Steelers 24-yard FG -- good, with 17 seconds left. Steelers win, 3-0. The heartache continues: 0-11.
Dolphins miss a 38-yard FG but get another chance after a delay of game. This time they go for it on 4th and 11 from the Pittsburgh 25 -- bypassing a 42-yard FG try -- and fail, with Beck sacked.
Steelers miss 44-yard FG try. Still 0-0. Will somebody please score already! Trying to make a deadline here!!
I'm all for daring at 0-10. But why not try a 48-yard field goal at 0-0, on 4th and 15 from the Pittsburgh 31? I like the chances of making that kick more than making that play. Sack. Steelers ball.
Are we optimistic or fretful over a scoreeless first half?
Ricky Williams fumble loss; Steelers ball at 50. Soon after: Ricky out with a shoulder injury.
Dolphins' D stops Pittsburgh on 4th and 1. Encouraging start for the defense, but not much sign of life yet on offense. Is a Dolfan too beaten down by 0-10 to dare feel an upset in the making?
Ricky Williams 3 carries for 6 yards in 1Q.
Joey Porter intercepts his former team on first series, then stands and glares at the Steelers sideline. After the season Porter and Miami are having ... that's nerve.
Game on!
Pregame chatter:
Teams on the field warming up. Stadium filling up. Rain suddenly has abated. Roger Goodell must have made a phone call.
Kickoff has been delayed 25 minutes, they now are saying, until 8:55 p.m., because of the weather. This may set a new standard for Loyal Fan: Abiding a delay of game, and sitting through heavy rain, to see the winless Dolphins.
Jesse Chatman supposedly is starting at running back, not Ricky Williams. By the way.
Barely a half-hour 'til kickoff now and rain falling harder. Fans sparse among a sea of empty seats. Looks like an August Marlins crowd. Thunder just boomed. Wondering if the extreme weather will serve to nuetralize some of the Steelers advantage.
About one hour 'til kickoff. Rain still falling in sheets. Tarp being rolled off what will be a bath of a field. On the bright side, the pregame press box fare -- grand-marshaled by Chinese barbecue chicken and meat loaf -- was decidedly above average.
Rain falling hard in the 'Burgh. Field covered in tarp, after it was strewn with cat-litterish absorbent matter. Field seems to be in terrible shape. Ricky Williams activated, as expected. Could be a big game for Run Ricky Run if Cam Cameron turns him loose.
First, thoughts and best wishes to Sean Taylor and his loved ones as the Redskins defensive back and ex-Hurricane fights to survive being shot and seriously wounded during a burglary at his Miami-area home early this morning.
Chilly and misting rain in Pittsburgh. Sloppy-football weather. Adding another layer to John Beck's monumental challenge tonight. Heading to the stadium soon, in conditions that remind me why I am ever-grateful to reside in South Florida.
Original post:
The education of John Beck continues. The latest comeback of Ricky Williams begins. Alas, these are diversions to occupy us as we watch, most likely, Miami fall to 0-11.
Can you fathom a Dolphin win tonight at Pittsburgh? Tell me how. What do you expect of Beck and Williams in particular?
Thoughts welcome before, during and of course after tonight's prime-time test. Deadline responsibilities will hinder my blogging live during the game, but I shall try nonetheless. Join us for the ride, won't you?