There's no crying in football... Pats 30, Steelers 14

Today I'm dedicating this article to the one year anniversary of 9-11, and those who were lost in one of our nations greatest tragedies.

This morning, somewhere, someplace Kordell Stewart and the rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers are wondering how can the same nightmare happen twice, and what's the excuse going to be this time.

The better team lost because they can't play in new stadiums?

The better team lost because they have no discipline and got whacked with 13 penalties for 112 yards including our head coach?

Bull...

Face it Steelers, there is no excuse. You just got your sorry asses served to you by a team you wrote off as a fluke.

Once again, the New England defense contained/abused (slash lol) QB Kordell Stewart, placed a call into AAA for RB Jerome "the Bust" Bettis, and then allowed our WR corp make your secondary look like they belonged on the isle of misfit DB's.

I mean, really, anyone with sense knew there was no way in hell the Pats were going to lose a game with all of these intangibles.

1. Grand Opening of the new stadium.

2. The Unveiling of the Super Bowl Championship banner.

3. A national televised audience.

4. The return of Robert Kraft (slurred speech and all).

5. Nick Carter singing the National Anthem...

Actually, scratch that last one because the rumor was that Britney Spears was supposed to lipsy-... (Oops, I did it again) Sing the National Anthem.

The Steelers were antsy from the opening kickoff, especially when the refs made an error during the coin flip, but it didn't end there because by the time the Pats had intercepted on the Steelers second possession you had to have known this game was going to be in the bag. I mean the Pats almost played the perfect game, while doing it over a team that almost every sportswriter from Sports Illustrated to wherever has picked to go to the Super Bowl this year. But, do you think that this win gave our beloved Pats any love...

Nope, the Pats are still the underdogs by three out of Vegas in their game against the Jets this weekend. Who cares, let everyone think that this team is a fluke. I sure know the truth, and I've been calling it for years. To be honest none of the teams in the AFC East get any respect despite being the toughest division in the league. Week after week the Pats have to prove themselves, and if They beat the Jets without Curtis Martin you can expect the line makers will use that as an excuse to make the Pats underdogs once again.

Now before you call your local bookie, I just want to point out some important things that make this team better than last year's team.

1. RB Antowain Smith may have only rushed for 60 yards on 17 carriess, but it was his 25 yard run in the third that placed one of the many nails into the Steelers coffin. Now that the game is over Smith was interviewed and said that the run wasn't the main game plan for attacking the Steelers, it was the five wide out attack with no-huddle. That means Charlie Weis is still on his game. If RB Jamal Anderson passes his strength and Conditioning test to nail down a contract look for the running game to expose a double threat.

2. I'm sure QB Tom Brady knew he had to play his butt off after the performance of Drew Bledsoe in Buffalo Sunday, and he did just that going 29 for 43 and throwing for 294 yards, but the most impressive thing about Brady's game was that despite the double teaming of WR Troy Brown (6 for 22) he was able to hit other wide outs for big yardage. As a matter of fact, it was like 1996 all over again with Brady spreading ball out amongst eight other receivers with the upside being that the TE spot was very productive between Cam Cleeland (6 for 40) and Christian Fauria (2 for 11). If Graham can make himself part of the mix you may see some big things in New England. As for the wide outs, it was the Deion Branch (6 for 83)/David Patten (4 for 70)/Donald Hayes (3 for 54) show. Last season it was mostly Troy Brown while our secondary threat Terry Glenn was off and on for most of the season.

3. The team rolling through the red zone was a key factor last night. As this was the teams biggest downside last year when they stalled in the red zone. This may drop K Adam's (Vinatieri) FG numbers this year.

4. The coach's play calling was on point from the start, while the no-huddle decision was one that led to Bill Cowherr blowing his stack, and costing his team a huge penalty in the fourth. As for his decision making, I don't know why he kept the double coverage on Brown once Branch, Hayes and Patten started ripping up the field. He also was a sore loser by using three time outs with measly seconds on the top. We all knew Kordell was going to be the keeper, and we also knew the Pats were going to stop it, but the refs found a way to give them the sympathy score even though LB Tedy Bruschi stopped the play.

5. The rejuvenation of DL Willie McGinest was a plus on defense, it seems Willie has something to prove since he's finally had an off-season without any type of surgery or injury to rehab. He was a monster out there, and if he keeps it up then watch for guys like Bruschi, Seymour, and Vrabel to gain some numbers. To be honest, after his hit on Stewart in the fourth I thought I may have seen a gerbil or two  scampering around the 30 yard line.  (Ouch bad writer!) As for the rest of the defense, it was the same smash mouth style ball they played last season. The return of T Buck wasn't overlooked either as he pulled down two picks.

So, where do the Steelers go from here? Well that's an easy question, they finally get to play in a bowl game next weekend...

The Crybaby Bowl at Heinz Stadium against the Oakland Raiders, that should provide more than enough shoulders to cry on during warm-ups next weekend.

Oh yes, and before I leave you, if anyone saw some guy bowing to John Madden as he was leaving the stadium's South End Zone that would not be me... No matter what anyone else says, and for anyone seated in Section 103 last night, all I have to say is USA, USA, USA.

Holla to me at sinista1@msn.com or visit Mr. Sinista.com web site.