Through eight games and coming off of a dominating win against the Denver Broncos two weeks ago on national tv, the Steelers were 6-2 and back in the mix as one of the elite teams in the NFL. Two weeks later that’s no longer the case. After two straight losses at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals and the lowly Kansas City Chiefs, the defending Super Bowl champs have fallen to 6-4 on the season. They are still in position to earn a playoff berth as 66% of teams who started 6-4 have made the playoffs since 1980, but the Steelers week 12 matchup against the 5-5 Baltimore Ravens will be the key point in the season as to whether the Steelers have it in them to right the ship and get back to being among the NFL’s best teams. A loss doesn’t kill the Steelers chances of earning aRead More »
Bruce Arians
Steelers had a 71/29 pass/run ratio in loss to Cincinnati
By MARK MADDEN Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians has been a leading scapegoat in the aftermath of the Steelers’ disheartening 18-12 loss to Cincinnati Sunday. At first glance, I disagreed. I thought the Steelers should have used the no-huddle more. But when they did use it, it sputtered, and the no-huddle depends on the passing game being in sync, which it decidedly wasn’t. So Arians gets a pass. I also thought Arians mishandled the Steelers’ final possession by going deep twice. With 67 yards to cover, 1:49 left and a time out to work with, QB Ben Roethlisberger should have taken what the Bengals were giving for a few plays and made the field shorter. But when you look for a miracle and don’t get one, blame Jesus, not Arians. But I do blame Arians for abandoning the run too quick.
Roethlisberger on Bruce Arians: “I’m blessed to have him”
Steelers take over in second half, Advance to AFC Championship
Steelers 35 – Chargers 24 Willie Parker rushed for 146 yards & 2TD‚Äôs and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 181 yards and 1 touchdown as the Steelers beat the San Diego Chargers 35-24 to advance to their third AFC Championship game in five years. The Steelers controlled the ball for 14:43 in the third quarter which set the tone for the second half as the Steelers led 21-10 at the end of the third quarter. With 12:56 remaining in the fourth quarter, Gary Russell‚Äôs one yard touchdown run capped off a 2 play ‚Äì 49 yard drive to put the Steelers up 28-10. The Chargers¬†got within 11 but the Steelers responded like good teams do and Willie Parker sealed the game with a 16 yard touchdown run that resulted in a 9 play ‚Äì 73 yard drive. The Steelers outgained the Chargers 342 ‚Äì 290 and controlled the line ofRead More »
NFL: Parker expresses displeasure with offense again
Since Willie Parker has returned from his injury, he has been calling for the Steelers to run the ball more. Today Parker complained that the Steelers are too predictable. Following practice Parker had this to say: “We bring in two tight ends now, without a fullback, and they know what’s coming. “I don’t know what it is but it’s not been effective.” Parker leads the Steelers in rushing with 597 yards but the offense has been more effective with Mewelde Moore. Insiders Take: Under Mike Tomlin the Steelers are no longer a power running team. Willie Parker needs to get with the picture that the Steelers are moving more towards a West Coast style of offense and they don‚Äôt have the offensive line to pound the ball like it‚Äôs 2005. It‚Äôs becoming a common theme with Parker on Wednesday‚Äôs to express his displeasure with the offense. Bruce Arians has deservedRead More »
Inside Look at the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers head to Jacksonville this weekend in a game that looks very similar to last year’s AFC Wild Card game between the two squads. No Willie Parker again, injuries to the offensive line again and the team is missing one of its best defensive lineman again. Will we see a different result this time?
Changes could be coming: Crucial game for Arians
Coming into week 4 the Steelers were ranked 30th in the league for plays of 20+ yards. The Steelers have only 5 plays of 20+ yards, the same number the lowly Kansas City Chiefs had going into week 4. A offense that fields dynamic players such as Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Parker and Santonio Holmes should never be mentioned in the same breath of the Kansas City Chiefs.
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