The speed-bump of my NFL season occurred last weekend. No, I am not talking about Pittsburgh's loss to New England: I am referring is the annual, league-mandated hiatus from Steelers football...also known as the "bye week." For rabid fans, such as myself, a week without watching the Steelers is painful. Fortunately, the cure is simple: waffles!
Yes, waffles.
Normally, I am unable to partake in Sunday brunches (which are quite ubiquitous during the football season). Those all-you-can-eat buffets are ignored, because I generally prefer to watch the Steelers games at my parents' house. But, this past Sunday, since the Steelers were not playing, I was able to venture to a waffle house.
For those less adept in the culinary arts, when the choice of toppings is syrup, whipped cream, or cherries, the answer is: Yes. First, apply the syrup; make sure it runs into every single one of those little holes. Next, plop a glob of whipped cream atop each waffle. Finally, smother the entire concoction with heaps of cherries. [Warning: for those worried about diabetes, you might skip the cherries.]
After you have your two or three platefuls of waffles, head to a table and watch whichever game catches your fancy. For me, the perfect game to watch was the Chargers-Patriots game.
As I watched the game, the following occurred to me. Prior to their bye, Pittsburgh played New England. Then, after Pittsburgh's bye-week, they will play San Diego. In other words, I was watching the team that had just played the Steelers and the team that the Steelers are playing next week. I immediately wondered how many times in the history of the league this strange match-up had occurred.
As I watched, I encountered a personal dilemma: for whom should I root? Part of me wanted to see the Patriots get blown out and embarrassed. But, at the same time, that would mean that the team that just beat the Steelers would get beaten by the team that was about to play the Steelers...which, via deductive reasoning, means that the Chargers would destroy the Steelers. Ergo, I immediately started rooting for the Patriots...but, that lasted about 30 seconds: I simply could not make myself cheer for New England.
In short, San Diego trounced the Patriots. Immediately following the game, the Charger fans in attendance were lightning quick to point out that their team had done what the Steelers could not: beat the Patriots.
Regardless of the taunts from Chargers fans, it felt good to watch the Patriots get demolished...while simultaneously scouting the competition. Alas, the competition looks amazing.
Brees was perfect. His throws were crisp, and he never seemed rattled. Antonio Gates solidified his claim as being the best tight-end in football. Even the mediocre receivers looked great. Again, the Chargers dominated the champions; this was not a route of the lowly Cardinals.
And, I have yet to mention LaDainian Tomlinson.
In a state of near hysterics, I grabbed a napkin, and jotted a note for Troy Polamalu and James Farrior. I read simply, "Bring your A-game boys!" In short, the Chargers looked like a team that deservedly posted a 12-4 record last season.
Furthermore, San Diego's domination of New England was not limited to the offense: the defense was in Brady's face all game long. As history has shown, if a team can rattle Tom Brady, he will become "mortal." Wade Phillips (San Diego's defensive coordinator) sent blitzes from every angle...and Brady sputtered. In other words, considering what the Chargers did to Brady, I can only imagine what they have in store for Ben Roethlisberger.
It is enough to make one's heart skip a beat and make one's stomach churn...as if my meal had not already done so.
Then again, the Patriots looked tired. I know there is no way to measure this statistic, but I am positive that the week after a team plays the Steelers, that team is a little more worn out than usual. Sure, any team can play sixty minutes of physical football against the Steelers, but it leaves them drained...all the way through the next game. And, the Patriots-Steelers game was indeed a physical battle. In other words, San Diego might have caught New England at an opportune time.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are used to playing physical football for every single snap, of every single game. It is their style, and they are quite used to it. Furthermore, even if they were tired after that game, the Steelers have had two weeks to recover from their bout with the champs. Conversely, San Diego had to travel to New England...and, the Chargers might be just a little bit worn out.
Even if San Diego is at full strength, come Monday, I expect to see Willie Parker fly down the field, hear Steelers defenders crashing into LaDainian, and smell the sweet smell of victory...which, oddly enough, smells a lot like waffles.
