What always make matchups intriguing are the stories behind the games. This Monday Night Football matchup had no shortage of outside factors. Injuries seem to be the demons that have haunted the Steelers this season. Going into the game this was something that the Steelers hoped to avoid. Unfortunately the injury bug struck again. Specifically, three Steelers suffered concussions in the game.
This year the biggest off-the-field story in the NFL seems to be the head to head collisions, and the extensive fines that have resulted. The NFL is cracking down on these hits. It has gotten to the point now that the NFL has issued a public “safe hit guide” to each NFL player. James Harrison, Steeler linebacker, leads the league in this category with three hits that resulted in fines. Harrison contemplated retirement after receiving two in one week.
Aside from the negatives, there were some record breakers that went along with this Monday Night Football matchup. The game featured some of the premiere receivers of our generation, including Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco, and Hines Ward. Only four receivers in the history of the NFL had recorded at least one reception in 185 consecutive games. Terrell Owens and Hines Ward are two of these four, and Monday night both pushed their respective streaks to 186 games.
In addition, Terrell Owens caught his 150th touchdown pass, becoming only the third player in NFL history to do so. This is an amazing accomplishment, one that adds to Owens’
Legacy in the NFL, and will contribute to his enshrining as one of the elite receivers of all time.
The Steelers also faced the threat of losing their franchise accomplishment of never losing a game with a 20 point lead. The Steeler grit was on display last night as they closed the game out in a 27-21 thriller.
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