Records tumble in Pittsburgh mudbath
A bad game of football is a common occurrence. Par for the course. Then there are those rare matches that are so bad, the excruciation factor so painful, they become impossible to turn away from, like a car crash.
Welcome to Monday Night Football: Miami at Pittsburgh.
The Steelers (8-3) kept the hapless Dolphins winless for 2007, with Jeff Reed kicking a field goal with 0:17 left in the game for the only score.
That’s right, 59 minutes and 43 seconds of the match played out without a point.
To be fair, the quagmire at Heinz field was never going to be conducive to a free flowing game. The new turf resembling a cattle field once these behemoths had finished mangling away. Footing was diabolical in parts of the field, with the offensive and defensive lines often sunk so deeply into the surface, their feet were barely visible.
The Dolphins’ best chance to score came late in the third quarter, when Miami kicker Jay Feely had an attempt from 20 yards. With the ball set in the sloth, Feely shanked his shot badly, but Miami was given a reprieve thanks to a delay of game penalty. The five yard punishment was actually an advantage, given it put the Dolphins on a patch of unaffected grass. The shot however was ignored and on 4th and 11, John Beck (15/24, 132 yds) was sacked.
The Steelers had enjoyed the better field position all night, however they didn’t advance inside the 20, until the final drive. With the match on the line, a string of short completions from Ben Roethlisberger (18/21, 165 yds) advanced Pittsburgh to within 24 yards and a shot at the ultimately successful game winner. Reed professionally and neatly slotted the kick.
In typical Miami fashion, the Dolphins made a meal of whatever hope existed of a miracle. A series of laterals almost resulted in the first touchdown of the match – to the Steelers. Ricky Williams exited the match early with a shoulder injury.
The last time a game went this far without points was in 1943, when Giants and Lions finished 0-0. Tonight’s effort is the lowest scoring match in Monday Night Football history.
The loss, Miami’s 11th in a row, is their sixth defeat by a margin of a field goal or less.
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