Wk.1 Game Ball Thread: vs. Steelers

SeoulSoxFan

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There are plenty of things to work on, but this was a solid win against a depleted Steelers team that still have Big Ben, Brown, Wheaton, Miller, and where-did-that-come-from DeAngelo Williams. 
 
Game Balls on O:
  • Brady: 25/32 for 288 yards and 4 TDs. He also missed a couple of potential big gainers to Amendola and Edelman
  • Lewis: the binky becomes a reality. Haven't had this shiftiest RB since Woodhead
  • Andrews: held more than his own. Stork is missed, but Andrews is a keeper
Game Balls on D:
  • Butler: sure got burned a couple of times but overall did a good job, odd since Brown had 9 catches and 133 yards
  • Hightower: was everywhere on the field, with a game-high 6 solo tackles, 2 assists, and 1 sack
  • Sheard: better than Nink, had the key tackle on the goal line stand
  • Harmon: deja vu INT that looked just liked the one against Ravens last playoff game
Bonus Ball:
  • The goal line stand that really deflated the Steelers after marching right down the field
  • Pats fans for going nuts and throwing in a loud "Where's Roger" chant
Speaking of, Roger missed a good game. 
 

GeorgeCostanza

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Dion Lewis was fantastic, minus the fumble and drop in the flat. Not sure why he tried to 1 hand that one.

Gronk gets 3 game balls.

Game ball for Antonio Brown for some fantastic garbage time TD celebrating.
 

Tony C

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Would add Gronk and Edelman
 
Down: maybe Nink. Bolden. Brown.
 
Great victory!
 

Dollar

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If I had one game ball to give, it goes to Andrews.  He came in and played a fantastic game, keeping the focus off the offensive line and letting Brady/Gronk/Julian do their thing.
 

Devizier

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Offense
+ Brady
+ Gronkowski
+ Edelman
- Solder
- Dobson
 
Defense
+ Sheard
+ Hightower
+ Tomlin
- Fletcher
- Brown
- Ninkovich
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Gronk credits the O-Line and "a couple of rookies" in his post-game interview. 
 
He knows that was a huge question mark coming into the game. 
 

eddiew112

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Only down on offense was Solder. On D the big one was Ninkovich, he was just terrible. He has a few games like this every year though, so I'm not worried yet. It was nice to see Sheard play well. Fletcher was much better in the second half I thought. 
 

Tony C

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Devizier said:
Offense
+ Brady
+ Gronkowski
+ Edelman
- Solder
- Dobson
 
Defense
+ Sheard
+ Hightower
+ Tomlin
- Fletcher
- Brown
- Ninkovich
 
I know Fletcher gave up the one big play, but I thought he was pretty good overall.
 

ragnarok725

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Devizier said:
Offense
+ Brady
+ Gronkowski
+ Edelman
- Solder
- Dobson
 
Defense
+ Sheard
+ Hightower
+ Tomlin
- Fletcher
- Brown
- Ninkovich
 
I think Lewis has to get a + here. Minus the fumble, he showed up big time. Not only did he display the same shiftyness and pass catching ability, but he ran between the tackles pretty well and did a pretty great job in pass protection as well. Never even thought of the name Shane Vereen tonight.
 

Ale Xander

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Game balls to the three holy trinities:

Brady gronk Edelman
Brady BB Kraft
Andrews Kline Jackson

Brady gets 2 game balls
 
Apr 7, 2006
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Game ball to Bob Socci and Scott Zolak, along with the entire Pats radio broadcast production team, for giving new meaning to the idea of the Patriots being in everyone's head. Angry angry Mike Tomlin: It happens "every time" they play in Foxboro. Every. Time.

Edit left out a word.
 

Stitch01

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I'm giving one to BB and the coaching staff after watching the opposing coaching staff fuck up game management six ways to Sunday from the Brown trick play through to the final three minute drive apparently designed to push the spread.
 

GeorgeCostanza

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Game ball for Pitt offensive coordinator calling the double pass in the middle of a great drive. Really took the wind out of them, totally unnecessary at that point in a game. Jackasses.
 

pokey_reese

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Lewis had 120 yards rushing and receiving. That's huge, especially considering the all-nobody interior line didn't really allow him much space to run up the middle in the first half. He did a great job bouncing to the outside after the first few times getting stuffed. He also looked great catching the ball, which is nice to see after Shane's exit. Gronk and Julian were unstoppable as usual, and seeing them healthy bodes very well.
 
On D, it's hard to tell about Butler, it seemed like he was having a good game at times, but there is no question that at times he misplayed some passes that should have been batted down. Still, at a certain point you also have to recognize that he was playing one of the 3-5 best receivers in the game.
 

phrenile

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  • Pats fans for going nuts and throwing in a loud "Where's Roger" chant


<script src="https://platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js"></script>
 

Dollar

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Yeah, I have no issues with Butler whatsoever.  He was playing against one of the best WRs in the league, and was often one-on-one without any safety help over the top, and mostly held his own.  The fact that Roethlisberger couldn't really get anything going with Wheaton or Murphy shows how much Butler was able to absorb Brown and let the other DBs focus elsewhere.
 

Stitch01

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Dollar said:
Yeah, I have no issues with Butler whatsoever.  He was playing against one of the best WRs in the league, and was often one-on-one without any safety help over the top, and mostly held his own.  The fact that Roethlisberger couldn't really get anything going with Wheaton or Murphy shows how much Butler was able to absorb Brown and let the other DBs focus elsewhere.
Yeah Brown made a couple of really great catches with Butler on him and got him a couple of times with some good routes/vet adjustment but Butler was competitive with him 1-1
 

riboflav

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Turrable said:
Antonio Brown celebrating his garbage time TD was funny as shit
 
Yes, I noticed it in real time, but ultimately I forgot about it. That was weird. Ben also did some fist pumps about that one. I would've thought that sort of thing was beyond Pittsburgh. Perhaps, it is telling though of where Pittsburgh thinks they stand in the AFC.
 

SoxVindaloo

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Titletown of the Aughts
Ups
Butler--I agree with many Butler looked way better than the stat sheet would indicate, was in on so many plays. Brown is that good.
Lewis--Seems like with his emergence we have some good depth in the RB position. Shifty as hell.
Sheard--Looked like a monster in the 2nd half, great to be able to spell Nink on his down game.
Allen--Booming punts all night, stupid penalties hurt his net average.
Of course Gronk and Brady.
 
Down
Interior Run D-- especially Brown in the 1st half.
Nink--Had real trouble containing Williams.
 
 
Not sure what to think of Fletcher, gave up the big gain but was competitive for much of the night.
 

Devizier

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riboflav said:
 
Yes, I noticed it in real time, but ultimately I forgot about it. That was weird. Ben also did some fist pumps about that one. I would've thought that sort of thing was beyond Pittsburgh. Perhaps, it is telling though of where Pittsburgh thinks they stand in the AFC.
 
Perhaps we're crossing the line where football (to many players) becomes more about fantasy value than real-life value? I wouldn't be surprised if that day is soon upon us.
 

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The sideline communications team.  The Cheatriots are so good that they are now openly trolling everyone in front of a massive live audience.
 

Tony C

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GeorgeCostanza said:
Game ball for Pitt offensive coordinator calling the double pass in the middle of a great drive. Really took the wind out of them, totally unnecessary at that point in a game. Jackasses.
 
Haven't heard this mentioned but, yeah, good call. That was just horrendous -- they're jamming the ball down the Pats' throats and they call for a trick play then? Worst timing ever. Could have been a very different game, but glad it wasn't.
 

Toe Nash

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-I didn't think Solder was particularly bad. Are we just complaining about the one sack where Allen was unblocked?
-Was Mayo on the field? I know it's his first game back but he needs to do more. Ditto Chandler Jones who was mostly handled.
-Huge props for Gronk recovering the fumble. That's a 100% awareness and hustle play. Amendola was right in there too getting dirty.
 
Edit: Reiss just said on Twitter that Mayo was only on the field for 11 snaps. So there you go.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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LOL. Roethlisberger should go learn the playbook: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/steelers/2015/09/11/pittsburgh-new-england-patriots-ben-roethlisberger/72050820/

 

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger vigorously protested after left tackle Kelvin Beachum was called for a false start on third-and-goal from the Patriots’ 1-yard line – an infraction triggered by the New England line sliding during Roethlisberger’s snap count.
 
“I thought that there was a rule against that,” Roethlisberger told reporters. “Maybe there’s not. Maybe it’s just an unwritten rule. … We saw it on film, that the Patriots do that. They shift and slide and do stuff on the goal line, knowing that it’s an itchy trigger finger-type down there.”
 

Exactly what the hell is he talking about? Shifting DL is against the rule? Has he ever watched old Dallas Flex defenses? More preposterously, "unwritten rule"? Like touching gloves before a boxing match? Kicking the ball out of bounds if opponent gets injured in soccer? Was there a rule that says "thou shell not cause twitchy opposing offensive linemen to false start when they're about to score?"
 
Big Ben's fellow OL knows better:
 


“I think it’s more heightened because it’s (the Patriots) and it looks like – whatever the case may be,” Foster said. “They’re a team that likes to take advantage of those type of situations, and we can’t give that to them.”
 
The mistake was one of many that cost the Steelers, who lost a yard on third-and-goal from the 5 and settled for a field goal that cut the Patriots’ lead to 21-14 with 11:39 to go.
 
“Kudos for them for thinking of that and making it happen in that situation,” Foster said. “I can’t be mad. That’s on us. We can’t false start.”
 

Toe Nash

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GeorgeCostanza said:
The 2 penalties he picked up in the first quarter weren't so great.
Eh, the unsportsmanlike was one of those dumb retaliation things where they both should have been penalized and they were vacillating between tickytack and letting everything go on holding calls for both sides all night so I'm not going to ding him major points for either.
 

McBride11

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SeoulSoxFan said:
 
LOL. Roethlisberger should go learn the playbook: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/steelers/2015/09/11/pittsburgh-new-england-patriots-ben-roethlisberger/72050820/

 
 
 

Exactly what the hell is he talking about? Shifting DL is against the rule? Has he ever watched old Dallas Flex defenses? More preposterously, "unwritten rule"? Like touching gloves before a boxing match? Kicking the ball out of bounds if opponent gets injured in soccer? Was there a rule that says "thou shell not cause twitchy opposing offensive linemen to false start when they're about to score?"
 
Big Ben's fellow OL knows better:
 

 

 
 
I was just coming to post the same thing. Ben threw a fit on the field and then admits to not even knowing the rule.  The funny thing is the Pats tried this on the previous running TD and the Steelers didn't false start and the Pats shifted out of the gap the Steelers ran off LG to score through.
 
edit: Game Balls
  The O line was fantastic, Solder's few boneheaded mistakes aside. Though his retaliation was ticky tacky. Andrews at center did a wonderful job. The whole interior O line in fact. Of course Andrews was a former team captain as well.
  Butler did a great job on Brown. Brown is one of the best WR in the league, he is gonna get his.
 Ninja, Gronk, Edelman pick up where they left off last year. Chandler with that double TE goaline set is going to be a bear, esp once LGBT is back.
  Kevin Faulk Jr was fantastic all night.
 
Concerns
  Int D line. The Steelers line is improved but Pouncey was still out. The D line / front 7 was supposed to be the strength and yet 32yo D'Angelo Williams ran all over them for 127 yards. IF Bell were in things could have been worse.
 

NortheasternPJ

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McBride11 said:
 
I was just coming to post the same thing. Ben threw a fit on the field and then admits to not even knowing the rule.  The funny thing is the Pats tried this on the previous running TD and the Steelers didn't false start and the Pats shifted out of the gap the Steelers ran off LG to score through.
 
 
Don't teams do this all the time? It's been 8 months since an NFL game, but I don't remember this being anything out of the norm.
 
Unwritten rule? Jesus. What is that crap? 
 

Byrdbrain

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NortheasternPJ said:
 
Don't teams do this all the time? It's been 8 months since an NFL game, but I don't remember this being anything out of the norm.
 
Unwritten rule? Jesus. What is that crap? 
"Big Ben" admitted he saw the Pats do it on film. Was there a penalty called then Ben? If not why not? Is it actually legal?
Has he never hard counted on 4th and 1? Isn't the defense on a "hair trigger" then? I would think that is against his unwritten rules as well.
 
And Scobee gets two game balls.
 

lexrageorge

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Toe Nash said:
Eh, the unsportsmanlike was one of those dumb retaliation things where they both should have been penalized and they were vacillating between tickytack and letting everything go on holding calls for both sides all night so I'm not going to ding him major points for either.
That personal foul on Solder was really dumb; the golden rule is that the retaliation always gets noticed an penalized; the official was staring at him the whole time, too.  
 
Solder did not have his best game, and the run blocking was just OK.  But given the concerns we had with the Pats starting 3 rookies and Josh Kline, the OL grades out at a B+ in my book.  
 
The DL, esp Ninkovich and Brown, did struggle badly against the run.  I think it was a combination of:
 
   - Game plan; Belichick's philosophy is to focus on certain players, and I don't think containing Williams was originally a primary focus;
   - A really inspired game by a newly focused Williams (career wise this is his last shot, and he's got fresh legs this time of year);
   - General adjustment issues for new players.  Brown's a rookie, and Easley is essentially a rookie, and got hurt anyway;
   - Solid performance by the Steelers OL; they were a decent unit last season;
   - A difficult game by Nink.  
 
I also thought Butler played well most of the night.  Then again, the DL did not help him; Big Ben had lots of time to throw all night. 
 
Game balls:
 
  - Judge Berman
  - Gronk
  - Interior OL
  - Edelman
  - Steelers miscues (botched trick play on that 1st drive was HUGE gift)
  - Hightower & Collins
  - Sheard
  - Harmon for the game sealing INT
  - Lewis
  - Goodell for giving Brady even more inspiration to go 19-0 this season
  - And, oh yeah, the guy who completed 19 straight passes while making it look routine
 

H78

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I think if this offense stays healthy and we get a fully healed LaFell in a couple of months, alongside Blount, the Pats are going to put up huge points ever week.

They were a little off at times last night and still easily put up 28.
 

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I’ve heard a few people bemoaning the lack of a pass rush last night, but is it really all that surprising?  Ben isn’t necessarily a threat to pick up big yards with his legs like a Russel Wilson, but he does have a knack of escaping and extending plays.  We’ve seen time and time again that Belichick, against a mobile QB, is going to ask his defensive ends to prioritize containing the QB vs. selling out for the pass rush.  It’s a part of their defensive philosophy to avoid big plays.  I don’t know if I always agree with it, but it’s what they seem to like to do.  We should probably expect the same next week against Taylor.