Steelers 3, Dolphins 0

After a game which i will speak of (Jets), the Steelers were faced with more difficulties Monday Night. The Steelers were matched up with the worst team in the NFL, the winless, 0-10 Miami Dolphins. Headlining this game was the return of Joey Porter to Pittsburgh and the return of "Sticky" Ricky Williams to the NFL. The night was pretty good for Porter, not so much for Sticky. Porter had an interception early in the game and added a sack as well. Williams had 6 carries for 15 yards, before leaving with a season-ending shoulder injury. Over-shadowing this game was the unbelievably awful field conditions, which turned out to play the biggest factor in the game. The field was torn to shreads, causing players to lose their balance and fall down periodically. After the game was delayed half an hour due to lightning (2nd time this season for the Steelers on a Monday night game), the players were rushed onto the field and only given 9 minutes to warm up. The national anthem and player introductions were skipped as well. Ben Roethlisberger had a Steelers record 87.5% completion percentage, while going 18-21 for 168 yards and an interception. Willie Parker added 81 yards rushing, putting him over 1,000 yards for the season. Hines Ward played maybe the biggest factor in the Steelers offense, pulling in 9 catches for 88 yards, including 2 big catches on the game winning drive. Both teams were held scoreless for 59:43, until Jeff Reed connected on a field goal with 0:17 left on the clock. The Dolphins would try their best rendition of Cal/Stanford, but it would be to no avail, as they would run out the clock. (I was waiting for someone to scream "the band is out on the field!!!). The reason for the horrible field conditions was due to the resurfacing of the field the day before the Monday Night matchup. The field had to be resurfaced due to 5 games that had been played in 2 days, due to 4 WPIAL High School Championships on Friday and PITT vs. USF on Saturday. The WPIAL playoffs were quite good to the field actually considering, and good to the crowd. You can see Gateway High School's amazing comeback, capped off by an amazing hook-and-latteral to tie the game with 0:01 left on the clock, on ESPN and YouTube. Back to the Steelers though, the playing conditions made the teams near equals on the field, which really isn't fair. Without the conditions, I am certain that the Steelers would have layed it on the Dolphins, but, until the Rooney's accept an artificial surface, expect more of the same.

You will probably see more of the same this Sunday night, as the Steelers take on the hated Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field. Weather conditions are expected to be poor again, which could bring back memories from Monday Night's hell. If the field conditions are good, I expect the Steelers to win by about 10 points. If they are poor, expect another close one, and don't be surprised if the Steelers lose. A sleeper player in this game is Chris Henry, the 3rd String WR for the Bengals. He always has great games against the Steelers, and will be trying to do the same Sunday. (As long as he isn't arrested again). The Bengals showed that they remember how to play football last week, while crushing a good Tennessee team 35-6. It is only fair that I have 2 possible predictions (due to field conditions) for this Sunday's game.

Good Field: Steelers 27, Bengals 17
Slop: Steelers 10, Bengals 7