Steelers-Panthers: Now, it’s just another game

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, December 15, 2006  |  Comments( 3 )

Pittsburgh Steelers
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
This was supposed to be the game of the year -- the defending Super Bowl champs against the heirs apparent.

Now, it's not even the game of the day. When the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Charlotte Sunday to play the Carolina Panthers, both teams will be 6-7. Neither has yet been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but the odds against both are grim, to say the least.

"We're just taking it one game at a time," said Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger.

As if they could do it any other way. True, the Steelers have shown signs of life after their backs were all but broken by a three-game losing streak in the middle of the season, but it's too little, too late. Even if they win Sunday, they will be cut off if Cincinnati and Jacksonville both win.

It could be argued that Pittsburgh's season really ended on a downtown street over the summer. That's when Roethlisberger's motorcycle collided with a car, catapulting him headlong onto the pavement. Neither he -- nor his team -- has been quite the same since.

On paper, part of Big Ben's stat line looks pretty good. He's completed 60 percent of his passes and thrown for a respectable 2,952 yards.

Then you scan further and see that he has thrown five more interceptions than touchdown passes, and that those 20 picks lead the league. Could that be a function of slightly impaired reaction time early in the season?

Pittsburgh outgained its opponents in four of seven losses -- included a whopping 360-98 advantage over Oakland -- but turnovers did the Steelers in. In a 28-24 loss to Cincinnati, Roethlisberger fed two interceptions to the Bengals in the end zone.

Carolina QB Jake Delhomme has experienced his own problems, and he may not even start against the Steelers (an injured thumb on his throwing hand). If Chris Weinke takes his place, the Panthers will try to establish a running game with DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams against a Steeler defense allowing just 94 yards game on the ground.

Steeler LB Joey Porter seems to be his feisty self again (he'll probably be fined by the league for calling Cleveland TE Kellen Winslow a derogatory three-letter name last week), but he was out too long. C Jeff Hartings, a major force on the offensive line, has probably played too long. The secondary has had some injuries.

Even the oddsmakers are confused -- the game is rated even.

The thing is, Pittsburgh is still one of the league's elite teams, talent-wise. And Carolina went to the NFC championship game last year.

Last week against Cleveland, the Steelers' Willie Parker ran for a team-record 223 yards. It was his second 200-yard effort of the season, but he's also been completely throttled by other teams.

About all Pittsburgh can do now is follow Ben Roethlisberger's clichéd advice: Play 'em one at a time.

Pretty soon, the season will be over.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (3)

About Darrell Laurant

Sorry, Darrell Laurant's bio is currently not available. Please check back soon!
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report