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It's only 11 seconds in to the game and already the clowns calling it are starting to ruin it. After the Steelers decided to throw the game by winning the coin toss and making the unbelievable decision to defer the Ravens took the opening kick off and returned it for excellent field position. There was a challenge on spotting the return and Gumbel decided to put a damper on the game as quickly as possible by moaning that the game “had come to a screeching halt”. A dynamic kick off return, a challenge, and now the remaining 59 minutes and 49 seconds are bound to be dull because of the challenge, which the Steelers won.

Of course Gumbel's partner in crime, Dan Dierdorf can be counted on to add his share of stupidity. The game is “dragging” on despite the challenge and it's becoming abundantly clear that the officials are the 12th man on the Pittsburgh side of the ball. Even though there have been at least two blatant calls in favor of the Steelers, the guys calling the game barely notice and only mention the obvious in passing. Maybe they just want to keep the game close and it's obvious the Steelers will need all the help they can get.

Besides the overt fix in this one, Dierdorf is supplying entertainment by his usual array of idiotic comments. “So-and-so is the most under rated (put position here) in the game”. “You see that all the time (put unique event here)”, and “That was a big time (put play here)”.

Gumbel, as usual is almost being accurate on his play-by-play but, as usual, it's better to just watch the game for yourself to know what's happening.

Anyway, half way through the first quarter it's pretty obvious the Ravens are the better team. But, even though they have the Steelers all figured out and can out play them there's not much they can do about the officiating. The only thing in their favor is that the referees have to make the obvious calls.

Labels: NFL Playoffs