Before the Pittsburgh Steelers host Houston in their first home playoff game in six years at whatever they are calling Heinz Field these days (and nobody in Pittsburgh will ever call it anything but Heinz Field), that Steelers-Ravens game--essentially a winner take all playoff game-- merits some comment before it fades into history.
Some playoff games, like the Rams-Panthers Wild Card game, are contests of skillful big plays. But the Steelers-Ravens game was a contest of decisive mishaps. Despite subsequent praise, the game announcers didn't think Lamar Jackson had a very good game, and Aaron Rodgers was adequate, especially given a nearly non-existent pass rush.
But the game was decided by goofs. Jackson's two big touchdown throws were to receivers that were so wide open there was nobody else in the TV picture, especially between them and the goal line. If they weren't nearly identical blown coverages, then they were defensive design malpractice. Meanwhile, Rodgers threw what turned out to be the deciding touchdown pass to a receiver wide open because his defender slipped on the field.
Then after that touchdown, the kicker who hasn't missed an extra point for years, missed one. That miss meant that Baltimore could win the game with a field goal. Back on the bench, that kicker had to be contemplating the humiliation of spending the whole off-season as the villain.
But even though the Ravens got great field position on the ensuing kick-off and marched fairly easily down the field to within pretty easy range for today's kickers, their rookie kicker missed it. That unlikely miss made the Steelers the division champs and sent the Ravens home, probably contributing to the firing of Baltimore's long-time head coach days later. Now the missed extra point is utterly forgotten, and that kid in Baltimore is going to have a long off-season.
I don't mean to demean the efforts of players on either side. Steelers-Ravens games are always hard fought. But some games look like battles of skill. That one looked like it was settled by rolling the dice.
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors are being told over and over that they aren't going anywhere this year. Nevertheless, with two of their veterans back from injury, they are winning a lot more than losing. And Seth Curry's injury is to be reevaluated this month--they could use his shooting.
But winter trade season is coming up fast, and Jonathan Kuminga is superglued to the bench. He's said not to be pouting and playing hard in practices, but it does seem odd that the two times he was most likely to be in the lineup, he came up with a new injury. Could be coincidence.
Still, it's a big mystery whether the Warriors can get a trade they like. The sports savants suggest the trade market may not be advantageous until after the season. So while some clamor for a big trade--and commentators like Bill Simmons hold forth from apparent ignorance--the Warriors may not make major moves. Though I'd expect them to do something to make room on their roster for Pat Spencer full time.
The trade rumor that puzzled me the most was the repeated suggestion that the Warriors wanted Anthony Davis. Somehow I have more respect for the intelligence of the Warriors front office than to believe they seriously considered trading for another older and frequently injured player as Anthony "Street Clothes" Davis. One recent story however said that Davis' latest injury, which ends his season, would kill that trade, if it had ever been a real possibility. Really--as if Dallas wasn't a clear cautionary tale, especially if you want to keep your job. Of course I don't know, but I'd be very surprised if the Dubs trading for him was anything but another Internet viral delusion.
Back to the NFL: in their playoff game, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the defending Super Bowl champs, the Philadelphia Eagles, despite losing yet another key player to injury, tight end George Kittle. Unfortunately, their next game is against the favorite to win it all, the Seattle Seahawks. But even if they lose that one, they'd come farther than most believed they could, which makes Kyle Shanahan a coach of the year candidate.
The Steelers play at home, but they face Houston's pass rush, and that is expected to be the key to the game. But of course it will be something else.
