Pittsburgh Steelers chalk up a memorable 24 point 2nd quarter and a clutch steel wall defense to silence J.J. Watts and the Houston Texans 30-23 on Monday Night Football

The game was billed as J.J. Watts' last national NFL telecast performance for this year. While J.J. Watts would once again put up monster numbers on defense, totaling one sack, one fumble recovery and three tackles, he would be out-shined by fellow #99, Steelers Defensive Tackle Brett Keisel. Keisel would make his mark on the game, as would the fortunate Steelers offense. In an almost improbable barrage of quick Touchdown strikes and shut down defensive play, the Pittsburgh Steelers would, in retrospect, hammer in the nails of the coffin for a Houston Texans team that let this game slip away, one big nail after the other.

ESPN's Scott Brown would explain in his article about Pittsburgh's much needed victory on Monday Night Football, the Steelers could have well changed their season around with a remarkable close to the first half of the game. Brown makes the parable of the likelihood of scoring 21 points in just two minutes of possession at the very end of the half to come back from a ten point disparity would be tantamount to 'cows flying over Heinz Field'. Nevertheless, retrospectively looking at the Steeler's previous two games shows only a touchdown a piece in offensive productivity respectively against the Cleveland Browns and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite a stagnant season and dilapidated offensive efficiency, the Steelers came alive at the end of the first half against the Texans on both sides of the field.

The Steelers' star of the night, Brett Keisel, would come up big via forcing an incompletion on third down from Houston's QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and ensuing punt. Trailing 13-3, Steeler's Ben Roethlisberger (QB)would connect with Martavis Bryant two plays later for a 35 yard touchdown. Another Pittsburgh takeaway would lead to a well developed and equally deceptive 3 yard Antonio Brown TD strike to fellow receiver Lance Moore. Keisel would come up huge with a fortunate interception thanks to a heads up play from Lawrence Timmons. Keisel gave Big Ben great field position to laser in a two yard TD to Le'Veon Bell. Those 21 points and a rare but brilliant burst of Steelers' dominance would prove too much for the Houston Texans, whom never regained the lead after the onslaught.

After the game, many Pittsburgh players appeared notably relieved. Ben Roethlisberger carried a tone of relief and near disbelief while recounting the late second quarter comeback. Brett Keisel, the 36 year old veteran who was resigned (reluctantly) by the Steelers in late August, was quick to dispel the celebration and was quoted on Pittsburgh's struggles and focus after the game, "We can't just win and lose one, win and lose one...We've got to be able to have the same urgency after a win as we have after a loss." While there is a tone of relief in the 4-3 Pittsburgh locker-room, the Steelers are well aware of the trials and battles ahead. Nonetheless, a revitalizing overall performance for the Steelers will create pressure for the Cincinnati Bengals (3-2-1) and the Baltimore Ravens (5-2), respectively second and first in the AFC North. Pittsburgh, currently 3rd in the division, is in a dogfight just to find their way to a playoff spot in the AFC conference. As Scott Brown alludes, despite an uphill battle, improbability can breed positive results, everything seems incredible in retrospect, and right now the Pittsburgh Steelers look back to their formidable former selves.


References:

http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/9948/brett-keisels-key-plays-turn-j-j-watt-into-the-other-no-99-in-steelers-win

Photography/ Image Courtesy:

Brett Keisel: Paula Lively

ESPN Buffalo Bills reporter Mike Rodak on Kyle Orton debut for Bills breaking a 27 game drought to rout the Detriot Lions 17-14

ESPN Buffalo Bills reporter Mike Rodak wrote a piece today in which he believes the Buffalo Bills skid is over. The Bills have broken the two game losing streak when Dan Carpenter (PK) laced a field goal to defeat the Detriot Lions on Sunday. Mike Rodak is equally impressed with negative streaks being broken and career high days for various Bills.

Mike Rodak explains that Bills' leaders stepped up on both sides of the field. Offensively, the debut for Kyle Orton at QB for the Bills went off to a shaky start. Cornerback Reshean Mathis for the Detriot Lions would intercept Kyle Orton early on for a pick-six for the Lions, creating a 14-0 disparity against the Bills at the beginning of the game. Orton would pick up throughout the rest of the drives. Orton would have a Buffalo Bills career game and break a twenty seven long QB drought. As Mike Rodak clarifies, not since the Ryan Fitzpatrick era (27 game long drought) of the Buffalo Bills has a Bills QB thrown for at least 300 yards or more. Orton would have an excellent career game throwing for 308 yards from 30 completions of 42 pass plays attempts through the air.  Despite the early pick-six and the fourteen point hole, the Bills had a stellar game on both sides of the field.

Buffalo Bills Head Coach Doug Marrone benched his star Quarterback, EJ Manuel, earlier on this week, replacing Manuel with Orton. In fact, there has been favorable sentiment towards Kyle Orton's play. Just ask Bills' rookie Wide Receiver Sammy Watkins. Watkins remarked on notable differences between EJ Manuel and Kyle Orton as Orton took the helm this week in practices. Sammy Watkins noticed the favorable differences as he stated that Orton's reads and evaluation were positively different from Manuel, as was Orton's quick releases while throwing the ball. After the game, Watkins had more to say on Orton's performance:

"It carried over a lot...He had his mistakes but he had his veteran time where he lifted us up and moved the ball and had a couple of reads where he saw the coverage and shot it in there...That's just preparation he has in practice. He's got a crazy memory...The way he reads things and the way he studies, it's definitely a veteran move...It's great. As far as EJ making passes, he can do everything Kyle [is] doing...But just the presence and how he leads the group. ... We just have to keep getting better on both sides of the ball."

One of those key reads came up big in the fourth quarter when the Bills trailed 14-12 after an Orton 2 yard strike to the often under-utilized Tight End Chris Gragg. During the two point conversion, Orton successfully read the defense making a quick play adjustment and instead of a pass play, Orton created a nice read for veteran Runningback Fred Jackson to tie the game up with a nice quick run. Fred Jackson, among many other Bills players had equally high praise as Watkins on Kyle Orton's successful Bills debut. While Jackson commented that EJ Manuel could have made the same reads, Fred Jackson was pleased with how Orton lead his team and commanded the offense, especially with calling out plays for advantageous gains on the run and through the air. As Rodak puts it, the numbers don't lie when comparing offensive productivity between EJ Manuel and Kyle Orton. Orton's stellar play would lead to a 34% increase of efficiency in targeting the Bill's cast of Wide Receivers (14 of 21 completions to his wideouts).

While the Bills offense was great, Mike Rodak explained that the Bills defense should not be taken lightly. In fact, the Bills defense has been one of the most consistent weapons for Buffalo. Rodak points out that strong showings the last four games for the defense has lead Buffalo to have the second best run defense in the NFL. The defense only allowed 69 run yards from twenty carries on Sunday. Additionally, Buffalo put up monster numbers against the Lions as the Bills recorded six sacks in the game. Of those six sacks, Bills defensive superstar Marcell Dareus (DT) managed to get half of them. Dareus, who was plagued with off the field issues during training camp, has been having monster games for the Bills. Marcell Dareus was placed with even more pressure this week to be the playmaker on defense as fellow defensive tackle Kyle Williams was out with a knee injury. Dareus can boast a nice five tackle, three sack game and can also be proud of his defense's performance. The Bills defense held the Lions to a scoreless second half which allowed the Bills to come roaring back for the come from behind victory. The Buffalo Bills now have the best record in their division at 3-2, atop of the Patriots (whom had a much needed pick me up win against the unbeaten Bengals). The Bills will hope to add to their lead and effectiveness next Sunday against the Patriots for bragging rights and dominance of the AFC East division.

References:

http://espn.go.com/blog/buffalo-bills/post/_/id/14003/kyle-orton-snaps-bills-27-game-drought-in-debut

http://espn.go.com/blog/buffalo-bills/post/_/id/14036/marcell-dareus-sets-career-high-with-three-sacks-against-detroit-lions

Photography/ Image Courtesy:

Buffalo Bills: Doug Kerr

Kyle Orton: Jeffrey Beall

ESPN's New England Patriot reporter Mike Reiss on the Pats waiving second year WR Kenbrell Thompkins off their roster

It appears the sentiments and analysis of Patriot football play has been reinforced by Bill Belichick and company reforming their offense and special teams to stop the bleeding on a season that is quickly snowballing out of their favor. Many expert eyes have been keen on a very questionable O line lately from New England, they are in need of strengthening their special teams and, as many suspected making adjustments to their core of wide receivers . ESPN's New England Patriot reporter Mike Reiss broke the story today that the Pats have waived former preseason hopeful Kenbrell Thompkins (WR) off the roster.

The move has many around the league scratching their heads. Some are calling the move by Patriot's Head Coach Bill Belichick to be risky. Objectively looking at the holes in the Patriot's play, the move is just the beginning of a soon to be workaround of the roster. Mike Reiss explained that both corner-back Brandon Browner and receiver Brian Tyms are done with their four game suspensions. They were not activated this week but both practiced with the Pats during the week; since they were inactive, they will miss play against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. On Monday, we should be expecting to see both listed on the roster. The waived roster spot of Kenbrell Thompkins will be replaced with linebacker Ja'Gared Davis, who will be replacing the injured Nate Ebner (DB), to fill the void in special teams.

Kenbrell Thompkins removal is a surprising move around the league which is in part due to the celebration from Bill Belichick and Tom Brady during training camp this year. In fact, Thompkins was well respected for his tenuous work ethic. Mike Reiss reinforced these sentiments with high praise from Bill Belichick concerning Thompkins during training camp who described the receiver as very coach-able, attentive and one of the hardest workers on the team. Tom Brady was of the same opinion, as Brady remarked on Thompkins level of play:

"He made some great plays. It’s exciting for a quarterback when you see a guy make those types of efforts and lay out and catch the ball like he did. He’s been doing that since he got here, and he’s another guy who’s put a lot of work in and fought really hard. It’s fun to be out there with him. I have a lot of confidence in him, a lot of trust. He’s a great guy...He works his tail off, so I think that’s one of his best attributes...There is nothing that has ever been given to him, so it’s great to see a competitor like that. And when your guys make plays like that, it just elevates the rest of the team. Not every play are you going to be open by 10 yards. Sometimes you’ve got to lay out and make the play, and that’s how you get to be a great offense. The plays that maybe are a bit unexpected, if you make those, then it just elevates your whole team.”

Yet things have changed for the worse since training camp for the Patriots' season. Brandon LaFell has arisen to be Brady's number one and, one of the few receivers (possibly the only), who hasn't disappointed this season. LaFell's rise unfortunately meant taking Kenbrell Thompkins spot. In the defense of the Patriots' decision, the move makes sense if you know Belichick as the genius he is, who will be reforming the roster to account for every advantage. As of now it is unclear where we will see Thompkins next and the further short term changes coming to the shaky New England Patriot roster.

References:

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4769418/what-happened-to-kenbrell-thompkins

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/11640909/kenbrell-thompkins-new-england-patriots-waived

Photography/ Image Courtesy:

Kenbrell Thompkins by Fudgehead08

Bill Belichick by Kieth Allison