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It was regular Wednesday afternoon TV programming, with Judge Judy on a channel arguing with a 19-year-old suing his mother after an altercation over the family air conditioner. Other lineup choices: TMZ Live dissecting a video of Taylor Swift, Guy Fieri playing grocery games, and Maury Povich being, you know, Maury.
But on NBC was the NFL version of the morning theater – presented to viewers after three postponements and a six-day delay triggered by more than 20 positive coronavirus test results from players and staff at the Baltimore Ravens. Unsurprisingly, despite a dignified battle, Baltimore lost to the Steelers, 19-14, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
The extremely rare midweek NFL afternoon performance even included a half-time pep talk from Commissioner Roger Goodell, who offered fans a promise in a TV interview: “In the no medical problem, we are going to play the games. “
About three hours earlier, the league revealed that 61 players and 95 other staff had returned new positive coronavirus test results in the last half of November.
Signing with a smile before the second half kicked off, Goodell looked at the camera and said: “It’s a great game.
An NFL season unlike any other. Despite the special circumstances, which included a trio of Steelers also not in uniform because they were on the league’s Covid-19 reserve roster, the teams played with an intensity that made for a competitive game. The artistic styles, however, left a lot to be desired. But it will happen when a virus-infected team like Baltimore miss nine starting players, including the league’s most valuable player, quarterback Lamar Jackson, and six other Pro Bowlers.
The Ravens, who have had 10 consecutive days of positive test results, were originally scheduled to play the Steelers in prime time on Thanksgiving. The match was postponed to Sunday, then Tuesday and finally Wednesday, as new positive cases were confirmed.
“We kept getting hit with those punches and the players kept coming back the next day and the next day,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh, whose team record fell to 6-5. after a 5-1 start to the season. “I’m proud of them – we wanted to play Thursday, we wanted to play Sunday, we wanted to play Tuesday and Wednesday.”
When asked if his players have ever lost confidence in league decision-making, Harbaugh replied, “No, I’m sure there are questions. Everyone did their best. We didn’t beat a thousand, no one can against this thing.
Harbaugh also indicated that none of the Baltimore players who tested positive for the virus appeared to be seriously ill, although he added that the team would likely issue a more detailed statement later.
Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who played a voluminous if unspectacular game and completed 36 of 51 attempts for 266 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception, admitted it was difficult to overcome all the postponements. and the developments underway on both teams over the past six days. .
“Probably the hardest thing about this week was the mental aspect of it,” said Roethlisberger, whose Steelers remained the only undefeated team in the NFL with an 11-0 record. “It’s mentally exhausting getting ready for a game and not knowing when it’s the case and it just keeps moving. This is the part I’m the most proud of guys – mentally it wasn’t easy, but we got there.
In his halftime interview, Goodell touched on several other pressing issues facing the NFL, with cases of the viruses increasing and disrupting team practices, lightening rosters and disrupting typical franchise operations. Chief among those questions was the league’s willingness to continue Wednesday’s game after the Ravens’ organization had a glut of positive test results.
“By having the few days’ delays which gave us the confidence that we understood where the virus was coming from, how it was continuing to spread and that we were in the last stage of that,” Goodell said. “And rest assured that the game could be played safely.”
Mike Tirico, who called the game up for NBC, asked Goodell why Sunday’s game involving the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints was not delayed as Denver lost four quarterbacks due to protocols viral league.
“We want to make sure we’re preventing the spread of the virus,” Goodell replied. “And that’s why when we see close, high-risk contact like we had in Denver, regardless of the group of positions, we’re going to make sure those players aren’t in a position where they can affect.” others.
Finally, when asked if Goodell was asked if the NFL was considering putting teams in a bubble for the playoffs, he replied, “We would consider further isolations to reduce the risk for all of our staff so that they are not exposed to the virus and bring into the facility or club. “
While the Steelers scored first in Wednesday’s game, the Ravens took a 7-6 lead late in the first quarter on a 1-yard touchdown by Gus Edwards (Pittsburgh kicker Chris Boswell missed the point extra after the Steelers’ opening touchdown).
The Steelers came back strong to take a 19-7 lead in the dying minutes of the game. Baltimore had started former Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III, who scrambled for significant yards on occasion, but left the game after completing 7 of 12 passes for just 33 yards with an interception. He was replaced by Trace McSorley, who threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marquise Brown with just under three minutes to go. But the Steelers managed to miss the clock after the Ravens’ score.
Wearing a mask throughout his press conference, Harbaugh thanked his team.
“They fought over this truly unique deal,” he said. “They didn’t blink.
Shaking his head slightly, Harbaugh added, “It’s a crazy year in many ways.”
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