Jags-Steelers Quasi Live Blog, Fourth Quarter

Jags take the kickoff and do what they do best... um, actually, no -- instead they drop back and throw three times, missing twice and taking a sack on third down. You know, there's a reason why Jack del Rio is not considered a Genius. After a nearly blocked punt, there's 14:14 left in the game and a lot more suspense than would have been expected. The Steelers will start at their 31, and despite the fact that they've run 19 times for 30 yards and their QB has thrown 3 picks, they're alive. The Jags, they keep you around.

Ben, who probably throws more pump fakes than anyone not named Favre, hits Ward for a quick first down, then a screen for 7 where Ward powers through three guys. If you need your WR to make you pump your fist, Ward's your guy. A near pick on second is followed up with a check down to Ward for the first. He now has 9 catches for 142. Yeesh.

Ben finds Miller in the flat, and the big TE makes a CB miss and gets another first. Not the best game for the Jags defense when it comes to tackling. After another first down toss to Wilson, the Jags make another post-play mistake, and the flag moves it inside the red zone... where Davennightsoil drops a very open play, but is redeemed on the next play, where Ben hits Miller for the touchdown. Ward makes an amazing play for the two-point conversion, but it comes back for a holding call. Brutal. Nearly as brutal as going for 2 from the 12 with 10:25 left; it fails, and it's 28-23. That Missed Extra Point May Come Back To Haunt Them!

After the now de rigeur Wuss Move of not kicking it to Returner, the Jags get a holding call... and then Garrard throws the backbreaking, Room Service, defender called for a freaking fair catch pick. After the return, the Steelers are in the red zone.

You remember where I wrote how no one who bet on this game would feel good about it? I warned you. And Me.

The home crowd is going gonzo before a third and one from the 7... and Ben gets it from the secondary shove from Davenkotite. After a quickie to Ward on a bootleg and another bootleg, a third down pass is tipped... and the Steelers go for it on fourth from the 2. Ward gets the flag on a call that could have gone either way.

On first down from the 1, Davencaca gets in, and the two-point fails. 29-28, and the missed points after are now huge, in that a field goal wins the game for the Jags, instead of tying it. 29-28, Steelers... who have scored 19 unanswered in the blink of a relative eye.

So, with 6:16 left, can Garrard lead a road comeback? He has 2 picks tonight on 14 attempts. He's looking Leftwichian right now, and the home crowd is causing false start penalties. Garrard tries a check down to the back, which does not work, as predicted. On 2nd and 13, it's a brutal drop for a wide-open Greg Jones off a scramble; that's the kind of play that just ends seasons. On 3rd and 13, with the crowd going Ka Ra Zee, Garrard gets time and hits Northcutt for a big first down. Jones is off the hook.

Now with a first down, the Jags can run, and Taylor does for three. On second, Garrard holds the ball for 10 seconds before throwing it away. With 4:11 left, Garrard takes a bad sack, and it will be up to the Jags defense to give them any last chance. After the punt, it's 3:43 left and the Steelers start at their 20.

Davengrowler for 5 on first -- a big play. Second down, Davenhoying gets stuffed, and the Jags take a time out. 3rd and 6 from the 26... and Ben rolls out and drops a load. With 2:50 left, it's punt time, and I'm waiting for the SNF team to tell me how the Steelers decision to go for two could cost them the season. Well? Well?

After a good return from Northcutt, its the Jags ball at their 49. Wilford misses a catch by inches that would have been huge... and the Jags are challenging, which will cost them their final time out. An 8-yard out to Williams gets them a 3rd and 2, and Garrard lets the clock run down to the two minute warning, inexplicably. 3rd and 2 from the Steelers 43. Despite the awful coaching decisions, this is a heck of a game.

Lewis drops an underthrown ball on 3rd, with Polamlu blitzing like a mad man. On fourth down... Garrard scrambles for 32 unforgettable yards to the Steeler 11. Pittsburgh timeout. Wow, wow, wow.

On first down, Jones-Drew gets crushed, another timeout. I was wondering, given the possibility of a 30 yard field goal, that the Steelers should let them score a touchdown, so you'd at least get the ball back with 1:15 left and two timeouts. No such move. On second, MoJo gets 5, and it's 3rd and 7 from the 8. MoJo to the 2, and it's an extra point try now. The Jags take a delay of game to milk every second, and it's Scobee from 25 yards for the game -- and he makes it. 31-29, and now, FINALLY, the announcers point out that going for the 2-point play from the 12 might not have been smart.

WAY TO GET IN THE GAME, YOU FREAKING FOSSILS!

Davenbraman returns it to the 28. Ben has 29 seconds and 40 yards... and he won't get any of them. Sack, fumble, ball game...

and since this was a 2.5 point spread, a cover for the home team, and a double loss for me. You have to love gambling!

(Oh, and there is no way that the Jags are winning next week; their QB was 9 for 21, for heaven's sake, and their coach eats paste. But thanks for playing!)