Kudos to the Steelers' offense for implementing and creating an effective game-plan to pull out a huge 26-21 victory at Jacksonville, and beating a team they've lost to four consecutive times. But it was the defense that once again dominated the line of scrimmage.

I had a brief email exchange with Cotter at One For The Other Thumb prior to Sunday night's 26-21 win over Jacksonville.

In my ramblings, I mentioned to him that Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was going to make our darkest moment his finest hour.

Just to make sure all the Arians haters know this...that's exactly what he did.

Yes, execution is the ultimate judge, but Arians took Mewelde Moore, Najeh Davenport and a sore throwing shoulder of Roethlisberger's and turned it into the finest first half offensive performance the team has had against a team not based in Texas all season. After Jacksonville adjusted, he got enough from his brutalized offensive line (that added left tackle Marvel Smith to its Wounded List) for a dramatic 11 play drive that resulted in a touchdown pass from Roethlisberger to Jacksonville's most hated opponent, Hines Ward.

After a completely bogus review of the play, and an embarrassing display of incompetance regarding the seemingly simple act of starting the clock at the correct time, the Steelers missed a two-point conversion. Fortunately, new front-runner-to-lose-Defensive-Player-of-the-Year-honors-to-Albert-Haynesworth candidate James Harrison took over, picking up a sack and a boatload of pressure, shutting down the overrated David Garrard.

(speaking of Harrison and Haynesworth...as long as the league stops feeding us the utter BS that self-promotion and celebrations aimed to garner the attention of the network doesn't gain anything and isn't tolerated, then I'll accept whatever award they choose. Fact is, Harrison gets little to no publicity because the league doesn't talk about him because he doesn't dance after his big plays. Don't tell me he has less of an impact on his defense than Haynesworth does. I shouldn't be worried about such things, what, with each passing week proving again that 2008 is the worst officiated year on record and all, but I will anyway.)

So what about Hampton and Keisel?

You're never going to hear a whole lot of negative commentary about Casey Hampton, but back-up NT Chris Hoke has a way of getting the job done in his absence. Sunday night's victory moves the Steelers to 12-1 in his career when Hoke starts. He did a great job against Jacksonville's zone blocking running scheme, and shut down a running back tandem who ran all over Pittsburgh in two games last year.

Hoke highlighted a fine performance from several Steelers back-ups forced into the lineup in a hostile stadium against a physical opponent. Right guard Darnell Stapleton ended up getting the start over Trai Essex, and he'll grade out well upon review of the film. Travis Kirschke played well in the absence of Keisel and DE Nick Eason.

None played better than the Steelers' top free agent acquisition.

That's ME-welde Moore

He made sure the Minneapolis media knew his name was pronounced ME-welde, so the radio people around here sort of made fun of that by overstating the "ME" part of his name. His 99 yards were easily the biggest 99 rushing yards of this season, considering the team's aim was to throw the ball, and he had to take his opportunities in spots.

He made the most of it. Again, credit to Arians to apply the perfect mix of Moore to compliment Roethlisberger's hot hand. Execution was not flawless, but the plan put them in position to win. Moore was a big part of that.

Bye Week fun

The Steelers get their usual early October bye, and rest up to go to rival Cincinnati in Week 7. Sandwiched between games against the Bengals in Week 7 and Week 12 is a brutal stretch of games against the Giants, Washington, Indianapolis and San Diego.

Knowing that, 4-and-1 is a pretty good place to be. With a 2-and-a-half game lead over the Ravens for the AFC North championship, they're in a good spot.

Labels: Game Wrap-up

It was a big Pittsburgh win, but losing Mendenhall and Simmons for the year, and two key special teams players, indicates Baltimore may end up being more able to out-last the Steelers over the season. Either way, the Ravens' defense is what got all the pre-game publicity, but it was the playmaking ability of the Steelers' D that won the game.

The Steelers got the better of rival Baltimore Monday night, sealing their seventh straight relevant win in the AFC North when Jeff Reed nailed a 49-yard field goal off Pittsburgh's first overtime possession.

Baltimore probably put themselves more in position to win the war, though.

Steelers players were dropping likes flies throughout the game, further depleting the team. Already without NT Casey Hampton, RB Willie Parker and DE Brett Keisel, the Steelers lost LB/special teams ace Andre Frazier, starting RG Kendall Simmons, RB Rashard Mendenhall, RB Carey Davis and special teamer Keyaron Fox.

Frazier was hit on the first kick of the game, and was taken off the field on a stretcher. If there is any justice in the NFL, Haruki Nakamura will be issued a fine for the helmet-to-helmet hit, which left Frazier with a spinal cord injury, according to the team.

Simmons suffered an Achilles' heel injury, and will be placed on the IR, ending his season. The rookie Mendenhall, making the first start of his career, fractured his shoulder, and will also be out for the rest of the season.

At least the Ravens can have comfort in losing, but physically disassembling the Steelers enough to severely damper their chances of continuing their dominance of the AFC North. Pittsburgh was 5-1 in the division last season, only losing at Baltimore when the division champions rested most of their starters in a meaningless game. They are 2-0 inside the division now, with wins over the hapless Browns and the Ravens.

Tomlin back to Minnesota roots in run game

The loss of Mendenhall for the year and possibly Davis for an extended period of time would put little depth behind (injured) starter Willie Parker. At the end of the game, Mewelde Moore - a big reason the Steelers were able to hang on for the win - was the only active running back available. Will the loss of Mendenhall bring with it a promotion of Gary Russell from the practice squad? Russell was cut not even two weeks ago for the sake of bringing in special teams depth.

Ironically, the Steelers will need that, and Russell, too, assuming Frazier's spinal cord injury will keep him out of action for a while.

Russell, a University of Minnesota product, joins Moore, a Minnesota Viking when Tomlin was the defensive coordinator, in the thinnest Steelers backfield in years.

Who had the better defense?

If one was go follow the 90 minute gush-fest about the Ravens defense, it would appear to have been pretty obvious.

Anyone who watches and understands the game in a capacity that does not include a need to increase TV ratings will be able to tell you it was the Steelers' defense - and not the highly touted Ravens - who controlled the second-half.

At the very least, it's fair to say the Ravens provided the tough-nosed stability and roughness, but it was the Steelers who provided the big plays and ultimately won the game.

If that is at all doubted, let's always remember who won the coin toss, who failed to move the ball, who punted, and who gave up 35 yards to Mewelde Moore to set up the game-winning field goal.

Harrison will pick up his second Defensive Player of the Week award

Lost in the hypnotizing and empty rhetoric of veteran, exhalted General Ray Lewis was the more impressive play of Steelers linebacker James Harrison. Interestingly enough, the broadcasting team barely touched on the fact that Harrison, in two games against Baltimore at home, now has 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. It's much more entertaining to watch Lewis wax moronical about finding balances and his best game instead of watching Harrison abuse the Ravens offensive line, and the most over-credited game-manager in football, Joe Flacco (that's FLACK-o, Mr. Jaworski, not FLOCK-o).

It's a good thing Harrison cares very little about getting his face on TV. He may be upset if he had Lewis's "team-first-as-long-as-the-team-is-about-me" attitude.

Giving credit where it's due, Lewis played a great game, and is clearly back from whatever was nagging him last year (ego bruise). The rest of the defense played very well, and first-year coach John Harbaugh clearly has them on the right track. The fact is, though, Harrison and OLB LaMarr Woodley were more impressive than any Ravens player, but got very little fanfare.

It's likely not a coincidence that while Harrison is second in the NFL with 5.5 sacks, the only headlines he'll get over the self-promotional genius Lewis is the one that reads "Steelers Repeat as Division Champs."

Has Lewis ever earned that one? Nope.

Labels: Game Wrap-up

The only correct action it seemed Steelers' right tackle Willie Colon took Sunday was his admittance that Pittsburgh's offensive line was manhandled by Philadelphia in a 15-6 loss.

He wasn't the only one who was abused by a nearly comedic level of domination on the Eagles' defensive line. The Eagles hunted Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger as if he was a 12-point buck, forcing Pittsburgh to put TE Heath Miller in the backfield to help with protection.

Desperate times and desperate measures...

There was a series of seven plays in the second half where the Eagles picked up five sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery. That's an entire game's worth of quality defensive statistics wrapped up nicely in an efficient seven snaps. It's seven plays in three games that brought the Steelers back to the ominous pre-season predictions that they are a talented team, but their pass protection will ultimately be their undoing.

The Eagles finished with nine sacks overall, knocking Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger out of the game with a hand injury when the outcome was surprisingly in doubt late in the fourth quarter. It should have been 10. It was 10-6 when Roethlisberger, flushed out of the pocket to accomplish the exceedingly difficult task of getting rid of the ball, was flagged for intentional grounding despite being outside the tackles and was clearly releasing the ball to RB Mewelde Moore, who was past the line of scrimmage and was five yards from the passer.

The intentional grounding gave the Eagles a safety and a 12-6 lead. David Akers' ensuing field goal after the free kick gave the Eagles the final points of the game.

Polamalu gets third INT of the year

Lost, somewhat ironically, in the best defensive performance the Steelers have seen from an opponent since Christmas of 2006 (at Baltimore), was an interception SS Troy Polamalu made off a tipped Kevin Kolb pass in the second half. CB Bryant McFadden, who has played spectacularly in the absence of injured starter Deshea Townsend, broke up a pass, sending it high in the air. Polamalu broke on the ball, dove and was parallel to the ground, making the catch with one arm while rolling over just enough to keep it off the turf at Lincoln Financial Field.

An Eagles challenge upheld the call, and cemented what could be Polamalu's finest play in a remarkable career. It was Polamalu's third interception of the season, tying him for second in the NFL.

In case you were wondering, the last Steeler to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year was Rod Woodson in 1993.

Baltimore brings first serious AFC North battle

The Steelers travel to Baltimore in Week 4 for a Monday Night Football showdown with the Hated Ravens. With wins over Cincinnati and Cleveland, the Ravens now have more wins inside the North than they did all last season. Their only win came in Week 17 vs. Pittsburgh, who played its back-ups in a throwaway game.

Their defense looked sharp in a 28-10 win over Cleveland in Week 3. If the Ravens win, they're sitting at 3-0 both overall and within the division in a season that looks like 5-1 inside the North may not be enough to win it. Both Cleveland and Cincinnati are 0-3 and look horrible.

It's easy for Steelers fans to dismiss the Ravens and rookie QB Joe Flacco, but frankly, after Sunday's offensive abomination, they've got nuthin' on nobody offensively.

Alleged big-play threat Santonio Holmes has yet to see the end zone this season, and has 10 catches in three games. Hines Ward is the only Steelers receiver with a touchdown (3). In case you didn't notice, their offensive line was abysmal, and Roethlisberger's injured hand is being re-evaluate as I write this.

There's officially an offensive problem in Pittsburgh.

Labels: Game Wrap-up

Neither rain nor sleet nor driving winds or poor clock management could stop the Steelers from winning their 10th straight over Cleveland.

In weather that only brought back bad memories of the Steelers 3-0 win over Miami last season, Pittsburgh was able to get just enough offense to pull out a 10-6 win over the trendy AFC North favorite Browns.

Unlike the Steelers' Week 1 thrashing of Houston, Pittsburgh actually had to play four quarters, and if it wasn't for a mismanaged offensive possession at the end of the first half that resulted in and interception by strong safety Troy Polamalu of Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, the result may have swung a different way.

Cleveland had the ball at Pittsburgh's 11-yard line with eight seconds left in the first half when Anderson dared put it near Polamalu. It was the closest the Browns (0-2) got to the end zone, and they have now managed one touchdown in their last eight quarters.

It was the second interception this season for the resurgent Polamalu - who had an epic battle with Browns TE Kellen Winslow. The Steelers now hold a two-game lead over Cleveland and Cincinnati, who lost 24-7 to Tennessee in its home opener.

Baltimore was scheduled to play at Houston, but damages to Reliant Stadium caused by Hurricane Ike postponed the game for Nov. 9.

The Steelers never trailed the division hunt last season en route to head coach Mike Tomlin's first division championship. The team was plagued last year by one victory in their final five games, a swoon that left the door open for the Browns. The division race came down to the fact the Steelers won the two regular season meetings the teams had.

Quarterbacks a serious concern in AFC North

Outside of Winslow, who played with great heart and didn't take the bait he was constantly being teased by the Steelers entire defense, the Browns offense didn't have a single playmaker Sunday night, most particularly Anderson, who is backing up his status as the league's most overrated player. He has a passer rating of 57.1 with 280 yards in two games. That leads only injured Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck's 48.6, and Cincinnati's Carson Palmer at 37.1. Palmer's rating is just slightly less than half of Roethlisberger's completion percentage - 75.8.

Will we begin hearing clamoring for back-up Brady Quinn? The Browns signed Anderson to a three-year, $21 million extension this off-season. Even with the brutal conditions and an offensive line that has allowed only three sacks in two games (one came from Steelers DE Aaron Smith, who took Anderson down with no time left on the clock), Anderson looked completely lost.

Roethlisberger leads the NFL with a 136.3 rating after going 12-for-19 with 186 yards and a touchdown pass to Hines Ward - his third of the season.

Defense suffocating through two games

It was extremely difficult to get to the passer Sunday night just as it was last year against Cleveland. Their offensive line remains the lone bright spot for a dismal Browns team that will likely face a massive coaching and management overhaul this off-season. But the Steelers' defense gave up just 53 yards on the ground, which off-set the fact the Browns owned a slight edge in plays run (59-53) and TOP (30:17 to 29:43). If the Browns were able to bust one decent running play, it could have opened up something on the outside, but credit CB Bryant McFadden, who shut WR Braylon Edwards down for three catches and 32 yards. Winslow was effective enough to keep Polamalu on the move, but the Browns couldn't help out in any other phase of the game over four quarters.

Ward on Pro Bowl pace

Ward's third touchdown catch of the season ties him with Arizona's Anquan Boldin and San Diego's Chris Chambers for the NFL lead. He even "marked his territory" right in front of the Browns' Dawg Pound after his red zone grab Sunday night.

He looks fantastic. His routes are sharp, he's getting off the line aggressively and as usual, he's blocking like a demon. He looks like a healthy, younger Hines Ward. And the fact his quarterback has a ridiculous 75 percent completion rate is testament to the fact he's on pace to break several of his own franchise receiving records.

Labels: Game Wrap-up