Football Math For (and by) Dummies (Rich)

I'm generally pretty easy on network commentators as sports fans go, because it's really hard to speak for 3 straight hours without saying something stupid no matter how smart you really are, and because all fans are pre-disposed to hate you because you aren't actively rooting for their team.

With that disclaimer, Randy Cross said something impressively stupid during the Steeler-Bengal game, probably the dumbest thing I've heard from a broadcaster all year. On the Bengals opening drive they dropped a touchdown pass, had another touchdown pass overturned by replay, and missed a short field goal. As the Steelers took possession, Cross reviewed this chain of events and proclaimed that the Bengals must really be kicking themselves, because: "that's a 17-point swing right there."

Um, NO NO NO NO NO NO! Not even a little bit!

--rich erenberg

Cincy, and the Ball, Downed Skillfully (Rich)

Huge win today. There are no two ways about it, we really needed this one. There are many things to like about this game: the defense going nuts in the second half, the continued Heath Miller emergence, Fast Willie busting loose. But I want to focus on something mundane and picayune, and which therefore has bugged me for years.

Inside of two minutes to go, the Steelers lined up in "Victory Formation," which has been standard practice since the Eagles pulled a ridiculous victory out of a fluky late return touchdown; er, I mean, since the Eagles pulled a ridiculous victory out of a fluky late return touchdown. The major distinguishing feature of this formation is the presence of a "safety" 8 yards deep, positioned to tackle anyone who might bust through with any potential fumble. No tiny detail of football has boggled my mind more than the fact that the "safety" in this formation is generally a wide receiver. Why Why Why? But today, as the Steelers went into Victory, I noticed a massive pile of hair falling out of the "safety's" helmet--yes, you guessed it, instead of a "safety," the Steelers had inserted a safety. Nice detail work there by Cowher and co.

--rich erenberg