Steel City Jim

For those of us who don't have a team in the playoffs, we watch the games hoping for some close, down to the wire excitement. Some teams actually look pretty good in the first round. But, with a few exceptions, the "real" teams are enjoying their bye-weeks, resting and healing, and salivating to get back on the field next week. So, teams that look terrific the first weekend, tend to fade as the Playoffs continue. Keeping that in perspective...

The Jets, Ravens and Cowboys tore through their opposition this weekend. The Ravens had beaten the Patriots almost before the game began with Rice scoring on the first play from scrimmage. The Jets were in control against the Bengals. My hat is off to those two winners because they were playing on foreign turf, always a challenge. The Cowboys, too, looked awfully hot. They made McNabb look like a rookie as they thrashed the Eagle. From a relatively neutral corner, the only game that made one's heart race a bit was the Arizona-Green Bay game. It started as a yawner with Arizona breaking out with what looked like an insurmountable lead. (In fact, it got me to channel surfing for a while. But when I tuned back in, Green Bay was only a touchdown behind.) That game became a real nail biter. When Green Bay tied the game with 1 minute and 52 seconds left in regulation, I thought they were stupid to leave that much time on the clock. I wasn't all that mistaken as Arizona marched right down into field goal range. But the Arizona kicker pulled the ball and the game went into overtime. Then, I thought Green Bay had the upper hand as they won the toss. But I think the yips overtook them with penalties that took them back perilously near their own goal line. From there Arizona forced Rodgers to fumble and they rambled in to ice the game.

During the weekend I kept wondering where the defenses were. It seemed that offenses were running and throwing with impunity. It made me think that maybe the Steelers' defense wasn't all that bad. One reason given for the demise of the Steelers' defense in 2009 was the absence of Bryant McFadden in the defensive backfield. The Steelers let him get away as a free agent and the Cardinals snapped him up. But all I saw was McFadden getting beat and missing tackles the entire game yesterday. It helped account for the Green Bay comeback that almost won the game.

OK, let the real games begin next weekend with the likes of Indianapolis, San Diego, New Orleans and Minnesota. I'm a bit suspicious about Minnestota. Dallas seems to be peaking while the Vikings might have played their best football already this season. But the rest of this weekend's survivors will have to bring their Triple A game to unseat their opponents...in their opponents' ball yards. Arizona-New Orleans looks to be an air show. I would not be surprised if passing attempts and passing yards records will be shattered in that game. Baltimore will have to feature its running game and hope that by gaining yards on the ground and running clock they will be able to keep the ball out of Peyton Manning's hand and eke out a win. It would be well if they could hurry Manning, too, and I'm sure that Lewis and Company will be aiming to do just that. As for the Jets, Rex Ryan is pretty smart and will get everything out of them that is possible. But will it be enough?

While I am not saying that Ray Lewis and his orchestra play dirty football, I did notice that he pounced on Brady's ribs every chance he had during yesterday's game. You can say that this is good football, and it probably is. But he also was responsible for Mendenhall's broken collarbone in Game No. 3 in 2008, which sidelined Mendenhall for the rest of that season. This is not an indictment, just an observation.

I was happy to see that Mike Tomlin interviewed Bobby April for the vacant Special Teams coaching position. Heavens knows that the Steelers need help in their special teams. April coached the Steelers' special teams in 1994 and 1995 and they were good then. I am hoping they get him back for 2010.

Well, that's it for this week. It's time to get pumped for next weekend's games. This is probably the best weekend in the NFL.