Really great piece in the New York Times by Karen Crouse today on the recovery of former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Richard Collier after he was paralyzed from the waist down and lost his left leg after a shooting before the regular season started.

Collier is lucky to be alive right now, because he took 14 bullets in his back, leg, groin, and various other areas. Even after a tragedy that takes your ability to walk and your career, he's looking at the positive and doing his damndest in his hope to walk again someday.

As Collier talked about wanting to make a difference, there were signs that he already had. He recently read a card sent to defensive end Paul Spicer from a man who said he was considering suicide. The man wrote that if Collier could handle losing a leg and his N.F.L. career, who was he to despair?

“Tell Rich when you see him that he’s actually saved my life,” the man wrote to Spicer.

Collier was stunned.

He said, “It’s not every day that somebody tells you, ‘Hey, I’m alive because of you.’ ”

The man accused of shooting Collier is apparently someone who may have held a grudge against him from a previous confrontation with the former player.

It's fascinating to read pieces like this, when you see what happens when the game is taken away from those who played it, whether by tragic end or simply the end of the career. What do you do to move on? If you're Collier, you hope to talk to schools about gun violence and being an inspiration to them. Would that we all could be so resolute in the face of a jarring change in our lives.

Hopefully, those kicks above might give MJD some more speed on the field if he puts them on. The Jags could use it. Reed kicks it to Witherspoon, who's out to the 29-yard line. Garrard throws to Taylor underneath for five. A pass to Mike Walker at the 50 yard line earns a 1st down, while John talks about "exotic blitzing-style defenses" again.

Jags victimized once again by a holding flag on a third down play that might have gottten a "go for it" call from Del Rio. Garrard gets walloped by Lamar Woodley, and the Jags will have to punt. Mewelde Moore makes the fair catch.

"He wears a Superman shirt under his jersey." - John, on MJD (via 49er16)

If that's true, then the Steeler D is kryptonite right now. Pitt goes three and out, Jags get it at the 24 yard line. We get Lynyrd Skynyrd for bump music, since they're from that particular part of Florida (or somewhere close.)

BASEBALL UPDATE; 4-4, top of the 7th in Boston.

Garrard hits Walker for 13 to the 37. Silky then runs out and slides just before the first down at midfield. 3rd and ! requires a good, strong rush....and MJD gets stuffed before the marker.

"When you see that hair in the pile, you know Troy Polamalu is in on the tackle." - Al

Jack Of The River is going for it -- and it's a fake and throw to the fullback Greg Jones, who gets a first and a few extra before getting flipped in the air. Ball at Pitt 37. Three-hard luck plays, and it's 4th and 6 -- going for it again. Thrown, deflected, incomplete. Steelers have it at their own 39 to start.

MJD's got an ankle sprain after a bunch of Steeler fell on it. Pitt on a 3rd and 12, and DOWN GOES THE GLOVE. Reggie Hayward and Quentin Groves sack Roethlisberger, and it's 4th down. Berger punts to Witherspoon, who gets nailed when he catches the bouncer.

Garrard to Walker for nine yards at the Jax 33, Taylor gets a first on the next play. Garrard to Walker once again, this time at the Pitt 35 or so for 32 yards. Taylor gets nothing on the carry, plus a holding penalty on the O-line.

"And the Steelers go, 'Oh, now you call holding. Where was that last January?'" - Al, as the third quarter ends.

MJD gets a few yards on a short screen pass to start the quarter. Next play is an incomplete pass, but it gets a roughing penalty on Ryan Clark for decking Matt Jones helmet-to-helmet. On first down, Garrard fires a bullet to Marcedes Lewis for the TOUCHDOWN. Scobee's kick is up and good, 21-20, Jags.

Pitt starts at its own 18, and the Glove is sacked again, this time by Paul Spicer. Glove to Holmes at the 21 on the next play. He throws it incomplete on 3rd down, but there's a flag -- holding on Jacksonville, and it bails out the Steelers again. Moore gets out to the 39 on the next carry. But the next three plays go nowhere. Berger punts, Witherspoon calls for a fair catch at the 14.

"That's four booms." - John, as the Glove gets hit
"They got him turned every which way." - Al

Ryan Clark was just knocking the coke off Matt Jones lips. - 49er16

"With that fried alligator you need about six Johnnie Walkers. But that's for another day." - Al

Al, "AA" doesn't just stand for Awful Announcing. - Mal

The Jags are now getting the help of flags from the Steelers -- a roughing-the-passer call that rpobably shouldn't have been just got flagged. Woodley sacks Garrard on the next play. MJD gets 2, and it's 3rd and 20. Walker catches the pass, but it's short of the 1st down by about three yards.

Pitt starts at the 20 after the touchback on the punt.

Did Al Michaels really just give us a hockey reference? - JFein

Of course Mr. "Do You Believe In Miracles?" would give us hockey references. The Glove slips out of the hands of the Jags defenders, and then throws 15 yards to Mr. 57 (Hines Ward). Moore for a carry, Glove to Miller, now 3rd and 4. Nate Washington hauls in the pass for a first down, and an unsportsmanlike call on Washington takes 15 of those yards away. Moore sweeps out, around, and back to the J'ville 33. On 3rd and 8, the Glove escapes and hits Mr. 57 again inside the 20, but he's rolling in pain.

That shoulder's bugging him again after that hit. Russell rushes up to the 13. The Glove throws to the back of the end zone, and it's the two minute warning with a 3rd and 5 coming up.

"It's a jail break blitz." - Al

Pretty appropriate considering it was the Jags. - Mal

God, I think the Glove is going to be declared legally dead by week 9. - Rob in WI

The Glove hits Mr. 57 on the fade for the TOUCHDOWN!, 26-21, Steelers, and Mike Tomlin wants to go for two -- but the replay booth wants to review it first. Call upheld. Steelers get flagged for delay of game, and the Glove and Tomlin are furious at the refs. Jacksonville needs a touchdown.

"You know, if they do another Iron Man, which was a great movie, forget Robert Downey Jr. Get Ben Roethlsiberger to do it." - Al

"This 2 pt conversion is not that important." - Al

What? A TD now beats the Steelers, Al. Is Al playing with a concussion tonight? - Mal

He should have been out with a head.

Jax starts at the 26, Garrard goes incomplete to Walker. Short one to MJD, and the 3rd down pass is dropped by Walker. 4th and 9 with 1:15 to go. Garrard hits the White Pony, and he gets the first by stretching like he saw a fresh line on the ground.

Jags blow their second time out after a Garrard run, which Del Rio didn't really want, I think. Then, Garrard gets sacked, loses the ball, and recovers it at the 33. Jags have to blow their final time out now. The White Pony can't bring in the next pass. 4th down, and it's batted down by the Steelers. That should do it for this game.

The final score's going to be 26-21, Steelers, as soon as the Glove takes a knee. Thanks for joining me, and see you next week!

Steelers kicker Jeff Reed feels pretty, witty, and light, and pities any girl who isn't him tonight. He feels charming and enchanting; it's alarming how charming he feels.

I would like to chide John for saying "Jag-wires." Proper pronunciation, John. Steelers take the kickoff out to their 18. Well, Mewelde Moore seems like an admirable fill in -- 15 yards on that first carry -- and an extra 15 comes from the Jags on an unnecessary roughness penalty. Ben the Glove tosses to Hines Ward, who gets inside the Jags' 40.

Note to Jacksonville: Don't make Mewelde Moore look like Walter Payton. - SSReporters

John Henderson sacks the Glove on 2nd down, as the ref calls the grasp rule even though he was throwing....and 3rd down brings Rashean Mathis with a pick 6 for the SCORE!

That was quick. 7-0 Jags after the kick.

"They've been a running team ever since Franco Harris" - John

I guess John forgets the Steelers of the early 2000s when they were as pass happy as anyone with Tommy Maddox. You really can't blame him though, I mean who else besides me actually remembers Tommy Maddox. - JFein

Most Steeler fans have blacked him out. Najeh Davenport returns the kickoff past the 25. After two incompletions, the Glove (who isn't wearing one, but I prefer calling him that rather than Ben) hits Santonio "John" Holmes for a frist down at the 43. Pittsburgh is barreling through, running with both Moore and Davenport. Moore catches a pass and heads down to the 31.

Another personal foul on the Jags puts the Steelers at the J'ville 15. The Glove hits up Heath Miller at the 3. Another play fake to Miller, and it's a TOUCHDOWN!

Kick is up and good, 7-7 tie.

John and Al were talking about Jags D-lineman John Henderson, and we can't talk about John Henderson without this video:



You got to make blood come out of the mouth, people. There was a better, longer version of the same ritual, only done on the road, but the NFL Network pulled it off YouTube.

Maurice Jones-Drew takes the kickoff out to the 20. Taylor drops a screen pass, but then rushes for a yard. David Garrard then hits Matt "White Pony" Jones, whom I am surprised has escaped ridicule as much as he has -- dude got caught with coke on his nose and he's playing! Taylor gets one on the next carry. Garrard's next throw is out of the reach of anyone.

The third down throw hits Walker for a first down. At the Steeler 40, Garrard bombs for the White Pony, and he gets dragged down in the end zone by Ike Taylor, who's gonna get flagged for pass interference.

Maurice Jones-Drew gets the yard for a TOUCHDOWN, Scobee adds the extra point, 14-7 Jags.

"He burrowed in there." - John. Al said something about a double entendre from John that I missed after that.

The Glove hits Nate Washington on 1st and 15 (after a false start) at the 25 for a 2nd and 5. Another false start makes it 2nd and 10. The next pass is incomplete, but then the Glove hits Ward for the 3rd down conversion at the 33. Another pass to Ward will finish off the 1st quarter.

Did someone reset Frank Caleindo's 15 min clock? - JG

Blame TBS for giving "Frank TV" another season. Moore goes to the 45 yard line on the next carry, getting a first down. Glove hits Ward at the 22 yard line, but there's a flag -- and it gets picked up because Glove was outside the pocket. Moore gets a few more, and we're set up with a 3rd and 3 at the 20. Glove threw off his back foot to Moore, and it was underthrown. Jeff The Exhibitionist will kick a field goal try from 38 yards out -- up and good. 14-10, Jags.

Witherspoon takes the kickoff back to the 39, stopped only by Reed from getting to the end zone. The Jags are stuck with a 3-and-out, here comes the punter. Steelers have it back at the 18, and the slant to Holmes gets out to the Pitt 37. Moore gains a yard on a carry.

"Exotic Blitzes"? Isn't that a strip club a block down from Soldier Field? - Mal

OK, I missed that first down play...but the Glove bombs it to Nate Washington and he's in fox the touchdown. Kick is up and good, 17-14, Steelers take the lead.

@Mal - yes it is, but all the strippers look like Buddy Ryan's relatives - Rob in WI

"He squirts down the line." - John, via 49er16

Nate Washington just redefined wide open on that touchdown pass. - JFein
Wow... no WR should be that wide open... unless it's like, a middle school game. - Rob in WI
William James must change his name to "Gullible DB". - SSReporters

Cruel. The Jags start with a carry by MJD on their own 7.

"He just runs right through. He's like a missile. I start a defense, I'll take him" - John, as the Jags suffer another three and out, this time deep in their own territory. Holmes takes the return back to the Pitt 45, and there are flags on an illegal block in the back. So, that's going back to the 37. A first-down pass across the 50 will be negated on holding, making it 3rd and pretty long, but the Glove goes for Nate Washington and is incomplete. 4th down.

And the Steelers get bailed out on a taunting penalty. First down at the 40. Jack del Rio looks like he's about to explode on the sidelines. Moore gets hit behind the line on 1st, and the next two plays go nowhere. Another punt coming, and it goes into the end zone. Jags will start at their own 20.

The Jags are burrowing using the run, trying to get the run started, and it's making me kinda sleepy -- and they get denied on 3rd down, so it's punt-trading. Holmes brings the punt back to the Pitt 29. Gary Russell hits the outside, rushing for a first at the 43. The Glove throws it to Miller at the J'ville 39, and we've hit the two minute warning.

Did Al just say that one of the Steelers linemen was doing a good job? Is he watching the sames Steelers games we are? Can't he at least pay someone to watch tape and tell him that "The Steelers line is like a sieve"... especially since they went on and on about how The Glove was getting hit again and again?

I never thought I'd say this, but Al Michaels needs to go. - Rob in WI

We pick up with the Steelers at the 25 of J'ville, and The Glove overthrows John Holmes. The porn-star-in-training brings the pass in at the 5 for a first in goal on the next play, and pays for it with the business end of a hit from a Jaguar. Hines Ward couldn't get both feet in and hang on to the pass on 1st. Moore gets a yard on 2nd. The Glove throws one to where nobody actually is. The Exhibitionist should be coming on to kick a figgie. 23 yard kick is up and good. 20-14, Steelers.

NBC has shown like, 3 JAX cheerleaders... I'm beginning to think that all women in Jacksonville are either a) strippers, b) whores, or c) both. And not the good kind, either. The kind that have been at their job just about 5 years too long. - Rob in WI

Who looks older, Dan Rooney or Al Davis? - 49er16

I'm voting Davis. After a couple of busted plays, the Jags take a knee. 20-14, Steelers at halftime.

"There are a lot of Terrible Towels here." - John
"There are a lot of Jaguars fans crying in their towels." - Al

See you in the 2nd half thread.

For the first live blog of October, Jags QB David Garrard and his wife Mary, in Matrix gear.

Who: Steelers at Jaguars
Where: Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
Why: The Glove looks for vengeance against Silky Garrard
Spreads: Jags -4, O/U 36
Announcers: Al Michaels, John Madden, Andrea Kremer

S2N's Pick: I don't like the way Pittsburgh's been playing offensively in the first half of games. I suspect a defensive war. Give me the Jags at home by six.

We'll get underway at 8:15 Eastern, sharp.

Somebody mentioned Diane Lane in the comments of the first half thread. Such a beautiful woman, such poor movie choices.

Heath Evans is in at receiver. Bradichick is not messing around to begin the second half.

They're slowly but surely working Welker back into the offense. He's got three catches, all since late in the second quarter, if memory serves.

Again, Brady goes to Faulk for the first down. That's four catches for about thirty yards. Welker to the left for eight, then Maroney takes the handoff and rumbles 22 yards. Only one man between him and the end zone, and the Unknown Defender made the play.

Sixteen straight completions before Brady misses. He's being inducted into the Hall of Fame tomorrow. And Faulk starts a new streak with a leaning, one-handed grab. Over the middle to Gaffney - first down.

"Tom Brady, it's not open, he gets a little nervous, but he waits." - Phil Simms

LIAR!! Tom Brady does not get nervous.

Fake direct snap, Brady to Welker, touchdown!

"They faked it." - Simms

Again, Phil, tremendous analysis. Nantz just told us this. The great thing about that play was that Brady did the horrible, "Oh no, the ball got away" fake that never works - only in this case, it sold the play because defenses always see it and know that it never works. That's pretty great.

New England 21, Jacksonville 14

That the Patriots can score on Jacksonville's defense is indisputable. The real question is how long can the Jaguars offense continue to answer back?

Here's a stat I have not seen, and it would be tremendous...how many times did NE score with their first possession in each half this year? Now compare to others. Two TDs today. Incredible. - Ed

Ed, I just ran through the play-by-play for the first three games, and they scored touchdowns the first time they touched the ball in a half four times (including a kickoff return touchdown) and kicked one field goal. If nobody finds it before the game is over, I'll figure it out and post at OMDQ later, hopefully.

The Jags are continuing to answer back: long completion, Garrard to Jones for 29 yards. A false start penalty slows the momentum and Taylor picks up four on first-and-fifteen.

CBS is flashing a quarterback comparison - if nothing else, this game has featured great play from that position on both sides.

Pizza. Baby needed a bottle. Wife not watching TV directly in front of her. No idea what just happened. Affirmed.

The magic of DVR tells me that Josh Scobee kicked a field goal for Jacksonville. Thank you, DVR.

New England 21, Jacksonville 17

Disclaimer: I just got this DVR, so if it ever appears that I'm a few minutes behind, just remind me to hit the "Live" button.

I almost included the "Randall Gay from behind" quote from earlier, then decided against it. Thanks to the three of you who mentioned it.

Earlier, I mocked someone who said that Laurence Maroney was the freshest back in football right now, implying that Belichick held him out on purpose to save him for the playoffs. I think I might owe that person an apology. Maroney is playing a beastly game tonight - 15 carries for about 110 yards.

My favorite part about doing these live-blogs is that my wife usually forgets by the second-half that I've committed to something, and she starts asking me to do stuff. In the last ten minutes, I've made the baby a bottle, answered the door for the pizza, grabbed a towel for the baby, handed her her pizza, grabbed her a drink, and put the baby in his chair. Somehow, somewhere, it became 28-17, New England. I'd try using the DVR to find out, but I'm not that confident, and would probably end up zapping myself into the TV or something.

Anyway, the third quarter is over, with the score

New England 28, Jacksonville 17

I think that the officials have decided that the Pats need to win. The worst official in the NFL is refereeing the game (James Booger) and on the last TD I saw 3 guys holding. - Rob

Hey, the first "The refs want the Patriots to win" comment of the night! Welcome, we've been waiting for you!

Really, no game is complete without a personal foul on Rodney Harrison. I love the guy to death, if only because he plays for my team. The best part was the play before, when he came close to a late hit and then decided to be the offensive player's best friend so the referee wouldn't throw the flag. "Here, let me help you up, brush your shirt off, there you go."

"Youth is overrated." - Rodney Harrison to Jim Nantz

Nantzy forgot the second half of the quote: "...unless you can use HGH to get it back." I think I've taken more shots at New England than Jacksonville tonight.

Blogger sucks.

That pass to Stallworth looked very dangerous. Good thing he's Tom Brady and doesn't make mistakes.

I have just one thing to say to the people who think that the refs are skewing their calls against Jacksonville in this game: the reason I think it's hilarious is because I know that if my father-in-law is watching this game, he's swearing up and down that the announcers AND the officials are conspiring against New England.

They ought to give them the first down. Welker would have had it if he'd caught it. He meant to catch it so I say give it them. - Scott

Alright, that's funny. I think we should allow the officials to use their personal opinions on all plays. "Jones-Drew would have scored if he hadn't been gang tackled for a four-yard loss. Touchdown, Jacksonville."

Back to reality: Gostkowski gets another try and hammers this one through.

New England 31, Jacksonville 20

And no, I'm not late on the DVR. I'm just slow in general.

Faced with a fourth-and-five that could determine its season, Jacksonville takes a timeout.

Tonight's commenters deserve a special mention here. I've tried to highlight some of my favorites, but everyone is leaving good stuff tonight.

Great throw by Garrard, great catch and one-on-one move by Northcutt...not-so-great personal foul on Samuel. First down for the Jags. They're still alive.

I miss Willie McGinest in games like this. He always seemed to be the guy to step up and make the big play when the team needed it. I can think of two separate occasions against Indianapolis where the Colts needed to make something happen and he just wouldn't allow it.

Is it silly that I'm complaining about the good old days of defense with an eleven-point lead?

Fact: I'm a Patriots fan, and I didn't even want to see Harrison get that interception. I said earlier that I loved him. I think I might've been lying a little bit.

"All the players know right now that the game is over." - Simms

If the Patriots weren't involved in this game, this is where I would start rooting for the trailing team to come from behind for the win. Nothing annoys me more than when an announcer gives a team the win with a significant amount of time on the clock. Somebody in particular is very bad at this. Maybe Mike Tirico.

Can somebody make the obvious Chris Hanson joke so I don't have to?

And that's gonna be all she wrote, folks. Your final is New England 31, Jacksonville 20. Thanks for joining me here tonight. Be sure to come back tomorrow, when Signal to Noise brings you the epic Cowboys-Giants matchup.

The best thing about the Patriots-Jaguars game that will be starting shortly? It saves me from watching "Titanic", the movie best known for holding the world record for most times one character has said another's name in a three hour movie. ("Hold on, Rose. I'll save you, Rose. Rose, you don't have to worry, Rose, because I love you, Rose, and we'll be okay, Rose.") Also, it was the first time I saw Kate Winslet naked, which was nice because I have always found her to be quite attractive.

I have mixed feelings about live-blogging this game. As a Patriots fan, I've endured some major heart attack moments this season - the Colts, Eagles, and Ravens were especially scary. The thing is, those games weren't for all the marbles. If Baltimore hadn't imploded and given away that game, it would have sucked, but the Pats still would have been playing the next week. Same with the Colts, or the Eagles, or the Cowboys. This week, however, it's a one and done in maybe the most pressure-filled divisional playoff game in league history. New England loses, and suddenly they've pulled off one of the biggest chokes we've ever seen (and those Patriots:Yankees comparisons become brutally real). I'm scared.

Add to this the fact that, in my opinion, most Pats fans and some of the media fail to appreciate history, instead choosing to tempt karma and the Football Gods at every turn by proclaiming that there is no way the Patriots can lose this game. Right...and there was no way the Rams could lose Super Bowl XXXVI. Who was their opponent in that game again? My favorite caller to the local radio station was the one who discounted Indianapolis because "they don't win games by a lot of points". You know what? Before the Patriots were accused of running up the score, they were often marked down for failing to blow teams out.

Aw, hell. It'll all be over in about four hours. I'll be back in fifteen or so to get this thing crack-a-lackin. In the meantime, feel free to drop a comment below. (I say we try for an Awul Announcing comments record tonight - something in the 600 range. WHO'S COMING WITH ME!?!?!?!?!?)

Open question while we're waiting for Go-Time: why do people hate the Patriots?

The doctor wanted to take a foot of David Garrard's intestines, and his response was, "It isn't really something I want to do, but I want to get back on the field." That's a man's man, folks.

His kid is cute, too.

I want to have stubble like Tom Brady. My stubble is patchy and poorly trimmed - beards are not my friend. His stubble, on the other hand, could have its own magazine cover.

Brian, I'd have to guess that the Pats hate is part jealousy, part Coach Hobo jackassery, and part despising of Massholes. You've got a World Series winner and a potential NBA finalist in the Celtics. Throw us a bone and suck at something. - Signal to Noise

You think Cleveland fans hate themselves for running Belichick out of town? Jackass or not, the man is a great coach.

If I was starting a drinking game for tonight, "The Patriots defense misses a tackle" would have been "Drink Once", and we all would have been hammered by halftime. Unfortunately, I lack forethought.

And immediately, James Sanders takes offense to my comments and knocks MJD out of bounds to force 4th and 1.

Guess I should've expected that 34-yard fourth down completion, huh?

The Patriots have never allowed a playoff to score on an opening playoff drive....pardon my French, but are you $&#&&@E=MC2 kidding me? The pocket collapses on Garrard, he scrambles, somebody has him in the grasp, and on the way down he heaves it into the end zone to a wide open Matt Jones. Kill me in the face, right now.

For the record: that was an incredible play by Garrard. But the Patriots secondary has to be better than it was on that drive. The fourth-and-one play and the touchdown were way too easy.

I like how Simms jumped all over the possibility of his knee being down. If that was Brady it would have been "Just a TERRIFIC throw by Tom Brady!" - Hardwood Paroxysm

Tom Brady has never made a bad throw. Ever.

Oh, great, a sack on the first play...and a screen to Maroney on the second play. Great call, he had a ton of room to run. First down. Brady back to pass, pulls it down and scrambles for a couple. It's early, but it doesn't look like there are a lot of deep options for him early. Third down, Faulk gets stuck in the whole, loss of one, New England goes for it..Brady across the middle, first down to Randy Moss, and they're playing with a hurry up offense. Sprint to the line, get lined up, then take your time getting the play off is now considered a hurry up.

Kevin Faulk and Laurence Maroney came to play tonight. After they combine to get another first down, Brady completes a short pass to Gaffney, who breaks a tackle and has a first down at the three. And Brady waits, waits, waits, great protection...and he goes up top to Ben Watson for six. And with the kick from Gostkowski, we're all tied up.

New England 7, Jacksonville 7

Kickoff to MJD, short return. There's a hold on Jacksonville, says fourth year referee Jerome Boger. Commercial.

While we have a second, I thought I'd give all you Jacksonville rooters a nice inspirational video to get pumped.



Taylor gets dropped on the first play after the kick. Fortunately, Jacksonville completes the next play for nineteen. Garrard under pressure, moving in the pocket, and the ball is out! Replay shows Ty Warren with the initial hit and Mike Vrabel is there to fall on it! Patriots ball.

Kevin Faulk is like an underappreciated version of Troy Brown, if you can imagine that. He's getting a fair number of touches in this game.

Oh, just in case anyone hasn't noticed: there will be little to no impartiality here. That's the danger of live-blogging a game involving one's favorite team.

As a Cleveland fan, I always wonder where he became good. Because Bill sucked in Cleveland. I hated him when he was Browns coach. - Anonymous

Check out Halberstam's book, "The Education of a Coach". Very interesting look into Belichick's background.

Laurence Maroney needs a nickname.

Earlier, I mentioned the guy who talked ill of the Colts because they don't win by large enough margins. Another caller to the same show declared that the Patriots have the advantage over anybody because Laurence Maroney is the "freshest running back in the league." I'll bet that was Belichick's plan when he sat him down in mid-season.

Maroney, one-yard out, touchdown. Gostkowski do what he do, and I can breathe for awhile.

New England 14, Jacksonville 7

Why am I watching this? I lose either way. Mercury Morris and Tom Brady will both be on ESPN next week no matter the outcome. - Anonymous

It kills me to say this, but I think Tom Brady is fast becoming Derek Jeter, and while I've always respected Jeter as a player, I never really expected him to be on my favorite team, you know?

MJD got some Ryan Grant Syndrome right there, bumbling and fumbling the kickoff before securing it at the five-yard-line. If I could ask him anything right now, I'd ask what it's like to be on the ground, trying to get a handle on the ball, only to look up and see five guys bearing down on you at an incredible rate of speed.

Patriots cornerbacks do not believe in using their arms to make tackles. Every time, it's "duck and hope he hits my shoulder pads." Probably not the best technique.

Jones-Drew recovered the fumble on the kickoff, recovered a fumble for a first down, plowed ahead for a first down, and got wide open to the right for another first down. And again, Asante Samuel declined to actually attempt a reasonable facsimile of a tackle. I accidentally typed "tacklet" the first time I wrote that, and that seems like a fitting name for what they do.

I hate to agree with Nantz and Simms, but it's impossible: this is a solid drive by the Jaguars. They needed to bounce back after the fumble and Patriots touchdown, and they're doing exactly that. Until...a Mr. Pashos moves a wee bit early and pushes the proceedings back five yards.

I'm calling it - touchdown here.

Yeah, I'm good. Nice pass to Ernest Wilford for six. Josh Scobee isn't messing around, and we're tied again.

New England 14, Jacksonville 14

Garrard has thrown touchdowns to Matt Jones (#18) and Wilford (#19). Charles Sharon, Scott Starks, get ready - one of you has an upcoming date with destiny.

Sadly, I just discovered, Charles Sharon is inactive for this game. It's up to you, Starks. I know you're a cornerback, and I don't care. Just make it happen.

Phil Simms just said: "the love to double team big guys" (re: Pats). - Alewife

I just came in to say the same thing "alewife" said. Any time you get Phil Simms enthusiastically talking about how guys love to double team big guys, well, that's the sort of thing this blog exists for. - Oops Pow Surprise

Yes. Yes it is.

I'm a Pats fan and Seymour is overrated. - wumpa

I agree. He's only a five-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro.

Yeah but the Pats D looks REALLY ordinary right now... - wumpa

Unfortunately, I really agree with that comment. They haven't looked right for a few weeks now, maybe since Colvin went down to injury.

Welker in the middle of the field for his first catch tonight. Until now, the plan has called for a healhy dose of Faulk and Maroney, with a hint of Watson. I feel like Belichick is the Russian coach during the Apollo Creed fight in Rocky IV - pretty soon, he's gonna scream something incomprehensible from the sideline and Brady's gonna start completing 50-yard bombs to Randy Moss.

Looks like Maroney is actually running hard tonight. Too often, he dances around and waits for a hole that never really develops. Tonight, he's announcing his presence with authority.

End around to Welker and he cuts it up for a first down. Will someone please get me a line to the Patriots sideline, so I can call Tom Brady and tell him to never, ever throw a block again? Ever?

Ouch. Chop blocks are never cool. What's ironic is that I just read in the aforementioned book by David Halberstam that Belichick always hated chop blocks because he had a college coach who taught the technique. Belichick, a center, ended up getting his leg broken in practice. Interesting.

Oh, Stephen.

"Didn't even sound solid, Jim." - Simms

Thank you for that stunning analysis.

"That's only the second incompletion today for either quarterback." - Nantz

Amazingly, they both belong to Garrard. Brady is 12-for-12 for 120 yards, which gives him a 100% completion percentage and ten yards per attempt. Lots of twos and zeroes, which is interesting for reasons I can't fully explain.

Brady will take a knee and go into the half tied, 14-14. I'm off to order a pizza. Meet you back in the second half thread.

The Ben did a music video with a Pittsburgh country band called the PovertyNeck Hillbillies, which is where that photo comes from. Safe to say he's not walking away with the girl tonight unless some miracle happens, but he can at least take solace in his ability to drink like a champion.

"I'm mopping up here like Ben Roethlisberger is gonna be mopping up if he doesn't quit throwing interceptions here pretty soon." - Cris Collinsworth (via False Rumour Monger)

Jags take the kickoff out to the 32 to start the second half. Taylor burrows for 2 yards. Oooh, a rare occurrence -- Garrard is picked off! -- he'd only thrown three picks the whole season. Dumptruck gets stuffed. The Ben throws to Miller for a first down. Russell rushes to the 30. Ben to Holmes at the 16 for a first down. Dumptruck gets stood up again. Holmes gets smacked on the screen pass. Tomlin has covered up the fro with a cap now. Ben throws the checkdown to Dumptruck, and it's short of the first. The Naked Kicker will be on for a FG try, and it's good. 21-10, Jags.

Jags start at their own 18. Rush up to the 25. Garrard rushes for a 1st on a 3rd down. Another short rush on first down, and Garrard gets sacked on 2nd down. Garrard throws out for a first down on the next play, and the Jags are making a serious drive into Pitt territory -- another catch, they're now at the 15 -- and MoJo Drew just waltzes into the end zone on the rush. Scobee's kick is up and good, 28-10.

"They're going to have at least one penetrator on every play" -JM (via Smitty Lite)

That Emmitt Just For Men ad - no words to describe how dull that was. At least in the past the ads with Keith Fernandez and Clyde the Glide were funny.

The Ben starts on the 30 and tosses it over to Heath Miller. 2nd down at the 50, short rush for Russell. The Ben hits his MVB inside the 40, flag on the play is declined. Russell rushes into the middle for a yard. False start moves the Steelers back five yards. The Ben is then sacked by Meier, and Tomlin's got a decision to make about whether to go for it or punt.

(Apologies for inconsistency, folks. I'm handling this live-blog and talking with the maternal unit on the phone.)

4th and 12, and Ben throws it to Santonio -- WHO GOES ALL THE WAY FOR THE SCORE!!! Naked Kicker comes on for the extra point -- 28-17, Jags.

Jacksonville started just before its own 30, and Garrard threw a bad pass, and he just got mashed on third down. Yikes. The Steelers, dare I say it, are gaining momentum. Fair catch at the 31 yard line of Pittsburgh with 14 minutes left in the game. We've got something here. The Ben to the MVB out to the 43 yard line. MVB takes the screen pass out past midfield.

"He's a wide receiver that plays like a linebacker. Sometimes, he plays like a nose tackle." - Madden on Ward. The Ben is nearly picked again on a rifle shot, and it's 3rd and 3. Converted via a pass to Ward yet again. Ben goes Sex Cannon for end zone, but it goes through Nate Washington's hands. Heath Miller breaks a tackle after the catch for another first down. Dumptruck takes the ball up to the Jax 24. Cedric Wilson hauls in the next pass, and a little bit of pushing and shoving going on...Dumptruck drops the pass on 1st down. Fake on the next play, toss to Miller, and TOUCHDOWN, STEELERS. Two point conversion coming up. The MVB hauls in the fade route for the conversion, but there's a flag -- oops, it's on Steelers center Sean Mahan!

"Ward for the touchdown!" - Al, on the two-point try. Oops. Thanks to all of you for catching that.

All of you talking about the weird audio, I got it too. It sounds like there's some weird phone touch tones in the background.

The Ben rushes for end zone for the two point and comes up three yards short, starting from the 12. So, it's 28-23, Jags.

"It's the playoffs. You can tell." - Al. Of course we can. I'm still trying to figure out where that hold was that Sean Mahan committed. Seriously.

Do you really think Eric Mangini would actually get NFL content on his phone? I don't. The Jags are trying to get back to the rush, and it's second and long right now -- Garrard is picked off again, this time by Ike Taylor, and he takes it back to the Jacksonville 30 or so, where Garrard tackles him.

Ben throws to Wilson, Dumptruck rushes short of the first down. Ben gets the first on the QB sneak. Flag on the Jags.

Did you see that "Leinart-like" push that Ben got? - Mal

Yup, just like the Bush Push. Another toss complete, 2nd and goal at the one. Rollout pass by the Ben is incomplete. They're gonna try and smash it in here. Another pass tipped, and a 4th down decision. I say kick the FG because your defense is hauling ass right now, you'll get it back -- but Tomlin's going for it, and the pass to the MVB is incomplete -- and pass interference is called on Jacksonville. Bullshit call. Ward had his hands all over the corner; even Dwyane Wade thinks the MVB got too much of the benefit of the doubt there.

New set of downs. Dumptruck rushes, one ref calls touchdown -- and the other agrees. Go for two or kick? Two point try, and this one's broken up. 29-28, Steelers.

The returner not named MoJo Drew for the Jags is tackled down at the 21, and let's see what Garrard is made of now, with the clock on him and down by one point. Still a lot of clock to work with. False starts don't help, and neither do drops by fullbacks like Greg Jones, who had a first down easy on that throw. Yeesh. Garrard hits Northcutt for a 1st down, and the penalty flag is for illegal contact on Pittsburgh. Taylor gets three, Garrard has to scramble and throw it away, and it's 3rd and 7 -- which Al just called 4th and 7.

"If they don't get it on 4th and 7, they're going to have to punt." - Al. Nicely done. Garrard is sacked yet again on 3rd and 7, and the punter will come on out again.

Punt returned by Wilson to the 22. Dumptruck gets five yards on the carry. Stuffed on the next carry, and Del Rio calls time out.

That sound you hear is the massive gagging coming from the Jacksonville sideline. What a chokejob. - Anon
If Dirk Koetter is calling plays, this has got to be his last game. This is so reminiscent of ASU's games where he failed to run the ball and kill the clock while the other team crept back in and won the game. - Steve

Damn, I thought this kind of collapse looked familiar. I forgot Dirk Koetter was employed. Why Jacksonville took another time out after the Ben came up short on the 3rd down rush, I don't know. I think you save that one, but I'm not a coach.

Northcutt brings it back to the 49, and Garrard's throw to Ernest Wilford is incomplete. Really? They want to waste their last time out on this challenge? This is going to backfire in Del Rio's face.

Moron coaching staff wasn't ready to call the next play. They forced themselves into risking their last time out by challenging. This is epic and it will not be mentioned. - Anon

That play stood, and Del Rio is a fucking idiot. Let this be known. You don't waste your last timeout on a challenge like that. Garrard throws to Reggie Williams for a 3rd and 2. Marcedes Lewis drops the 3rd down pass, as Troy Polamalu rushes in on the safety blitz. GARRARD RUMBLES ALL THE WAY TO THE 12! He churned those legs that Madden loves so much for about 30 yards. MoJo loses a couple yards on the next carry, and call me crazy, but this rushing for the FG strategy may bite again.

And speaking of FG strategies backfiring, they replay Romo's fumbled snap from last year, right on cue. The next two MoJo rushes get the ball to the 2 yard line. Chip shot FG here, Jax takes the delay penalty to move it to the 7 yard line. Here's Scobee's try....it's up....AND IT'S GOOD. 31-29, Jags.

Can the Ben get it into FG range with 37 seconds left and no time outs?

"The ball starts when Pittsburgh touches it." - AM (via Anon, who calls it the "GREATEST LINE EVER!")

Dumptruck's out to the 29 of Pitt with 29 seconds left. AND THE BEN GETS SUPLEXED ON THE SACK BY MCRAE! FUMBLE, AND JACKSONVILLE BALL! Garrard kneels, and the game's over, 31-29, Jaguars!

I'd like to note that Andrea Kremer gave David Garrard the eyes she usually reserves for Tom Brady. Garrard's all about it; he's married to a blonde.

Fucking incredible game, people. Thanks for joining me. OMDQ will be live-blogging Giants-Bucs at 1 PM EDT tomorrow, and I'll follow with Titans-Chargers. Come back tomorrow!

Let's get psyched up for the first real playoff game of the day with John Henderson; that NFC ish that we just sat through doesn't help. Washington just gave up at the end there. Even better: Henderson intros the pre-game crew with a nice little "IT'S SHOWTIME, BAY-BEH!"

Faith Hill = The Hotness - Smitty Lite
Bring back Pink for the pre-game song. Faith Hill ain't gettin' it done. - sportsattitude

I actually believe that Pink would watch football, but Faith's a better singer and less mannish. Conundrum.

While I have some time before the kickoff, I'd like to introduce you to a Jags' supporter we all probably weren't expecting, thanks to Deadspin and Walk Off Balk: apparently porn star Jenny Hendrix is a Jacksonville fan, and Jags coach Jack Del Rio is a fan of hers, admitting he's seen her work in hotel rooms. Where does her profession come in? Well, I'm willing to bet that both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew will be violating the Steelers in various manners.

Kickoff to Najeh Davenport, and he's stuffed at the 21. Davenport is forced to return kickoffs due to Allen Rossum being out, and he's already the starting RB with Willie Parker done with a broken leg. Big Ben tosses incomplete to Hines Ward (unfortunately, I have not come up with a quick combination of black and Korean to describe him -- like "blackanese" for half-black, half-Japanese. They're supposed to give all of us mixed-race folk manuals with catchy names for this shit.) Anyway, The Ben hurls it to Ward again two plays later for 31 and they're in Jags territory.

Oops. John Henderson got a little too jacked up before the game, 15 yards for pulling a Roy Williams on The Ben. Henderson's on the sideline, and The Ben keeps going to Ward and getting another first down. Davenport smacks up the middle for 11 more and we got first and goal. Toss to TE Matt Spaeth, who loses the ball as he comes down trying to stretch for the end zone -- and he's lucky he was called down right there. But, this is reviewable, and Del Rio's gonna use it here because he has a turnover if his challenge succeeds.

First bump is Republica's "Ready to Go" -- does anyone know any bands from Pittsburgh that are big enough for NBC to use for bump music.

I have to admit -- that Southwest commercial about "performance enhancers" is hilarious. The Bud Light "Dude" ones? Not so much. Jacksonville loses the challenge, and Henderson's going to the locker room. Davenport gets plugged in the pile and comes up short, 3rd down. The Dumptruck is successful on the next rush, TOUCHDOWN, STEELERS. Kick is up and good, 7-0.

American Gladiators. Thanks for ensuring that no one will watch your network yet again, NBC.

Maurice Jones-Drew is a fucking beast. 96 yard return on the kickoff, we might as well just chalk up a TD for the Jags right now -- Fred Taylor punches it in for six, kick is good, and we got a 7-7 tie that quickly.

Wow, that shot of Tomlin was a definitive "dear in the headlights" look. - Steve

I recognize NORV! Face when I see it. That was some good NORV! Face from Tomlin.

The Ben rolls out and hits a receiver for a first after two rushes. Dumptruck for more up the middle. The Ben gets sandwiched on 3rd down, and we'll see Daniel Sepulveda punt it away in a minute. Dennis Northcutt gets up-ended receiving the punt, and I'm wondering why MoJo Drew isn't returning punts too -- I know he did that at UCLA.

They're working the rush early, with 3rd and short now after a Taylor rush and a penalty on the Steelers for offsides. MoJo gets the first down on the next play, and we're gonna see a lot of that inside pounding tonight. Hell, Jenny Hendrix would be great at this -- she knows a lot about line penetration, I'm sure.

"That's how you blow up a gap."- JM (via Sam)

I'm surprised there wasn't a BOOM in there from John. Uh oh, now we get Heinz Field muck talk with the rain falling. MoJo pounds for 2. David Garrard gets his happy feet going on the next play for the first down after the play action falls apart. Garrard gets it over to TE Marcedes Lewis (more UCLA product from their last good team), who jukes a Steeler for a first down. The drive stalls from there, as Garrard's third down pass is knocked down. Punt goes into the end zone, Steelers start at their own 20, but NBC is jumping the gun again on the bump music. Oh, now it's Arrested Development for a bump? OK.

For a reminder of general MoJo Drew awesomeness, watch this pancaking of Shawne Merriman from earlier in the season:



I could watch that all day.

If you want me to watch the apprentice, kill a celebrity at the end of the show. That would be a public service - Chris Casey.

Now, that would be entertainment. The Ben tosses underneath to Heath Miller, who gets 14 yards and a first after the Ben rollout. Another pass incomplete. Another play, first quarter over. This game has already been ten times better than the first one.

"Some of those guys would have rather been water boarded this week" - Al, via Mal
"He could grow geraniums out of his helmet right now" - Al, via Steve

Really, let's keep the torture references out of football. 3rd and 8 and The Ben is slammed down by Paul Spicer. Tomlin is now getting his Art Shell Face on as Sepulveda comes on to punt. Northcutt gets it up to the 39 yard line. Garrard gets sacked on first down. The Steelers defense has gotten frisky now, stuffing Taylor behind the line on 2nd and Way-The-Fuck-Out-There. Reggie Williams gets the pass out to the 40, but the punter's coming on regardless. Cedric Wilson only gets a couple yards on the return -- oops, illegal motion on Jax, and they'll punt it again.

Al and John are rambling on about a team from Florida that basically rushes and plays D. If that's really the way you need to win all the time in , then both the Pats and Colts are fucked, and we know that's not quite true, even though defense and running are Very Good Things for the playoffs.

"If neither one wins all the time, they become Brian Billick." - JM

Cedric Wilson fair catches at the 16 and we go to Depeche Mode.

Can anyone here imagine John Madden lecturing at a university? - Chris Casey

Yes, but he'd be very, very dependent on the overhead projector for his lectures. Mathis jacks up Ced Wilson on 2nd down for the incomplete. Grady Jackson has to be the biggest, fattest defensive lineman I've seen since the Packers' Gilbert Brown. The MVB (Most Valuable Blasian) Hines Ward catches a deflection off Heath Miller's finger for 20+ yards.

"The Immaculate....Deflection?" - Al, then followed by an Immaculate Reception highlight.

Rashein Mathis just picked The Ben, and he's in the end zone, but there's a flag -- this fucker's coming back, but it'll still be Jags ball, I think. Oh wait -- TOUCHDOWN, JAGS -- ref rules that the low block was on the Steelers, and it's a pick six. Kick is up and good, 14-7 Jags.

Now we get us some Bad Ben and more Tomlin with Shell Face. Touchback on the kickoff due to Pitt penalty on pick six.

Did Todd Collins just get in the game for Pitt? - Mal

Ouch.

Uh, oh. Tomlin's got headset hair. - Steve

Someone get Coach Epps a fro pick!

Grady Jackson is as tall as I am (6'2") and weighs more than 125 pounds more than I do. Yikes.

JM: "How, at 345 you slip through anything I don't know" (via Mal)

The Ben is picked by Rashein Mathis AGAIN on a rollout! He is apparently still a caveman, even without the beard -- incapable of learning from past mistakes.

"Tomlin is challenging, saying Mathis was out of bounds. If nothing else his hair was out of bounds." - Al

Mathis is ruled down by contact, but his hair was apparently out of bounds and that counts as out. But he's not really down by contact. Oof. They gotta make NFL officials full-timers. Seriously. Swing pass to MJD gets a couple, Jags get the first down later. Garrard out to MoJo again -- AND HE JUKES A LINEBACKER, TAKING IT TO THE HOUSE. Kick up and good, 21-7, Jags.

Yinzer Nation, start worrying. Scobee to the Dumptruck, who's stopped at the 21. The Ben is walloped again on 2nd and 13, and that's the Jax defense we've been expecting. He gets slammed again for the fourth time tonight -- Derek Landry sacks him this time. Jags get the ball back at their own 46 after the punt. Fred Taylor takes the handoff to the 50.

"Just look at [Garrard's] legs. Look at him from the 9 on down. He is a powerful guy." - John, as Al giggles like a schoolgirl. Ewwwww.

It's going to be 28-7 pretty quick if the Steelers don't get going. They could have Steely McBeam on the field as a 12th man and they couldn't stop these guys. But Steely McBeam may explain the Cialis commercials - Chris Casey

+1. Jack Del Rio is trying to impress Jenny. Garrard tosses to Lewis at the 28, so FG team comes on. Scobee boots it wide right. Steelers get the ball back with some decent field position -- as if it has mattered so far. Like John said earlier, can't win the game if you don't have an offensive plan. The Ben throws to Miller for a few necessary yards, and the two minute warning is upon us. Ben slides down after a few yards at the 44 of the Jags, he then hits Santonio Holmes for 16 yards. Replay booth upstairs is gonna look at it. They reverse it, and it's 3rd and 4 for the Steelers -- Ben checks it to the Dumptruck and he gets to the 27 after the catch. Pitt time-out.

The Ben, PICKED AGAIN -- this time by Derek Landry, who grabs it while pass rushing #7. That's No. 3, and we're gonna go to half with a 21-7 score. See you in the 2nd half thread, as the boo birds rain down in Heinz.