We are now into December and Christmas approaches

True, Getzlaf had a crazy goal off of the glass, but it was a goal none-the-less. However, what is most important is that the team was able to fight back, and quickly at that. Never allowing Ottawa to hold a lead for more than a minute shows a sense of urgency in the Ducks that I don't think we've seen much of this season.Now, if the team could only find a way to play that way when the score is tied, at zero, or in the third period when leading, then they might get somewhere.Having Joffrey Lupul back in the line-up has done wonders for the Ducks offensive boost In only two games back, the winger already has three goals. In his first 20 games of the season Lupul had six goals and four assists for a total of 10 points.

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Hopefully the rest and recuperation has righted his personal course and we'll be seeing this continued improvement from him in the upcoming months.In addition to having a big named goal scorer return to the lineup, the Ducks are actually lucky to have two rookies currently on the roster. Both Dan Sexton and Matt Beleskey are playing the type of hockey many of us would love to see from our big named superstars. They're pressuring the puck, playing physical (which says a lot for the listed 5'10", 170 pound Sexton who looks like he's barely 5'7'' on skates), and they're taking shots on goal.Everything these rookies are bringing to the ice is an encouraging sign for two young guys looking to stay in the NHL for as long as possible.

More importantly, they might actually motivate the players around them to step up their own game.At this point, I'll take anything to get this team on track.. Every top ten team is in a BCS Bowl game. An SEC team and Texas, the consensus picks for the National Championship, are in the BCS National championship game Not one, but two "BCS busters" are in a BCS game Yet still, something feels off Something feels not quite right. Something feels....unexciting Maybe it's because my school, Texas Tech, is playing in the Alamo Bowl against a 6-6 Michigan State team who just suspended ten players. Maybe it's because the national championship involves a team I can't really stand versus a team from a conference I can't really stand, making cheering either way feel a little dirty. Maybe its because Texas is backing its way into the championship game after a somewhat controversial one point win over Nebraska. Though putting one second on the clock WAS the right call, a win by the Cornhuskers would have created BCS chaos and likely would have moved Texas Tech up a spot in the bowl selection process. Maybe it's because the two BCS busters, Boise State and TCU, get to prove their worth against....each other Not getting to see either team play a BCS conference school is an absolute letdown, despite the fact that the Fiesta Bowl participants make a pretty intriguing matchup But we've already seen Boise v TCU. Last year. Maybe its because Cincinnati never even stood a chance at appearing in the title game. Saints in the Super Bowl, the only difference is they will have to PLAY the WHOLE way there.

But even if the Bearcats were to beat the Gators by a score similar to the one of this year's SEC championship, it is highly doubtful that they move ahead of the BCS title game winner in the polls. Maybe its because, like every year it seems, one of the BCS bowls is going to be spent watching somebody beat up Ohio State Sure, there are some great matchups out there Nine bowl games are between ranked teams But for every Champs Sports Bowl (15 Miami vs 25 Wisconsin), there's a Gator Bowl (16 West Virginia vs 6-6 Florida State) For every Capitol One Bowl (12 LSU vs 13 Penn State) There's an Alamo Bowl (Texas Tech vs. Michigan State) Much like the regular season, which featured few true upsets, few matchups between ranked teams, and few inner conference games that really meant anything, the bowl schedule leaves much to be desired At least on paper.At least for now.. We are now into December, and Christmas approaches. As each week passes, the Steelers’ Christmas list gets a little longer. Here is a Steelers’ Christmas List as I see it, one wish for each of the twelve days of Christmas. 1 On the first day of Christmas, the Steelers needed a win.

I’m not sure a team has ever needed a win to get back on track more than these Steelers, who have become the NFL’s version of Notre Dame, that team that everybody celebrates beating even as it becomes a weekly occurrence.Actually, the Steelers will need four wins to get into the playoffs, which seems like a tall order even if they were playing Cleveland in all four remaining games. But, since Cleveland comes up next, they’ll likely finally get their win.Of course, how many of us thought that about the Chiefs…and the Raiders This is all about one game at a time at this point.2 A New Offensive Coordinator This goes without saying. Bruce Arians is simply not an NFL caliber offensive coordinator.The play calling is ridiculously predictable and all too often highlights weaknesses for opposing teams to attack.Will they get this wish Not by Christmas but probably not that long thereafter. Public opinion has turned too strongly against Arians for it not to happen, at least if Tomlin doesn’t want to see the full fury of Steelers’ Nation turned in his direction. Heck, I’d take the actor who played “They Call Me Bruce” back in some cheesy movie I vaguely remember from when I was a kid.3 Some new Metaphors. When using a metaphor, a key is to make sure it won’t backfire. Alas, promising to unleash Hell before promptly landing your fan base there is not a good strategy.Watching the Steelers lose to the Raiders certainly felt like purgatory to me.