[Canesfan Satisfaction Meter voting continues in the blogpost directly below this. Look for the new Dolfan Satisfaction Meter poll in a separate post soon after today's Dolphins-Steelers game. post time: 5 p.m. sharp].
G6: PITTSBURGH @ DOLPHINS:
Final: Controversial ending with that weird call and Pittsburgh's late FG. No excuses, though. It's another home loss, and now 3-3 on the season. Click on Steelers Steal One for my column off the game.
Fourth quarter: Jeff Reed 18-yard FG for a 23-22 Steelers lead with 2:26 left. Ben Roethlisberger had scored on apparent 2-yard scoring run that was reviewed but call was Pittsburgh ball on 1. Ruling was that ball did not cross plane of goalline before coming loose but officials could not determine who recovered in end zone. Huh? Since when do officials fail to determine possession? The killer on the series: a 29-yard third-down completion to Mewelde Moore to the Miami 14 ..... Dan "Money" Carpenter with a 40-yard FG and 22-20 Miami advantage with 5:17 to play. Can you say "nervous lead"? ..... Playing it safe (or too cautious?): Dolphins punt on 4th-and-1 from 50 early in quarter.
Third quarter: Dan Carpenter 37-yard kick has Miami within 1 at 20-19 in final minute of quarter ..... Jeff Reed 39-yard FG and Steeltowners up 20-16 with 5:32 left in third ..... Penalty negates nice kickoff return to get Miami off to an inauspicious start.
Half: A great, taut game, but if turns into a Roethlisberger-Henne shootout, I'm not sure I like Miami. Big Ben in first half: 12-for-16, 195 yards, two TDs. A little pass D, please?
Second quarter: Miami within 17-16 1:50 before halftime on Davone Bess 26-yard scoring play from Chad Henne, which survives review to see if he stepped out of bounds ..... Oh my. Jason Allen beaten 1-on-1 by Mike Wallace for a 53-yard scoring catch, a beautful toss by Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh now up 17-9 and the home crowd is (shh) quiet ..... We interupt this game to report that Jimmy Johnson's dog, Buttercup, has died at age 15. Condolences. Doggy heaven is a yappier place today ..... Miami moves it first-and-goal at the 5 and again settles for a FG ..... Pittsburgh has first lead at 10-6 on Big ben's 21-yard scoring pass to Hines Ward. The culprit: a Brian Hartline fumble loss that set up Steelers on Miami 34 .... Steelers settle for FG and within 6-3 in first minute of quarter after a 43-yard catch by Hines Ward to the 11.
First quarter: Two golden chances for a 14-0 lead but it's only six ..... Dolphins force another Steelers turnover but again settle for a FG and 6-0 lead. Could come back to haunt ..... Dolphins recover fumble off opening kickoff but settle for 3-0 lead.
Original post: Can Miami (3-2) ride the heat of a 1 p.m. start to its first home win? Tall task. Steelers might be best team in league now that Ben Roethlisberger is back, with no real weaknesses anywhere on the field. On my Friday predix page I picked Steelers to win 24-16 and that still sounds right. I think points will be hard to come by against a run-defense that leads the NFL allowing 64 yards per game, and a pass defense that's just as good. Miami has a big chance to announce itself as a top-10 team with a win, but I just don't see it. Home-field advantage also will be negated somewhat because Steelers enjoy a true national following and figure to have a substantial portion of the crowd today.
Your thoughts welcome here before, during and after this afternoon's game. Catch us today on 790 The Ticket's Dolphins pregame show from 11-1, then join us right here for an Unofficial Semi-Live Boutique Blog. Follow on Twitter.com/gregcote for some stuff there, too.
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