On January 9th, 2016, the Pittsburgh Steelers matched up against the Cincinnati Bengals in an AFC Wild Card game. Only one team would move on, and tensions were extremely high prior to the game. So much so, that the NFL would issue statements to both teams a week before the game, warning them that any inappropriate behavior would be handled accordingly. If you know Roger Goodell, then you know these two words: suspensions and fines.
There was intensity the whole game. Players shoving after plays were over missed holding calls turned into scuffles and even significant breaks in the action to calm players and coaches down. Although very intense, the game brought out the worst in two teams, and ultimately in the NFL.
With just under two minutes to go in the third quarter, Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron threw a screen pass to running back Giovanni Bernard. As Bernard caught the ball and turned to start running, he was met by Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier. He was hit so hard by the 230-pound linebacker, that his body quickly changed direction, with his head appearing to whiplash, and his body crumpling to the ground. There is nothing fishy about this play. Shazier lead with his shoulder, not his head, so no penalty could be issued. The problem with this play is that it has become routine; A running back turning around so quickly he cannot see the defensive player about to hit him with the force of a locomotive. Bernard lay on the ground for two minutes before standing up with the help of coaches, eventually making his way out of the game.
About a minute later, the Steelers were backed up inside their own 20 with the ball. Ben Roethlisberger dropped back to pass, but could not do so quickly enough. Bengals star linebacker Vontaze Burfict sacked Big Ben, causing him to land hard on his shoulder. It was obvious right after the play that Roethlisberger was in pain, so his trainers decided to evaluate him before putting him back in. As he was being carried into the locker room via golf cart, Bengals fans in the first few rows of the stadiums threw empty plastic cups and other garbage at him. The only kinds of fans that would do this are those who do not understand empathy or putting themselves in the shoes (cleats?) of another.
Earlier in the game, after Bengals safety, Reggie Nelson pushed a Steelers running back out of bounds, Steelers assistant coach Mike Munchak appeared to shove Nelson. When it was looked at more closely, the video showed Munchak actually yanking Nelson's dreadlocks and shoved him away. Not the kind of 15-yard penalty head coach Mike Tomlin wanted to see in the first quarter of the playoffs. Later in the game, the safety Nelson would injure his leg and be unable to return.
Not only was the game chippy all along, but it came down to the wire. With two crucial turnovers in the last few minutes (one by either team), the Steelers wound up with the ball at their own 30-yard line with only 30 seconds left and down by one. As they approached midfield, they looked to reach their own 33-yard line, so that kicker Chris Boswell didn't have to kick a field goal beyond 55 yards, his career high.
Roethlisberger, having had much playoff success, was poised to bring the Steelers back. He fired a pass to Antonio Brown that was barely wide right, and Brown stuck up his arm. Incomplete. What happened next was gruesome. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict came in from Brown's right side full speed ahead. He lowered his shoulder, and burst forward, sending Brown's neck in a direction that, believe me, necks are not meant to go. As he fell to the ground, he seemed to be unconscious, and his head swiveled like a bobblehead doll. Luckily, it was only a concussion, and he walked off under his own power.
The NFL is becoming something else. I don't recall, in the last five or so years, cringing so many times during a football game. After the hits, there were no apologies, only celebrations. Even if these players were hitting so hard purely out of rage, that doesn't give an excuse to aim for a players head, be it with another head, shoulder, or foot.
Last night, the fans played dirty, the players were even dirtier, and the refs let most of it happen. There should really be someone out there to make sure we can leave this out of football and to make sure that refs may officiate with stricter guidelines.
Oh, wait... That's right, Roger Goodell!
In all seriousness, I have lost faith in the NFL. Maybe it is just me, but I'm not such a big fan of watching adults hit each other on the head, complain to referees about penalties, hold out contracts, and act childish on the field. At least, we know how to fix this problem in the short term: suspensions and fines.
