Steel City Jim

I can tell you this morning that I will never again give any credence to the so-called experts who predict the outcome of an NFL season before the season starts. Practically all pundits base their opinions on the previous season's results, and year after year, with some exceptions, they fail to see what is going on with various teams. Of course, injuries play a major part in how a season unfolds, but who figured:

1. New Orleans having a perfect season so far as guided by the passing arm of Drew Brees? Boy, did they undress the previously unbeaten Giants this past Sunday.

2. Minnesota also having a perfect season so far. And I thought that adding Favre would be a disruptive force in the land of the Vikings. I wondered what they were thinking bringing in an over-the-hill quarterback. But with Favre's arm and Peterson's running, they have been unstoppable so far.

3. Indianapolis' perfect record isn't quite as astounding given that Peyton Manning is at the helm. But the Colts had many changes, including the head coach. But there they are.

4. The Broncos? I thought their new head coach was in such disarray before the season started that I would have paid him off and brought someone else in. But Orton seems to have gotten new life in the thin air and they dominated San Diego last night IN San Diego. I saw Cowher predict that San Diego would rise up to defeat Denver last night. Hey, it didn't happen.

5. The demise of the Titans? How can a team that had something like 13 wins last year start off 0-6 this year? I know Haynesworth is gone. But could he have made that big a difference? And they have one of the best coaches in the league in Jeff Fisher.

6. The Ravens defense. Has the Ravens defense finally pooped out? The front doesn't seem too bad, but the backs are getting beat time after time. Are they missing Rex Ryan that much? And this happens to the defense when the offense is really doing a job.

7. The Jets' rise and fall? I thought the Jets were going to roll at the beginning of the season. Their defense was blitzing like crazy and Sanchez seemed to be a phenom. But things have settled down there. Rex will have to inject something into that group.

8. What's that noise out of Cincinnati? The Bengals look like the real thing.

The Steelers had a ho-hum game against one of the league's most pitiful franchises, the Browns. I thought Cleveland was on the right track when it got Savage from Baltimore to take over football operations. But it shows in sports where a guy can be a genius in one place and a dunce in another. Tom Donahoe is another example. He did great things in Pittsburgh before his run in with Bill Cowher. The Rooneys went with Cowher, and Donahoe was out. After a year or so, he caught on at Buffalo. But he couldn't work his magic there and after a few years was out of a job again.

The Steelers are emerging in 2009 as a passing offense. That's what they were last year, too, as a result of the meltdown of the running game. Ben was forced to pass last year with success. He also got to run the no-huddle offense, which he loves. This year, while the running game has shown some spark, it's the passing game that has moved them back to a tie for first place in the AFC North. Hines Ward is as good as ever, and when they double-team Holmes, the Steelers have found a new kid, Mike Wallace.

But of all things, the Steelers, yes, the Steelers have discovered the tight end! For years and years, the Steelers used their tight ends as another blocker, seldom, if ever, throwing to them. But Heath Miller is second in the league in catches by a tight end right now. It's been effective, too. So, as Bruce Arians says, we'll take what they give us.

The Browns were not a true test. But the upcoming three games are going to be pivotal for the Steelers. They have Minnesota at home this Sunday, and they go on the road after a bye week to take on the Broncos. Then they have Cincinnati at home. That's two undefeated teams in two games and one on a roll. A tall task if you ever saw one. At least Polamalu is back and the triumverate taking over for Aaron Smith are holding their own. The season could come down to these three games.