seen it play out this way:
Jacoby Jones comes barreling down the sideline and sees that Tomlin is going to impede his path to the end zone. Jones lowers his shoulder and collides with Tomlin. The impact is so violent that it sends Tomlin's headset flying into the upper deck. As the Pittsburgh head coach lays there wondering what train hit him, Jones breaks into a Dancing With The Stars victory dance over top Tomlin's semi-conscious body. The crowd goes ape-shit as the referees gather to discuss what just happened. Eventually, the head ref announces, "The Pittsburgh head coach impeded the runners path, Therefore, by rule, this is a touchdown! Please relay this information to head coach when he regains consciousness."
I know, I know, This might sound a bit extreme. But something similar happened to the Steelers on the way to the end zone when Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell attempted to punch the ball in from the 1-yard line. As Bell approached the goal line in the final minute of the game, he was leveled by Ravens Jimmy Smith. Bell's helmet came off and squirted through the end zone. Bell looked like he just took an uppercut from Mike Tyson as he appeared to be unconscious. I didn't know it until last night but when the runners helmet comes off, the play is dead. I wonder what happens if the runner is dead?
The good news is that the Steelers running back, although a bit dizzy, was able to walk off the field. The Steelers made a valiant effort but came up a bit short. But the game proved to be another edge-of-your-seat showdown between the two division rivals.
The Ravens victory was a perfect dessert for the awesome Thanksgiving dinner that we enjoyed earlier in the day. I must mention that our lone Steelers fan was a good sport about everything. In a den full of rabid Ravens fans, it couldn't have been easy for him to sit through all our verbal abuse directed at the Steelers during the course of the game. Who knows, maybe we can convert him..........
kw
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