Pictures of the Year

Twisted Steel

With a tight grip on Hines Ward's chin and shoulder, Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan wrestled the Steelers wide receiver to the ground during the two teams' season opener in Pittsburgh on Sept. 10.

"A play like this occurs a few times a game. This is where the true brutality of football is revealed: grotesquely bent ankles and knees, wrenched necks. It's amazing these players get up off the ground as often as they do." -- Photographer Al Tielemans/SI