Two weeks ago, I flew 2000 miles from Minnesota to watch the Steelers embarrass themselves in Oakland.  Even though my team lost in a horrible fashion, in a funny way, I feel somewhat privileged to have been at that game.  When talking to fans of anything, be it sports, music, etc., it’s always fun to say “I was there” to see certain events that will always be talked about.    The Who concert in Cincinnati, the Immaculate reception (Franco Harris), the Catch (Dwight Clark), the Drive (John Elway), the Fumble (Ernest Byner), the Travesty (Tuck Rule), and last year’s the Tackle (Ben Roethlisberger)…whether famous or infamous, you can still say you were there.  In 2003, the Steelers played the Houston Texans.  The game meant nothing except that it was Tommy Maddox’s first game back following his spinal cord concussion.  Houston gained a total of 47 yards on offense to Pittsburgh’s 422 yards, but still won 24-6 due to 3 Tommy Maddox turnovers returned for touchdowns.  That game will live in Pittsburgh lore forever.  It was not so much painful as laughable.  This game may be remembered in the same way.  Pittsburgh outgained Oakland 360 to 98, but still lost due to 4 Roethlisberger interceptions, two returned for touchdowns.  Again, this game was more laughable than painful.  Like the rest of this Steelers season, you just shake your head and say “what the f***?”  This game will be remembered more than last year’s playoff victories.

Growing up in Pittsburgh where the Steelers games were always sold out, I went to very few pro football games.  I’ve actually seen more games outside of Pittsburgh because it’s easier to get tickets.  Is it just me or are pro football games just getting extremely boring to go to?  Sure, there’s the excitement and energy from being around other fans, but you can’t see the game as well as on TV and you lose track of what’s going on.  The TV timeouts are interminable.  You can’t sneak off to get a snack or go to the bathroom because you’ve got to walk through your aisle and up the steps just to wait in line at the snack bar or bathroom.  Then you miss the next series.  You can’t even reach for the TIVO remote to speed through the break or the replays after the other team runs back an interception!!  I realize that the NFL is so successful due to TV, but all those breaks really ruin the flow of the game.  The players also seem less awesome live.  Roethlisberger bombs and 50 yard punts just don’t look that far from 30 rows back. 

I don’t want to pull a Peter King and talk about my coffee nerdness, but I gotta say that the carved roast beef sandwiches in the club level at the Oakland Coliseum are pretty darn good.  Sierra Nevada also blows away Iron City and Strohs.  The Oakland fans get a bad rap.  I sat down and talked to a few before the game and they had no problem with the black and gold clad hordes who had invaded their turf.  They did warn me about walking around the parking lots with my Steelers jersey, and definitely stay out of the Black Hole.

Eight weeks into the season, here are my most surprising teams:

1.    Pittsburgh.  Of course!  From Super Bowl champs to 2-6.  They’ve outplayed every opponent this year except Jacksonville and should be no worse than 6-2, but continue to lose due to ridiculously frequent (impossibly multitudinous…?, incredibly consistently steady…?, a diarrhea of…?, I can’t find the right words.  I’m still shaking my head) turnovers.  I thought the Super Bowl loser was supposed to miss the playoffs.

2.    Indianapolis.  Everyone predicted a huge fall due to the loss of Edgerrin James, but that offense has not missed a beat.  With statement type roads wins at Denver and New England the past two weeks, they will almost assuredly get home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  What they do with that advantage is another matter entirely.

3.    Baltimore.  The addition of Steve McNair is not the reason this team is winning.  Their defense is nearly as dominating as the one that won the Super bowl 5 years ago.  I still don’t think they are for real.  Like Cincinnati last year, they are living off turnovers which cannot be counted on consistently (unless you’re playing the Steelers).  Part of me wants them to make the playoffs just so they can save Billick’s job.  He’s the guy I love to hate the most.

4.    New Orleans.  They started as a feel good story.  Now they’re just plain good.  Drew Brees and Marques Colston have been much more important additions than Reggie Bush.  Even without any big name acquisitions, their defense is even playing better.

5.    Cincinnati.  You almost have to feel bad for Chad Johnson watching him hold back the tears after last weeks loss.  For all his antics, he seems like a pretty good guy.  Cincinnati’s defense is about as average as was expected, but the offense is also just as average.  Clearly, Carson Palmer is not the same quarterback he was last year.  Whether or not this is due to his knee injury is not so clear.  On the NFL Matchup last Sunday, Ron Jaworkski showed several play where Carson Palmer lifted his front plant leg during a pass so he would not get hit low.  This suggests that he is not fully mentally if not physically recovered from his injury.  If he doesn’t improve, Cincinnati will go nowhere.

6.    Atlanta.  What’s so surprising is the way they’ve been winning—with Vick’s arm rather than his legs.  He had career games against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, but then lost last week to Detroit.  This is the Jekyll and Hyde of the NFL.

7.    NY Jets.  With a young first year head coach, no clear starting quarterback, an aging running back, and a young offensive line, this was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Gang Green.  Chad Pennington has looked revitalized and stronger than before his injury.  This week’s game in New England should show if they’re for real.

8.    Miami.  This is really no surprise to me, but most pundits predicted better for the Dolphins.  They did beat the Bears last week, and Harrington has looked surprisingly decent, but I still don’t see them improving.