Live Blog: Opening Night (Dolphins v. Steelers)

8:30 I've made my week 1 picks (below). Enjoy at your own risk.

8:31 I can't believe it, but NBC has made me long for the Hank Williams Jr. opening music of yesteryear. They accomplished this feat by having Pink do their intro. Why? Does NBC view girls ages 12-18 as an untapped demographic for pro football?

8:34 So Madden and Michaels talk up the teams. Madden points out that Culpepper fills the Dolphins need at quarterback and provides team leadership. Do all football commentators have collective amnesia about his awful season last year?

8:39 Introductions, I notice Troy Polomalu is sporting the playoff beard in Week 1. Way to mix it up.

8:43 Dolphins first draft goes nowhere. Pittsburgh ball at the 22. What's the over/under on Charlie Batch for passing yards? 120? Maybe 6-for-15 and a pick?

8:46 Charlie Batch's first series goes 3-and-out. He's 0-1 if your keeping score.

8: 50 I drafted Fast Willie Parker in a FFB league this year. As a Cincy fan, this makes me a fantasy equivalent of a cheating husband. Not proud of it.

8:56 Batch's second drive goes 3-and-out. He's still 0'fer. Both teams have done nothing on their first two drives. We can chalk that up to jitters and good defense. That said, who will be shocked if it keeps up. This game could be flat out ugly. Maybe two defensive powerhouses were a poor scheduling choice for the opener.

[Break to put kids to bed]

9:12 What have I missed? Nothing. No suprise.

9:17 Touchdown! Batch to N. Washington for 27 yards. Why am I excited? I hate Pittsburgh and only Willie Parker is on my fantasy club and the 2 yards per carry aren't looking good right now.

9:23 Culpepper driving the Fins. Couple completions in a row. Brown isn't getting anything on the ground. His line is overmatched. Fantasy owners who drafted him in round one are getting itchy.

9:29 Santonio Holmes just fair caught a punt at the 6. Cowher is calming talking to him on the sidelines. Holmes is wearing Kordell Stewarts #10...nice choice. Do you think that threw the equipment guy off when Holmes asked for #10? "Seriously? You want Kordell's number? You realize we usually give that to the free agent rookie whose most likely to get cut. OK, if thats what you want."

9:33 Dolphins ball in Steeler territory. Lets see if Ronnie Brown can improve on his 7 carries for 7 yards...

9:35 Nice completion by Culpepper on 2 and 20. However, Joey Porter is totally jumping his snap count. If he doesn't mix up his cadence, he's going to get killed.

9:40 Pressure on Batch. He throws a dangerous incompletion. How Batchy.

9:42 Big return by Wes Welker (not a great football name). Culpepper makes a nice throw to Brown to set up first and goal.

9:43 Brown lines up as the FB and rushes for the score. Given that Batch and Washington hooked up for the first score, Ronnie probably has the first meaningful fantasy TD. Hooray Beer!

9:49 Parker busts a big gain (at last). Hooray Fantasy Football!

9:55 Batch passes to Ward along the backline of the endzone for six. Nifty throw. Batch, stop vulturing TDs from Fast Willie Parker! Nice work by the Steelers, the Champs answer the Dolphins score and retake the lead 14-7. I picked the Fins in this game, largely out of fear of Batch. He has been solid if unspectacular (7 for 15, 66 yards and 2 TDs). The real suprise for me has been how bad Miami's offensive line has looked thusfar (11 yards rushing so far).

10:01 Fins ball. Wes Welker in for Marty Booker (concussion) and makes a nifty move after the catch for 10+ yards and a nice gain. 1st and goal. He's going to be the #1 FFB free agent pick up tomorrow.

10:05 Fins have squandered 1st and goal and will settle for the figgie. The Steelers are giving him more pressure than his line can handle. The Fins need to get the running game going and maybe max protect on passing downs.

10:07 Al Michaels is doing his annual explanation to Madden of what confluence means (happens every time they visit Three Rivers Stadium). Somewhere in Northwest Ohio my friend J-Low is smiling.

Halftime