Ben Gets His Bell Rung
Late in the game on Saturday Courtney Upshaw sacked Big Ben and Ben came down hard on the side of his head. He stayed down for a bit there, went to the sidelines for several plays while Gradkowski funslinged the Steelers a few first downs. The cameras showed them working and testing Ben on the sidelines. Then he came back in and promptly threw a godawful interception across his body into the endzone that for most intents and purposes iced the game. The entire sequence was eerily familiar to the infamous game with Colt McCoy and James Harrison, where the same thing happened. I don’t know if Big Ben actually got concussed, he came back to the field surprisingly fast, before they could properly test him, and Ben himself claims it was whiplash. I don’t know what to believe, the way he hit his head totally sells me on the idea that he may have gotten at least a mild concussion.
Steelers/Ravens ended up being the best game of the weekend, it was a surprisingly lame weekend. Cardinals flamed out as expected with Ryan Lindley at the helm, but the Panthers looked bad on offense and no one expects them to beat Seattle in Seattle. It will be a low scoring D-fest. Cincinnati can’t even be interesting in their playoff losses, and Colts/Bengals was about as exciting as a wet fart. Lions/Cowboys was an exciting game that was sadly marred by officiating controversy and the Cowboys winning. I’m sure everyone expected a comic about that but I have two comics to go before divisional weekend so I’ll hold off on talking about that. Long opinion short: I think the Lions got the short end of the stick from the officials, but cannot blame the refs for the loss as much as they are.
I’m all but positive Ben got a concussion, but if there’s anyone in the NFL who’ll say they’re fine when they’re most definitely not, it’s Ben. That throw is a decision he would never make with a clear head, especially since, if I recall, he had room to run, slide, and keep the game alive.
Calling it now: If Baltimore loses, the Pats go to the Superbowl. Tom has Peyton’s number, and Luck hasn’t had much success against him either. The Ravens have a horrific secondary, but the Pats have a pretty bleh receiving group too. All they rely on is Gronk, and between Mosley and Smith, the Ravens have some very talented linebackers in coverage. If they can keep Gronk relatively quiet, I think they have a shot. But if not, especially with how depleted Denver is at linebacker, I don’t see anyone else standing in Tom’s way until he meets either Russell Wilson or Tony Romo in Arizona.
Gradowski was actually leading them on a great drive, then ben comes in and he throws an INT in the endzone (Seriously, it was on his first play back)
I’m not sure what games you’ve seen, but I’ve seen over 90% of the Ravens defensive snaps this season, and their linebackers are pretty weak in coverage. Darryl Smith is slow, and CJ Mosley is fast, but a little inexperienced and easily faked out with double moves.
TOTAL homer pick:
Ravens, and 3 home team wins. Broncos/Pack for the Super Bowl rematch, where we see a young, talented, 1-ring QB in Green Bay take on the weathered, aging super-star in Denver with enormous post-season question marks and criticism sacrifice his body to get that elusive ring. I know, it’s a repeat, but I liked it enough the first time to watch it again.
I would watch the shit out of that repeat if it ends the same as the first time.
I know it’s unlikely, but seriously how awesome would it be if Carolina won this week.
Its Always awesome when the Pats completely melt down in the playoffs. I think the Ravens can do it!
Cory Redding apparently had a busy weekend being traded back to Baltimore on Saturday to play, then traded back to Indy on Sunday!! =)
Just wanted to point that out. Love you comics!!
Hey Dave, just an FYI. Cory Redding is now with the Colts. I’m pretty sure (but not 100%) that it was Courtney Upshaw on the hit that took Ben out. (Though I may be remembering who hit him on the Suggs INT.) But it definitely wasn’t Redding.
Love the hidden text, by the way.
Even if the DPI was dubious, it was a TRIPLE a no-call. Hitchens should have been called for Holding on Pettigrew and Dez should have been rung up for Unsportsmanlike Conduct, giving it the old Roy Keane on the ref. Either of them get called, it’s a different game. It’s a FD for Detroit, at least 3pts, and while I know the Cowboys won by 4, it’s less time on the clock for Dallas, no lousy ten yard punt off Detroit, and therefore no guarantee of great field position.
Punting on 4th and 1 was gutless as well, but I think the Lions were stiffed. Shades of Steratore again at Fins-Steelers back in 2010.
Sucks that we didn’t get to see the birth of the Legend of Gradkowski
Must resist urge to make profootballmock joke…
ugggh….
IT’S FUNNY BECAUSE BEN GOT HIT IN THE HEAD A LOT
BEAST MODE UNDERSTOOD REFEREMCE TO TOPICAL SPORT HUNOR WEBSITE
BEAST MODE WOULD ALSO MAKE REFERENCE, BUT BEAST MODE STILL TOO BUSY RUNNING OVER EVERY CARDINAL
EVEN STANFORD STUDEBTS AND REAL BIRDS
ALSO BEAST MODE SHALL RUN OVER AUTOCORRECT
BEAST MODE MAY BE LOUD BUT BEAST MODE IS NOT A BAD SPELLER
Good work on Suggs’ enormous gums. That’s the attention to detail I come here for.
Actually, Suggs had mouth surgery, so not as much gum as before. Then again, he still looks like a cave troll.
From now on, whenever Tomlin is in a comic, can Dr House make an appearance? Has anyone ever seen Omar Epps and Tomlin in the same room together? It’s eerie.
Same is true of Roflberger and Will Farrel. The Steelers, the Movie already has two blatant stars.
stellas fucked deyselves lol my man brucey gronkowski wuda throw chilllll ass TDs but nah
My picks:
Baltimore over New England
Denver over Indianapolis
Green Bay over Dallas
Seattle over Carolina
Denver over Baltimore
Green Bay over Seattle
Denver beats Green Bay, 27-21
I really want Romo to silence the critics and reach the Super Bowl but I don’t see it happening.
How I wish you had been right…
Ben’s face is priceless in the last panel