Steel City Jim

For many years, Super Bowls were ho-hum affairs, very one-sided and boring. But you can't say that about the last two. Last year's was thrilling, whether you are a Steeler fan or not, when Roethlisberger connected to Holmes for a TD to ice the game. Last night's game was a humdinger, particularly when the favorites took what seemed to be an easy 10-0 lead in the first quarter. At that point I thought that Manning and Company had the game well in hand and that it would be smooth sailing for them.

But I discounted Sean Payton's grit and game plan. Who would have risked an onside kick to start the second half? Tomlin tried it during the season. It failed, and he took a lot of heat for it. But being underdogs, Payton had to take some chances and he did. He also went for a 4th and 1 at the end of the first half. It failed. But Cowher rightly pointed out that by calling for the play, he signaled his team that he was going all out to win the game. It worked. It wasn't as if Payton and the Saints were awed by being in the game, a problem for first-time Super Bowlers in the past. He and his team were focused on winning. It was obviously the right attitude.

Last week the articles abounded with comments that it takes Peyton Manning a couple of offensive series to figure out what the defense is throwing at him. Then he adjusts and calls a great game. I, even I, thought to myself after reading and hearing this all week, why don't they give him one look one time, another look another time, etc., thereby not allowing him to get comfortable. Use as many schemes as you possibly can against him. Last night the commentators stated that Sean Payton had prepared different defenses for the first quarter, the second quarter, etc. So, I sort of took credit for this in my own mind. Hey, it worked. Manning never seemed to get the offense going consistently after the first quarter. In fact, the second quarter was all Saints. And with the onside kick going to Saints' way, resulting in a touchdown for them, Manning and his group never did much.

You'll excuse some Steelers' reminiscing at one point last night. I refer to when Manning morphed into Neil O'Donnell near the end of the game. In Super Bowl XXX, the Steelers played the Cowboys. Near the end of the game the Steelers trailed by less than a touchdown and they were marching. But Neil O'Donnell threw a pass directly to a Dallas guy named Larry Brown who took it to the house and dashed any hope of a win. Not that you can compare O'Donnell, pretty much of a journeyman who ended up with Tennessee, with Manning. Manning will go down as one of the greats of all time. But for one fleeting second he misread Porter who jumped a pass and ran it in for a touchdown. Guess what? Manning is human after all.

A couple of things impressed me. Both quarterbacks last night have an uncanny ability of getting the ball off quickly. It's one, two, three and out. Both also can look over the field and back-pedal to buy a few more seconds. Both did this and were successful. Caldwell, the Colts' coach, is a class guy.

OK, the Super Bowl is behind us. Now, let's concentrate on the draft and avoiding a lockout. The latter may be an impossibility. But if it happens, it stinks.

What a game that Saints-Vikings game was. I am glad that I am not an avid Saints or Vikings fan as I would have been a wreck by the end of that game. The sales of blood pressure medicine in those cities must be off the charts. Neither team had more than a 7-point lead at any one time. Turnovers played such an important role, and the Vikings got the short end of that problem. I think I noticed that Adrian Peterson runs with the ball too far to his right side with his elbow sticking up in the air. It makes it easier for a defender to pop the ball loose. He should cradle the ball closer to his chest. But if Childress doesn't know this, who am I?

I found myself rooting for the Vikings because of the pounding the aged Bret Favre took throughout the game. I kept thinking about that movie "North Dallas Forty." It showed how the pro players in that movie couldn't even get out of bed the morning after a game. The way Favre was getting crushed it is a wonder if he can get out of bed for a month. How he would ever consider coming back for yet another season is beyond me. He certainly proved what he is all about as a pure football player and a courageous guy this season. He ought to go quietly into the night and await his election to the Hall of Fame.

I have to say that Rex Ryan got the most out of his Jets as there was to get out. He took over a moribund franchise and turned it around ... with a raw rookie quarterback at that. I can't say that I love Rex Ryan. I could do without his bravado. But I can't argue with his ability to put a defense together. It shows how much difference the right coach can make. But I wonder how long he can go with his bluster until his players and fans tire of it. Oh, it will be fine as long as he wins. But if he slips he may well be considered to be a buffoon.

I am happy that Peyton Manning will play in another Super Bowl. The guy is great. He can read and react to defenses like no other. With the Jets taking a 17-6 lead in the first half I found myself rooting for the Colts. I really think that the Jets, without taking anything away from their success this season, were pretenders. Manning and the Colts are the real thing as they showed with their almost perfect regular season. He also did this without his favorite receiver, Marvin Harrison. But other guys stepped up. You also have to give credit to his offensive line. It protects his like no other.

So, I am happy to look forward to a super Super Bowl in two weeks. I think Manning versus Brees is a dream matchup, although when the chips are down my Monopoly money will be on Manning.

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.