Detroit 21
Pittsburgh pitt.gif - 2342 Bytes35


SCORING



Team 1234OTTotal
VISITOR: Detroit Lions14070021
HOME: Pittsburgh Steelers147140035

Scoring Plays
TeamQtrTimePlay Description (Extra Point) (Drive Info)VisitorHome
Steelers113:43A.Randle El 81 yd. punt return (J.Reed kick)07
Lions19:43M.Pollard 11 yd. pass from J.Harrington (J.Hanson kick) (8-59, 4:00)77
Lions13:33C.Schlesinger 1 yd. pass from J.Harrington (J.Hanson kick) (7-81, 3:46)147
Steelers10:21J.Bettis 1 yd. run (J.Reed kick) (6-33, 3:12)1414
Steelers21:11J.Bettis 5 yd. run (J.Reed kick) (4-37, 1:24)1421
Steelers311:00J.Bettis 4 yd. run (J.Reed kick) (7-77, 4:00)1428
Lions35:32R.Williams 15 yd. pass from J.Harrington (J.Hanson kick) (12-63, 5:28)2128
Steelers30:42B.Roethlisberger 7 yd. run (J.Reed kick) (8-82, 4:50)2135

Paid Attendance: 63,794Game Length: 2:55

Detroit Lions vs Pittsburgh Steelers
1/1/2006 at Heinz Field
Final Individual Statistics
Detroit Lions Pittsburgh Steelers

 
RUSHINGATTYDSAVGLGTD
K.Jones18784.3120
S.Bryson3113.760
J.Harrington2115.580
P.Smith252.540
 
Total251054.2120
 
RUSHINGATTYDSAVGLGTD
W.Parker261355.2210
J.Bettis10414.1123
V.Haynes4174.3120
B.Roethlisberger351.771
A.Randle El111.010
 
Total441994.5214

 
PASSINGATTCMPYDSSK/YDTDLGINRT
J.Harrington33172121/93630102.1
 
Total33172121/93630102.1
 
PASSINGATTCMPYDSSK/YDTDLGINRT
B.Roethlisberger1671351/3043234.1
 
Total1671351/3043234.1

 
PASS RECEIVINGNOYDSAVGLGTD
M.Pollard45012.5271
S.Vines44411.0190
R.Williams33110.3151
P.Smith2168.0110
C.Schlesinger263.051
S.Bryson16363.0630
K.Jones122.020
 
Total1721212.5633
 
PASS RECEIVINGNOYDSAVGLGTD
H.Miller36220.7430
H.Ward14040.0400
W.Parker11717.0170
A.Randle El11313.0130
V.Haynes133.030
 
Total713519.3430

 
INTERCEPTIONSNOYDSAVGLGTD
B.Walker12222.0220
A.Goodman100.000
 
Total22211.0220
 
INTERCEPTIONSNOYDSAVGLGTD
 
Total000.000

 
PUNTINGNOYDSAVGTBIN20LG
N.Harris623539.20247
 
Total623539.20247
 
PUNTINGNOYDSAVGTBIN20LG
C.Gardocki416441.00248
 
Total416441.00248

 
PUNT RETURNSNOYDSAVGFCLGTD
E.Drummond210.5260
 
Returns210.5260
 
PUNT RETURNSNOYDSAVGFCLGTD
A.Randle El27939.53811
[OUT OF BOUNDS]100.0000
 
Returns27939.53811

 
KICKOFF RETURNSNOYDSAVGFCLGTD
E.Drummond612621.00330
 
Returns612621.00330
 
KICKOFF RETURNSNOYDSAVGFCLGTD
Q.Morgan36020.00270
R.Colclough16363.00630
 
Returns412330.80630

 
Detroit Lions
FUMBLESFUMOWN-RECYDSTDFORCEDOPP-RECYDSTDOUT-BDS
E.Drummond100000000
K.Jones100000000
P.Smith100000000
K.Butler010000000
Total310000000

Pittsburgh Steelers
FUMBLESFUMOWN-RECYDSTDFORCEDOPP-RECYDSTDOUT-BDS
J.Farrior000010000
C.Iwuoma000010000
T.Polamalu000010000
B.Keisel000001000
A.Smith000001000
Total000032000

Detroit Lions vs Pittsburgh Steelers
1/1/2006 at Heinz Field
Final Team Statistics
 Visitor
Lions
Home
Steelers

TOTAL FIRST DOWNS1620
   By Rushing313
   By Passing125
   By Penalty12
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY10-17-59%4-10-40%
FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY0-0-0%1-1-100%
TOTAL NET YARDS308331
   Total Offensive Plays (inc. times thrown passing)5961
   Average gain per offensive play5.25.4
NET YARDS RUSHING105199
   Total Rushing Plays2544
   Average gain per rushing play4.24.5
   Tackles for a loss-number and yards1-11-5
NET YARDS PASSING203132
   Times thrown - yards lost attempting to pass1-91-3
   Gross yards passing212135
PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED33-17-016-7-2
   Avg gain per pass play (inc.# thrown passing)6.07.8
KICKOFFS Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks4-1-06-0-0
PUNTS Number and Average6-39.24-41.0
   Had Blocked00
FGs - PATs Had Blocked0-00-0
Net Punting Average26.040.8
TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not Including Kickoffs)2379
   No. and Yards Punt Returns2-12-79
   No. and Yards Kickoff Returns6-1264-123
   No. and Yards Interception Returns2-220-0
PENALTIES Number and Yards5-472-15
FUMBLES Number and Lost3-20-0
TOUCHDOWNS35
   Rushing04
   Passing30
   Punt Returns01
EXTRA POINTS Made-Attempts3-35-5
   Kicking Made-Attempts3-35-5
FIELD GOALS Made-Attempts0-00-0
RED ZONE EFFICIENCY3-3-100%4-4-100%
GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY1-1-100%3-3-100%
SAFETIES00
FINAL SCORE2135
TIME OF POSSESSION27:2932:31

Detroit Lions vs Pittsburgh Steelers
1/1/2006 at Heinz Field
Ball Possession And Drive Chart
Detroit Lions

# Time
Recd
Time
Lost
Time
Poss
How Ball
Obtained
Drive
Began
#
Play
Yds
Gain
Yds
Pen
Net
Yds
1st
Down
Last
Scrm
How
Given Up
115:0013:431:17KickoffDET 2836060DET 34Punt
213:439:434:00KickoffDET 418590594*PIT 11Touchdown
37:193:333:46PuntDET 197810814*PIT 1Touchdown
40:2110:384:43KickoffDET 239340342PIT 43Punt
57:264:173:09PuntDET 86320321DET 40Punt
61:110:140:57KickoffDET 153100100DET 20Fumble
711:005:325:28KickoffDET 3712630634*PIT 15Touchdown
80:4214:530:49KickoffDET 3338080DET 41Punt
912:2811:061:22PuntDET 275110111DET 38Punt
106:544:561:58InterceptionDET 3934-5-10DET 38Punt

    (270) Average DET 27       
Pittsburgh Steelers

# Time
Recd
Time
Lost
Time
Poss
How Ball
Obtained
Drive
Began
#
Play
Yds
Gain
Yds
Pen
Net
Yds
1st
Down
Last
Scrm
How
Given Up
19:437:192:24KickoffPIT 275160161PIT 43Punt
23:330:213:12KickoffDET 3361716333*DET 1Touchdown
310:387:263:12PuntPIT 1351821391DET 48Punt
44:172:351:42PuntPIT 2130000PIT 21Punt
52:351:111:24FumbleDET 374370372*DET 5Touchdown
60:140:000:14FumbleDET 2520000DET 25Interception
715:0011:004:00KickoffPIT 237770774*DET 4Touchdown
85:320:424:50KickoffPIT 188820824*DET 7Touchdown
914:5312:282:25PuntPIT 134170171PIT 30Punt
1011:066:544:12PuntPIT 28734-10241DET 48Interception
114:560:004:56PuntPIT 2110330333DET 45End of Game

    (369) Average PIT 34       
* inside opponent's 20

Time of Possession by Quarter1st2nd3rd4thOTTotal
Visitor  Detroit Lions9:248:286:103:2727:29
Home  Pittsburgh Steelers5:366:328:5011:3332:31

Kickoff Drive No. - Start AverageLions: 6 - DET 30Steelers: 4 - PIT 34

Detroit Lions vs Pittsburgh Steelers
1/1/2006 at Heinz Field
Final Defensive Statistics
Detroit LionsRegular Defensive PlaysSpecial TeamsMisc

TKLASTCOMBSACK /YRDSINPDFFFR  TKLASTFFFRBL  TKLASTFFFR
L.Woods5611000000  00000  0000
B.Walker538001100  00000  0000
K.Kennedy527000000  00000  0000
J.Hall516130000  00000  0000
J.Davis336000000  00000  0000
S.Rogers336000000  00000  0000
D.Curry235000000  00000  0000
R.McQuarters213000100  00000  0000
W.Rainer213000000  00000  0000
C.Redding202000000  00000  0000
K.Smith112000000  10000  0000
J.DeVries022000000  00000  0000
M.Grootegoed101000000  00000  0000
K.Edwards101000000  00000  0000
A.Goodman000001100  00000  0000
P.Smith000000000  11000  0000
S.Wilson000000000  11000  0000
J.Hanson000000000  10000  0000
E.Drummond000000000  10000  0000
V.Fox000000000  01000  0000
K.Kosier000000000  00000  1000
K.Butler000000000  00000  0001
 
Total372663132300  53000  1001

TKL / TK = TackleAST / AS = AssistCOMB = CombinedIN = Interception
PD = Pass DefenseFF = Forced FumbleFR = Fumble RecoveryBL = Blocked

Pittsburgh SteelersRegular Defensive PlaysSpecial TeamsMisc

TKLASTCOMBSACK /YRDSINPDFFFR  TKLASTFFFRBL  TKLASTFFFR
T.Polamalu9211000110  00000  0000
J.Farrior729190110  00000  0000
C.Hope437000000  00000  0000
A.Smith336000101  00000  0000
D.Townsend235000000  00000  0000
I.Taylor213000100  00000  0000
C.Haggans123000100  00000  0000
L.Foote123000100  00000  0000
K.von Oelhoffen123000000  00000  0000
J.Porter202000000  00000  0000
R.Colclough112000100  11000  0000
C.Hampton112000000  00000  0000
B.McFadden101000100  00000  0000
B.Keisel101000000  20010  0000
C.Kriewaldt000000000  20000  0000
T.Carter000000000  11000  0000
C.Iwuoma000000000  10100  0000
S.Morey000000000  10000  0000
Q.Morgan000000000  00000  1000
 
Total362258190821  82110  1000

RECAP


It was an ugly game in an ugly season for both the Detroit Lions and the New Orleans Saints.

So bad, in fact, it took the ugliest of kicks in the final seconds to win it.

Jason Hanson rushed on to the field and kicked a 39-yard knuckleball field goal as time expired, giving the Lions a 13-12 victory Saturday in a game that, for three quarters, featured two of the NFL's tailenders.

There were six field goals, no offensive touchdowns, dropped passes and spotty play by two quarterbacks still trying to figure out where they fit with their teams.

''Winning like this shows character,'' said Detroit quarterback Joey Harrington.

New Orleans, which lost on a bizarre penalty and rekick on the final play two months ago against Atlanta, figured to have this one locked away when John Carney kicked his fourth field goal for a 12-10 lead with 1:52 to play.

Harrington, who had been benched twice this season, struggled most of the game before connecting with Roy Williams for two big completions on the Lions' final drive.

The first came on fourth down, a 40-yard sideline catch. On the second, with about 13 seconds left, Williams caught the ball in the middle of the field.

''I knew it was going to come my way,'' said Williams, who had dropped two passes earlier. ''I told myself, 'You better not drop it, they'll make fun of you the rest of your life.'''

The Lions were a bit lucky. Coach Dick Jauron considered spiking the ball to stop the clock, but Hanson and the kicking unit were already running on the field. That meant everyone else had to hustle off.

As the last seconds ticked off, Hanson launched a low kick that knuckled through the uprights for the win.

''It was done like it should have been, but I would have liked to have killed the clock and given them time to set up,'' Jauron said. ''I was watching the clock because that would have been a bad way to lose the game.''

Until that drive, the Lions had done little on offense. Hanson's two fourth-quarter field goals were their only offensive points. The Lions also got a 21-yard fumble return for a touchdown by defensive tackle Shaun Rogers in the second quarter.

For the Lions (5-10), it was an amazing victory in a season in which their fans protested their bad play and the management of team president Matt Millen. The win snapped a five-game losing streak.

''There have been times the coaches have not believed in me, and there have been times the players didn't believe in me,'' said Harrington, who was 17-of-30 for 210 yards in his third crack as the starter. ''But I never lost faith in myself.''

For New Orleans (3-12), it was just another tough loss in a season full of mistakes. It was also eerily reminiscent of the defeat against Atlanta, when the Falcons missed a kick in the final seconds, but were awarded a retry when the Saints were flagged for holding.

''We have fumbles returned for touchdowns, other teams make plays and we don't,'' said safety Dwight Smith.

The Saints have lost 10 of their last 11 in a season in which they played ''home'' games in New Jersey, San Antonio and Baton Rouge, La., after Hurricane Katrina.

Harrington's return began with an efficient 16-play drive that took Detroit to the Saints 4 before the threw his 12th interception. He underthrew the 6-foot-3 Williams on a fade route and 5-9 cornerback Fred Thomas picked it off. After picking up five first downs, the Lions would get only two more until the fourth quarter.

Todd Bouman wasn't much better at the beginning of his second start for New Orleans. A week after committing five turnovers in a loss to Carolina, Bouman was sacked and fumbled.

He kept a lid on the turnovers as the game wore on, twice leading drives to take the lead in the second half. Carney kicked field goals of 35, 47, 33 and 20 yards.

''We had chances to score touchdowns all day. I missed some guys,'' said Bouman, who was off by inches on several deep passes. ''It's just a disappointing loss.''

''The defense played well enough to win all day, except at the end,'' said Saints coach Jim Haslett. ''In this league you can't kick field goals and win.''

You can if it's the last one of the game. Now maybe the folks back home will quiet down a bit.

Scott's Game Commentary:

For the first time all year, the Offense was not the reason why the Lions lost the game. Joey Harrington, in what could have been his final game in the honolulu blue and silver, threw for three touchdowns and looked comfortable in the pocket. Too bad he has had only a few games like that his entire career. The special teams could not have been any worse. Not only did Pittsburgh run back a touchdown but they ran another kick back into Lions territory that setup a second touchdown. When you are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers you cannot hand them touchdowns like that! Jermone Bettis had three touchdowns as the Lions had no answer to him near the goal line. The only good thing I can say about this season is it has finally come to a conclusion. Never in my life have I remembered a season as disappoining as this one. As usual the injuy bug bit the Lions in the rear end. Almost every linebacker missed time and losing Fernando Bryand was a back breaker to the secondary. Still, with all the offensive weapons the Lions had on paper to begin the season, for them to only score above 20 points four times in a season is unacceptable. This team has more talent than the one from a year ago that posted the same 5-11 record. Unfortunately, will all the off season changes looming, I have no clue what to expect for the 2006 season.

Grades:

*Offense: --- B. Season: F. The Lions had one of their best offensive performances given the Steelers have one of the best Defenses in the NFL. Harrington, possibly auditioning for a new team, had one of his best games of his career but the bottom line is he has had three years to prove himself and failed! Harrington's Lions future most likely depends on who the next head coach will be. I say it is a coin flip on if Harrington will be back for the 2006 season. If it were up to me, I would probably keep Joey unless there is a better QB to be brought in. The 2006 QB free agents is nothing to get excited over, but they will definitely find someone that is better than the over the hill Jeff Garica. The running back position was a major disappointment this season. Kevin Jones, who was on fire the last few games of the 2004 season, had so much promise at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, he had a miserable season because he could never stay healthy and did not have one game over 100 yards. The biggest let down came from the receivers. There was so much buzz last summer with thought of Charles Rogers, Mike Williams and Roy Williams staring. Combined, they were all flat out disappointing! Roy Williams made some great plays but more times than not had a critical dropped pass that ended up costing the Lions dearly. Mike Williams first year was a complete waste - he is young and inexperienced. Still, he has the potential to turn it around. As for Charles Rogers, what can you say? Talk about one disasterous season! He was inactive again for the Pittsburgh game and it would not surprise me one bit if the Lions cut him in the offseason. I still think he has the chance to be a good receiver, but it certainly is not going to be in Detroit. The Offensive Line was also disappointing this year. Jeff Backus is an unrestricted free agent and I could care less if he stays - he has not lived up to expections as is the case for every Millen 1st round draft pick. Marcus Pollard had a few big games but more times than not was ineffective. All in all, the Offense gets a flunking grade for the season and I can say that it will only get better for the 2006 season.

*Defense: --- D. Season: D+. The Defense gave up 28 points and for the most part had no answer to the Steelers rushing attack as they gave up 199 yards and three touchdowns. When the Offense scored their third touchdown, the Defense gave up a long drive that pretty much killed any chance of a come back. It was an up and down year for the Defense. At times they made the big plays and kept the team in the game. Other times, they look disillusioned like in losses to Atlanta and Cincinnati. Losing LB's Boss Bailey and Earl Holmes was a back breaker as was when CB Fernando Bryant got hurt. R.W. McQuarters and Andre Goodman did a decent job in the secondary, but are not NFL caliber starters. Shaun Rogers was the only bright spot on the entire team - he is off to his second pro bowl and will be a force to wrecken with for years to come. If the Defense can stay healthy, which has been an ongoing issue for the past few years, they should improve over their 2005 performance.

*Special Teams: --- F-. Season: C-. Nothing like giving up a touchdown on a kick off return and yielding another long return that setup another touchdown. Coverage was just awful. Eddie Drummond, who had by far his worst year, fumbled the ball away. His gamble to hold out and try and get a new contract blew up in his face and I could care less to see him back. Jason Hanson was rock solid as usual and punter Nick Harris had a much better year punting and led the NFL in punts inside the 20.

*Coaching: --- C. Season: D-. I don't know what got into Jauron and Greg Olson, but the Offense looked much better than it has in several games. Far too many times this season Jauron and Maricucci play calling was way too conservative. With all the raw talent on the Offense, they should have went down field more.

*Overall: --- D. Season: F-. The Lions played hard in their last game against a good team but in the end finishd with another loss which left them at 5-11. At the beginning of the year, I thought at worse this was a .500 team. Who would have thought how poorly the Offense would be and all the injures that would creep up on the Defense. Steve Mariucci lost control of the locker room which led to his dismissal and what transpired was the campaign to get rid of Millen. Unfortunately, Millen is going to be around another year and has a huge decision to make on who will be the next Lions head coach. There will be several teams with coaching vacancies to fill so Millen better have an idea who he wants to bring in. I'm also very curious to see what will happen with Charles Rogers and Joey Harrington. They both are big under achievers who might be better off with a change of scenery. The Lions should get a top ten pick in the upcoming draft and better not waste it like they have the past several years. Drafting an offensive lineman would be their safest bet. Knowing Millen, he will find some way to mess it up. Next month, my website celebrates its ten year anniversary. It it hard to belive how fast these ten years have flown by. The last few years have been a challenge since there has not been much of anything good to write about. Thank you for visiting my site and I will continue to share my two cents for years to come. Be sure to check back during the off season as I will update the website whenever the Lions make big off season moves.

*Click HERE to go back to my LIONS page!!