Steel City Jim

Talk about waking up to a nightmare ... I awoke this morning to hear that the Ravenzzz acquired Anquan Boldin and a fifth-round draft choice from Arizona for picks in the third and fourth rounds. This is not much to give for an established, star, physical wide receiver. The Steelers did something like this in about 1996 when they got Bettis. It set them up for a decade. This, coupled with the signing of Dante Stallworth earlier in the week, and combined with the ever present and ridiculous Steeler-killer, Todd Heap, and the Ravenzzz have a receiving corps second to none in the NFL.

To make matters worse, Joe Flacco is coming into his own, as if he hasn't been there already, and in Ray Rice, the Ravenzzz have one of the premier runners in the NFL. And, finally, to seal the deal, the Ravenzzz have't lost a thing in their vaunted defense, led by the ageless Ray Lewis. So, is it a stretch on March 6 to concede the AFC North to the Ravenzzz? I don't think so. And, I think it's appropriate to rename the Ravenzzz the Baltimore All-Stars.

Now, what did the Steelers do during the first days of free agency to help themselves? For one, they failed to re-sign Ryan Clark, arguably the best defensive back on the team. Now, they will probably have to rely on some untested two-year players back there. What a great prospect. To add insult to injury, Roethlisberger once again has been accused of sexual assault. This time it is in Georgia. Last year the accusation came from Nevada. You gotta say one thing ... he gets around! Oh, and you ask, whom did the Steelers sign this week to improve the team. The answer: Nobody.

-- I also think the Jets helped themselves by signing Antonio Cromartie. He will play cornerback opposite Darrelle Revis. That's a pretty powerful twosome.

-- Boy, the Bears really loosened he purse strings this week signing Julius Peppers, Chester Taylor and Brandon Manumaleuna. This is really uncharacteristic of the Bears. It's like they took a page from Daniel Snyder's book. Hopefully for the Bears, all these huge signings will net them more victories in 2010 than the four the Redskins earned in 2009.

-- We'll find out how good a head coach Ken Whisenhunt is now. As you know, he was the odds-on favorite to take over the Steelers when Cowher resigned. But when Tomlin blew the Steeler brass off their chairs in his interview, Whisenhunt signed with the Cardinals. He also lucked out with having Kurt Warner and the Cardinals went to the playoffs in Whis' first two years. Now, with Warner and Boldin gone, we'll see what kind of magic he can pull off.

Down here in cool Sarasota, one gets the chance to commiserate with people from other parts of the country whom one doesn't see during other parts of the year. Had dinner with an old friend from Indiana, a Colt fan, whom we see on our annual sojourns to the sunny(?) south. My friend not only bemoaned the Colts' loss in the Super Bowl, but the "throwing" of the Jets game that spoiled the perfect 16-0 regular-season record. He feels that people who pay exorbitant prices, like $229/ticket, are entitled to see their team go all out to win every game. He feels that paying customers are cheated when key players are benched, thus resulting in a "thrown" game. It causes him to be fed up with pro sports.

I must say that I disagree with the above position. I think that the one and only goal for each NFL team is to win the Super Bowl. It is the ultimate prize, and teams must do whatever they deem necessary to win it. Any side issue during a season, such as attaining a perfect regular-season record or securing an ironman record are, at best, sidelights, and, at worst, distractions to winning the Super Bowl or World Series.

Resting key players, once a playoff position has been secured, can be very beneficial to a team's success. Pro football has been described as a game of attrition. It's a Darwinian contest. The team that is healthiest for the playoffs has the best chance of emerging victorious. Teams covet winning their division as with that distinction comes the bye week. Those that get this have the opportunity to take an additional week off to rest and heal the nicks that are inevitable in pro football after 16 grueling regular-season games.

Often teams are eliminated because of injuries to key players. Without Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith the Steelers suffered a five-game losing streak that effectively eliminated them from the playoffs last year. So, the healthier a team is going into the playoffs, the greater its chance for success. (There are exceptions to this. In 2006 the Steelers were the final team to make the playoffs. Not only did they not get a bye week, but they had to play all games on the road. They won the Super Bowl. But this is very rare.)

When Colts Coach Caldwell chose to rest important players in a game that meant nothing in the standings, he, in my opinion, rightfully was planning for a playoff run that could win the Super Bowl for the Colts. He wanted his team to be healthy and rested and rarin' to go. They were. They just hit a buzz saw in the inspired Saints.

As far as fans are concerned, they, too, should understand that the ultimate prize is the Super Bowl. They are, or should be, aware that no matter how much they pay for exhibition game tickets, the teams are not necessarily playing to win. Their goal is to discover new talent and new wrinkles that can only be tried out in regular-season game conditions. To give new players, for example, the longest possible look they must sit their regulars. This is part of a season.

Further, fans who pay for tickets for regular-season games must realize that teams may have different motives for playing certain games than winning, i.e. resting important players for future games. And, in most cases, securing a perfect regular-season record without winning the Super Bowl is not considered to be a successful season. Yes, the Dolphins had a perfect season in 1972 AND they won the Super Bowl. So, that was the ultimate record. But no team has been able to match that record since.

To a true fan, a football season is a process. Many ingredients go into this process, and winning every game is not necessarily the top priority.

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.

Last week was the week that was nothing. It was pre-hype week for the Super Bowl leading up to the Pro Bowl. Here's some things on my mind:

1. Why do they play the Pro Bowl? They should just appoint a virtual team and let the pundits jawbone about which will win, who will star, etc. Kind of like trying to figure out how the 1975 Steelers would do against the 1968 Packers. All these sessions accomplish is using up air time when there's not much else to talk about. Getting back to the Pro Bowl, why should they risk any players getting hurt? I did catch snatches of the game last night and I noticed that there wasn't much passion. They went through motions, but no one hit anybody. That's why the score was so high. The whole exercise is ridiculous.

2. I see that Kiper's first-round draft picks are coming in at the bottom of the screen. I don't think I ever remember Kiper or any other draftnik predicting who the Steelers would pick in the first round, or in ensuing rounds. It makes for some interesting punditry, but it is highly inaccurate. And we have more than two months to go before the draft.

3. I'm glad I don't have to make decisions on which older NFL players to sign, let go, or put the franchise tag on. I think the Steelers have been pretty good at sizing this up in the past. They have let quite a few guys go who didn't have much gas left in the tank. But there were a couple of exceptions. One was Rod Woodson who played very well for the Ravenzzz. Another was Chad Brown. Finally, Alan Faneca has been doing very well with the Jets. I heard last week that Joey, the Mouth of the South, was on the bubble in Miami. Joey hasn't done much since leaving the Steelers but pick up big paychecks and exercise his vocal chords.

4. The Orioles will carry on spring training in Sarasota in coming years. Sarasota lost the Reds, who went on to greener pastures. Sarasota will build a new stadium for the Orioles. Interestingly, they will vend crab cakes, a Baltimore staple, and Boog's barbeque. The food could be the best part of going to a game. (I am in Sarasota as I write this.)

5. It looks like the Pitt basketball team is seeking its own level. After starting the Big East schedule with five straight victories, it has lost to the likes of Georgetown (the real deal), Seton Hall and South Florida. One thing about coach Jamie Dixon, he'll get the most out of what they got. But maybe they ain't really got that much after all.

6. It has just emerged that Mario Lemieux and his partner, Ron Burkle, offered to buy the Pirates. But the current owner, Mr. Nutting, turned them down. Nutting is pretty shrewd. He's a bottom line guy. His payroll is $35 million, I think that is the lowest in the Major Leagues. He is hoping that some of his youngsters can blossom and that some of the free agents (the ones no one else wants) will miraculously rise from the ashes and have a stellar year. This hasn't happened in the past 17 years. But Nutting can dream. In the meantime, the Lemieux-Burkle combine could be THE answer to the Pirates problems. They would breathe life and cash into the team that currently has neither. It would bring the Pirates into line with the other ridiculous payrolls in the Major Leagues and make them competitive. It's sad but true. Baseball sucks.

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.

Years ago I heard Dan Rooney, then President of the Steelers, say that the purpose of the regular NFL season is to get into the playoffs. From then on, there are no sure things.

Now, who among you would have predicted the emergence of the Jets as a team that would vie for the AFC Championship? I certainly wasn't one of those. I figured that the Jets had danced their way into the playoffs in the first place. Their regular season record was identical to the Steelers'. With a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback there was no way of winning any playoff games. But here they are, and as Rex Ryan said yesterday, "Here we come."

All afternoon I watched Revis making play after play yesterday. I see how great he is. But I didn't know much about him when he was at Pitt. He must have been something because the Jets made him their No. 1 draft pick. Revis hails from Allequippa, PA, a former steel town along the Ohio river about 10 miles west of downtown Pittsburgh. Do you know any other NFL stars from Allequippa? How about Tony Dorsett and Mike Ditka?

Norv Turner will go down in as one of the best regular-season coaches and worst playoff coaches in history. San Diego had been averaging 30 points/game. Yesterday they got 14. The goat of the game is the place kicker, Kaeding. I couldn't believe he missed those three field goals. It reminded me of the Steelers-Colts playoff game in which the Steelers upset the Colts. It was remarkable because of the saving tackle Ben made and because Vinatieri missed a crucial field goal. That's playoff football, fans.

Favre looked great yesterday. But more amazing was the Minnesota defense. They pounded Romo who had no answers.

So, here's the Watch But Don't Bet department: Bet your house on the Colts. The Jets' mystique will vanish in the Wabash River next Sunday. Also, look for Brees and the Saints to finish the Vikings. Brees has too many weapons. But if the Vikings' defense plays next Sunday like it did yesterday ...

-- Unlike last year when the Steelers were up to their ears in the playoffs, today's front sports page in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was filled with Pitt basketball. On Saturday the Panthers defeated Louisville in a miraculous comeback. With 37 seconds left they were behind by five points. But they got a three-pointer to pull within two, held Louisville on its next trip up the court and got two foul shots to tie with no time left on the clock. They won by five points in overtime. Pitino said it was his worst loss since the Laettner shot to beat them in the NCAA some years ago.

-- I enjoy this time of the year when the Steelers make plans for 2010. There are three coaching changes, and now they will plan for free agency and the draft. Art Rooney II, who is really taking over the club as his father, Dan Rooney, who spends most of his time in Ireland as US Ambassador, said that he wants two changes for next year.

One, he wants to bring younger players along more quickly. The other is that he wants a greater emphasis on the running game. I heard Jerome Bettis last week bemoaning the lack of a running game. He said that the Steelers failed to hold leads this year in part because they couldn't move the ball on the ground and eat clock. Bruce Arians, the offensive coordinator, who has emphasized passing over running, was rumored to be fired. But, reading between the lines, he apparently agreed to bring back the run, thereby saving his job. Look for some important fullback work next year. The fullback will lead the runner into the line, thereby creating more space for the runner to squeeze into. I watched yesterday as the Jets iced the game, when, with a fourth and one and but some 50 seconds on the cock, they ran the ball off right tackle and made three yards.

-- The Pirates signed a couple of relievers whom no one else wanted. They are putting out the word that they are looking for better play from Milledge, McCutcheon, Jones, et al, which will catapult them out of the cellar. Well, if all that happens, maybe they will. It's almost spring. Hope springs eternal ... then reality sets in. Baseball sucks.

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.

Things I think I think ...

1. For those who think that Steeler fans are in a funk this morning, I want to disabuse them of that notion. Steeler fans went into a funk after they lost to the Browns, Chiefs and Raiders by giving up scores in the fourth quarter. Pittsburghers are mature and realistic. After those losses and a five-game losing streak, they knew that a) the playoffs were in serious jeopardy and b) that this was not a playoff team in 2009.

2. The 2009 season left Steeler fans scratching their collective heads, wondering what caused the sudden demise after such a brilliant 2008. First, the ignominious losses to the above teams were by 3 points each. So, they weren't disastrous from a point perspective. But considering the "might" of the Steelers versus the "also ran" category of the opposition, they should have devoured these three teams. So, what was it? Apathy? Injuries? Special Teams? Game-planning? My thinking is that probably all the above contributed mightily. What to do about these problems? I'll leave that up to the Steeler brass to figure out.

3. Always looking to the bright side ... With the Steelers officially out of playoff contention, the players will have an extra four weeks (versus last year) to rest, both physically and mentally. It also gives management some extra time to assess what is needed to get back into the playoffs next year, including which players to keep and which to let go and whom to go after in free agency, if any. Drafting 18th in April, they have more time to scope out the players they would like to draft. Drafting higher this year can be more significant than in previous years because more juniors are coming out. So, if the Steelers are astute enough, there will be better players throughout the draft and they will be drafting higher in each round than in previous years. So, let the planning begin!

4. I like the Ravenzzz chances, particularly against the Patriots. The Patriots of 2009 are not the Patriots of the past, and with Wes Welker out for the playoffs, the Ravenzzz have a great chance to beating New England at Foxborough.

5. What did you think of the Pitt basketball team going to the Carrier Dome and thumping the No. 5 and undefeated Orange by 10 points? This is practically a new Pitt team, members of which hardly knew each other at the start of the semester. But they seem to be coming together.

6. Kudos to Uncle Matt Kraft for arranging for his nephews, Parker Levi and Alex Reich, to be ball boys at the Nets-Cavs game on Saturday. They got to shag balls during practice, high-five the players, go into the locker room, get autographs and take pictures with the likes of Shaq. Talk about a memorable afternoon!

7. Finally, I noted last week that Jason Bay signed with the New York Mets for $16,250,000 per year for four years. Jason Bay worth $16 1/4 million a year, and for four years yet? To put it in perspective, that $16.25 million is more than half of the total Pirate salary structure is for 2010. One guy! Is Jason Bay worth that kind of money? Even with the grossly swollen amount that baseball players command these days, that amount is simply insane. Jason Bay isn't that good, period. And I don't think this signing will catapult the Mets into the World Series.

In the meantime, the Pirates separated themselves from the only semblance of a relief pitcher they had left, Matt Capps. He was no great shakes last year either. But he got over $3 million from the Nationals. In an unfathomable instance, the Pirates did sign a journeyman second baseman for $4.85 million. Will this guy mean the Pirates will win another 20 games in 2010? Hardly. Baseball sucks.

Calling all dry wall contractors. Calling all dry wall contractors ... There is plenty of work in Baltimore this morning as a result of Ravenzzz fanzzz smashing their heads on the walls of their homes after Sunday's debacle.

In days of yore, the legendary sportswriter, sports commentator and radio talk show host, Myron Cope, ascended the very high and steep Mount Washington, that venerable mountain that overlooks Heinz Field (and, formerly, Three Rivers Stadium), in the dead of weather clad in only a robe and sandals. He remained there for three days and three nights in deep contemplation and meditation. When he finally descended the mountain to address the multitude of Steeler fans anxiously awaiting him, he held aloft the Terrible Towel.

At first, the fans were highly confused. What, they thought, was this golden piece of cotton terry cloth? But when Myron patiently explained the power of the Towel, and cautioned them to call upon its prowess only when playoffs were a possibility and during all playoff games, they immediately understood its glorious meaning. Thenceforth, the Terrible Towel, merely a yellow rag to outsiders, became the symbol, the standard by which Steeler fans created the karma that has led to Steeler success.

In the ensuing years, not only has the Terrible Towel become the hidden weapon as the 12th Steeler player, but it has been the downfall of those who would deny its potency. For those deniers, it would have the opposite effect, that of dooming their team. One example is in order. In 2008, the Tennessee Titans were on a 13-3 roll. On Dec. 21, 2008, they entertained the Steelers in Nashville. They crushed the Steelers 31-14. Near the end of the game, a couple of Titan players got a hold of a Terrible Towel on the sidelines. These two guys took turns in stomping of the Terrible Towel while shaking their fists in the air.

The Towel was embarrassed. The Towel was incensed. So, you ask, what happens when the Towel is demeaned in such an untoward manner? The Titans, who looked practically invincible the whole 2008 season, were eliminated in their first playoff game. To add insult to injury, they lost the 2009 opener to

the Steelers, 13-10, and proceeded to lose another five games in a row. And, to boot, you might recall who, after that 31-14 trashing in Nashville on December 21st went on to win the Super Bowl ... which was capped off with a miraculous TD pass reception by Santonio Holmes.

Why, you say, do I bring up all this about the Terrible Towel? Well, last week, David Katz, the highly esteemed founder of SportsFanLive.com, disparaged the Terrible Towel in his pre-game blog. In so doing, he caused the Towel Curse to work its magic. And when the Towel has been goaded into action, nothing can stop it. How else can you possibly explain the Ravens' losing two touchdowns because of penalties and a third because their star wide receiver dropped a perfectly thrown ball in the end zone? How do you explain the Ravens losing two fumbles, allowing a 49-yard kickoff return, having a 21-yard punt, and taking two (not one) dumb personal foul penalties? Finally, how do you explain the Steelers' defense, which had crumbled in the fourth quarter in six previous games -- allowing third-rate teams like the Raiders, Chiefs and Browns, to defeat them -- shutting out the Ravens in the fourth quarter Sunday?

Baltimore fans, get your walls repaired, and don't put the blame for Sunday's defeat on the coaching staff, Ray Rice (who ran for a spectacular 141 yards), Flacco, the defense or the special teams. The responsibility rests strictly on the shoulders of one David Katz who, all by himself, aroused the fury of the Towel. May this be a lesson to all Baltimore (and other) fans around the league who think of the Towel as nothing much more than a rag that frenzied Steeler fans wave with intensity. The Steeler season will most probably end next Sunday. But the Terrible Towel lives.

What a game! But I don't know whether to laugh or cry this morning. But more about this later.

There I was, ensconced in my favorite chair with the snow all around and watching the game, which took its usual course of the past six. The Steelers held as much as a 10-point lead, and then saw it slip away. In the fourth quarter the opposing team, in this case, the Packers, were able to go ahead by six points with but 2:03 to go. They kicked off to the Steelers who fumbled the kickoff and had to start the drive on their own 19-yard line.

So, I am not that excited. Where are they going with 2:03 left and on their own 19? Put it into the books as just another fourth-quarter meltdown. But then there was Ben filling the air with passes (the Steelers had long abandoned the running game). He completed a third-and-15 to Miller to keep a drive alive, and another to Holmes for a big chuck of yardage. The Steelers were aided and abetted by some key Packer penalties.

Then, with 13 seconds left and on the Packer 18-yard line, he danced around and finally threw an incompletion, but it took 10 seconds off the clock. Had he completed this pass, which was short of the end zone, the game would have ended because time would have run out. But the incomplete pass gave him one more chance ... and the ball had to be in the end zone. This time he threw a bullet to the left corner of the end zone where Mike Wallace had drawn one-on-one coverage, and wella, Wallace cradled the ball with both feet inbounds while falling out of bounds. Touchdown! Tie score. It was only left for the extra point which was successful. Final score, 37-36. (This is the only 37-36 final score in NFL history.)

I happened to be on the phone with grandson Alex during the final drive. When Wallace secured the ball for the winning TD, Alex keenly observed that it was just like Holmes' TD catch in the Super Bowl albeit on the opposite side of the field. He was right on.

So, what do we know about the Steelers and this game?

1. The Steelers, despite losing five in a row, maintain a winning attitude. Rumors that Tomlin had lost this team were highly exaggerated.

2. The offensive line needs much improvement.

3. The Steeler secondary is a mess. Teams know that they can complete 20-30 yard passes with impunity against the Steelers ... and more often than not, can tack on yardage after the catch as the Steelers fume and fuss and fall all over themselves trying in vain to bring the receiver down.

4. Ben is the real deal, which he proves time and time again. He has guts, almost to the point of putting himself in real physical jeopardy. But that's the way he is and he's not about to change. He also set a Steeler record for passing for 503 yards in this game.

5. The Steelers found a real gem in Mike Wallace. He should gain more and more confidence as his career progresses and will present a real 1-2 threat with Holmes. The Steelers haven't had a tandem like this since the Swann-Stallworth days.

6. Tomlin isn't afraid to take chances. He tried an abortive on-side kick that backfired and led to the go-ahead Packers' TD. But he said he didn't have faith that his guys could stop a Packer long drive (honest and realistic), and if the onside kick failed and the Packers score, Ben would have enough time to bring the Steelers back. Whether or not he had that all worked out in his mind, I don't know. But that's the way it came to pass, figuratively and literally.

OK, why do I want to cry about this game? Well, with the record of 7-7, it's a true longshot to think that the Steelers will make the playoffs. They still have two games left with very formidable teams, Baltimore and Miami.

So, having little chance for the playoffs, and thinking as a plotter and not a coach, I could have easily seen a loss yesterday that would have resulted in a higher draft position in April. The Steelers sorely need to reload in many areas, but particularly in the defensive secondary and offensive line, to say nothing of special teams. Drafting higher can not only give you better quality players in the first round, but in each ensuing round. Hey, the Steelers would not have drafted Ben at 11th overall in 2004 if it hadn't been for a poor season. So, while part of me exalted in yesterday's victory, the other part said that, except for the intangibles, it was worthless, and possibly detrimental to the future.

When the Steeler schedule for the 2008 season came out, Steeler fans were stunned at its enormity. They cried foul when they saw the likes of Indianapolis, San Diego, Dallas, New York Giants and Jacksonville. Media pundits conceded that the Steelers would face the toughest schedule of any team in memory in 2008. Almost everyone agreed and that an 8-8 season was about all one could possibly hope for. So, what happened? The Steelers strapped on their helmets and went 12-4.

When the 2009 NFL schedule came out, everyone noticed the obvious softies on it and ordered playoff tickets. How could they lose to the likes of Kansas City, Oakland and Cleveland in the second half of the season? In their division it was conceded that Baltimore would be tough, but they would easily knock off Cincinnati and Cleveland twice. A yawner of a season was in the offing.

Well, so much for punditry. After 13 games the Steelers are 6-7 and playoff hopes vanished in the Cleveland freeze Thursday night. The puzzlement continues. To say the Steelers looked lousy Thursday night is a gross understatement. Cleveland's defense ranked 32nd out of 32 teams. Yet the Steelers couldn't muster a touchdown. Ben was sacked eight times. Eight times! And the running game was absent. Cleveland was signing people off the street to make up the balance of its team, and these sandlotters handled the reigning Super Bowl champs like they were a junior high second string.

There's not much to do now but ponder what will happen in the offseason and correct what went wrong. You might recall that after the Denver win (that was a long time ago), the Steelers were 6-2. Did Tomlin lose this team? After all those statements that he would be playing Burnett and Lewis at corner in Cleveland, Burnett played sparingly and Lewis didn't even dress. Is he inconsistent? Are Tomlin's assistant coaches letting him down? The special teams didn't allow a runback of a punt or kickoff for a touchdown. But Cribbs did run a punt back 55 yards, and but for a last-second tackle, would have scored.

Where's the vaunted defense? What about an offense that allows eight sacks? Is the problem more attitudinal than physical or the other way around? I can't evaluate these questions ... it's way above my pay grade. But Messrs. Tomlin and Colbert (Head of Football Operations) will have to concern themselves with them starting immediately.

There is a song in the musical, "The King and I," called "It's a Puzzlement." I think this could be the theme of the Pittsburgh Steelers' demise in 2009. For the fifth time in six losses, the Steelers made a journeyman quarterback the embodiment of Johnny Unitas. Yesterday's quarterback of the week was Bruce Gradkowski, a Pittsburgh native, whose family was out in full array at Heinz Field to cheer him on. They were not disappointed. He brought back the Raiders not once, not twice, but three times in the fourth quarter to chalk up a Raiders victory.

So, what's it all about? Here are some thoughts:

1. It's the year after the Super Bowl win. The Steelers don't have any team(s) to avenge. It seems that no matter how much the coaching staff talks the talk of "leaving the Super Bowl behind" and "focusing," it is very hard to convey that to players. Last week Tomlin said that they would come out storming in the remaining games, or words to that effect. But it didn't take a genius to see that they were sleepwalking their way through the first three quarters. It wasn't until the fourth quarter that Ben led them down the field. But ...

2. The defense kept giving up long plays. Last year LeBeau was the toast of Pittsburgh as his schemes seemed to be one or two steps ahead of almost every opponent. This year he can't get them to stop big plays, particularly in the fourth quarter. How can you be so smart in one season and so stupid the next? Could it be

3. That the absence of crucial players can be causing these breakdowns. We've already discussed Aaron Smith and Troy Polamalu. But what about Bryant McFadden, the defensive back who left to get a big contract? The Steelers said they had great confidence in William Gay taking over for McFadden. By now it should be obvious to one and all that Gay is no McFadden. A guy here, a guy there and it spells the difference between holding a lead and losing it.

4. Are they just worn out? After a Super Bowl win that takes you into February, can you recover quickly enough for the start of a new season mentally and physically to do it all over again? What's in the minds of players is simply not evident to the fan. Talking and doing are two different things. And you do have a target on your back as everybody wants to beat the Super Bowl champs. This doesn't leave much room for error ... and there have been plenty this season.

I have given up on the playoffs for this year. Even if the Steelers are mathematically still in the hunt, there are too many problems. This means that if they couldn't beat Kansas City and Oakland, what makes anyone think they can beat the Ravens, Packers and Dolphins. Hey, the Dolphins beat the Patriots yesterday!

It's the time to reassess and regroup and get ready for the 2010 draft and season.

Another painful loss this weekend was Pitt's one point defeat by Cincinnati. They, too, couldn't hold off an onslaught in the fourth quarter. Is this the theme in Pittsburgh in 2009? Anyway, Pitt will go to a bowl, the Meineke Bowl. It's not a top tier bowl by any means, but it's a bowl nevertheless and indicates true progress under Wannstadt.

Let's face it, the old adage about an NFL season being Darwinian is accurate. In many cases, those teams that can avoid serious injuries to key players have a real shot at making the playoffs. Those whose teams suffer those types of problems usually end up in the pack. An example is the Patriots last year. They lost Brady for the season and their season went south. This year it's the Steelers' turn. With Aaron Smith out for the season, Polamalu and Keomatu iffy on a week-to-week basis, it is very difficult to bring on replacements with the skill they possess. Opposing teams exploit these absences, and a season can easily be turned around.

Compounding this problem for the Steelers is Ben's concussion problem. Ben is the fulcrum of this team. With him out, the situation takes on much greater proportions. To add to this misery, the Steelers went to Baltimore last night without their No. 2 quarterback, Charlie Batch. The only guy left was Dennis Dixon, a fifth-round draft pick in 2008 who had thrown exactly one pass in a regular-season game up until last night. To make matters worse, it was thought that Ben would play last night until Thursday after practice. So, it was only on Friday morning that they realized that Dixon would be the starter. It was too late to insert a game plan for him. To give them an alternative if Dixon went down, they signed Tyler Palko late in the week. He didn't even know the signals let alone the playbook. But Tomlin dressed Ben anyway and would have let him hand off the ball if it came to that. Talk about going into a key away game crippled ...

I was really ready to mail this one in. I didn't feel that given the circumstances the Steelers had the proverbial snow ball's chance last night. I was prepared for a blowout. In fact, I would have been much less disappointed this morning had it been a blowout. But, lo and behold, the Steelers played a very credible game. Dixon was a very pleasant surprise. He seemed to be very poised and in control. His passes were somewhat errant. But I am sure that the Baltimore defensive coordinator was doing everything he could to confuse Dixon. Dixon has one dimension that has been missing from the Steeler quarterback position since Kordell Stewart was here. He can tuck it in and take off. I was disappointed that Arians didn't have him call his own number more often. I think it could have made a difference. My guess is that they didn't want the kid to get hurt given the backup situation. But the game plan was crying for more Dixon carries last night.

One positive came out of the game. The Steelers didn't give up a punt or kickoff return for a touchdown. That's a revelation. But the nagging negative is that while leading in the fourth quarter, a miracle in itself, they gave up a long drive. Of their five losses, long drives in the fourth quarter have been their undoing in four of them. This is frustrating and unacceptable. I don't know what can be done about this short of getting Polamalu healthy this season. But I am wondering whether Farrior and Harrison are losing a step.

I am also wondering, given the added and obviously deserved attention the league, Congress, etc. are giving to the long-term effect of concussions, how long Ben will continue to play NFL football. One only needs to see the cases of John Mackey and Paul Martha. Martha was a receiver with Pitt and the Steelers in the late '60s and early '70s. He went on to become a respected lawyer in Pittsburgh and was also president of the Penguins. Now, he is suffering terribly from memory problems. Was this due to concussions he suffered in football? I don't know. But it could be. I also remember that Lynn Swann was advised to retire from football after enduring multiple concussions. If Ben hangs it up relatively soon, who could blame him. But Dixon looks like a pretty suitable replacement. Wouldn't you say?

The playoff picture is becoming very clear. New Orleans, New England, Minnesota and Cincinnati look like the cream. Each has an A-No. 1 quarterback. San Diego is coming strong. To me, these are the outstanding teams that will vie for the ultimate prize. Of course, there will be surprises. There always are. But my money is on those four.

-- JIM REICH

There comes a time in an NFL season when reality begins to dawn. Today was such a day. With the Steelers facing the "hapless" Chiefs, the game looked like money in the bank. Then, despite the Chiefs taking the opening kickoff to the house, the fourth time this season that such a nightmare has occurred, the Steelers seem to have turned it around. At halftime they had possessed the ball an overwhelming period of time and were clicking on all cylinders and led 17-7.

With the second-half kickoff coming to the Steelers, one had the feeling that they would march down the field and put the game out of reach. Well, this is the NFL, and things didn't turn out that way. The Chiefs discovered the blitz. Ben did evade the blitz on several occasions, but he couldn't avoid all of them. Then, there were errant throws and the run wasn't called for nearly enough. They allowed the Chiefs to tie the score at the end of the game, and even though they got the opening kickoff in overtime, they couldn't make a third-and-two. Instead of running straight ahead, they went outside with Melwelde Moore who lost three yards and put them out of field-goal range. The Chiefs took the punt and threw a pass that got them to the Steelers' 3-yard line from where they kicked a field goal. Game over.

You can look at this game and see the Steeler season as being finished or holding just a glimmer of hope. I see real problems. One is the Ravens next Sunday in Baltimore. At their worst, the Ravens give the Steelers hard time, particularly in Baltimore. Then, there's another game with Baltimore. It's not pretty. After defeating Denver in Denver on a Monday night two weeks ago, they have lost to Cincinnati and Kansas City. Things are going the wrong way.

So, it's time to say that 2009, post-Super Bowl championship, is going down as many seasons like this do, with disappointment. That's the downside. What's the upside? The 2010 draft. It's time to reload next April. If the season goes as it is presently going, the Steelers will not be drafting as late as they have in recent years. It could give them a chance to pick up some high quality players. Don't forget, they drafted Roethlisberger at 11th overall after a lackluster season. This draft pick set up some awfully good seasons. They also got Polamalu by trading up to 16th, and when healthy, he is a joy.

One last observation: There's a cliche around the NFL that there is a thin line between winning and losing. It might be trite, but there's a lot of truth to it. In today's game, a yard here or there, a successful kickoff defense, a defensive player holding on to an interception instead of dropping it ... and there could have been a different outcome. But it didn't happen that way and this season is sliding away.

There is only one way to describe one's feelings after Sunday's Steeler loss to the Bengals: Empty. I have to say that this was a game in which the opposition out-Steelered the Steelers. It's almost sickening to think that a team is capable of doing this. But there it was happening, right before our sore eyes.

The Bengals seemed to blitz Ben on every play. He was sacked and hurried and sacked and hurried with ridiculous regularity. I am wondering where the quick release package was. With all those guys committed to rushing Ben, someone had to be open. But Ben kept looking and looking and going down. Even when he had a modicum of time, he missed receivers right and left. The whole game was a replay of the first half in Denver. But he never got it together with his receivers Sunday. A seasoned Ben fan expects a last drive to bring the team out of the depths of despair, but it just didn't happen.

I think that Ben is out of synch with Wallace particularly. When Wallace is streaking down the field. Ben almost always underthrows him. He has to mentally calculate how fast Wallace really is and let him run under the ball.

In all, the Steelers defense didn't allow a TD. Ochocinco wasn't much of a factor, nor was Cedric Benson even before leaving in the second quarter with a hip injury. One does wonder what effect the Monday night game against Denver two time zones away might have had on the Steelers. But when it's all said and done, let's face it, Cincinnati is for real, and we should not try to take anything away from them. Somebody on the radio on Monday morning said that the Steelers took them too lightly. If that's the case, shame on the Steelers.

I think the Steelers have got to rethink their special teams, particularly their kickoff coverage. For the third time this year, an opposing returner ran to the house. This is unacceptable. I think the problem begins with the kicker. Jeff Reed's kickoffs rarely go beyond the 10-yard line, and I don't think there is much height in them either. This gives the returner a real advantage. If they are sold on Reed's field goal ability (he has missed at least three this year from reasonable distances in key games), then maybe they need a guy who specializes in kickoffs. Then, again, maybe they need some people who are more devoted to special teams than they currently have.

-- I turned off the light Sunday night with what I thought was a sure Patriot win in Indianapolis. Imagine my surprise when I awoke to discover that the Colts pulled it out. And Belichick made a mistake? He's human? Wow! By not punting with a 4th and 2 on their own 28 late in the fourth quarter, the Pats missed and the Colts had a short field. Belichick, what were you thinking?

-- How about the Redskins beating the Broncos? So much for the wondrous new coach in Denver.

-- JIM REICH