Houston @ Pittsburgh Post game

 

Well, that was ugly.� Cleveland lost today; Baltimore is going later and, whatever happens there, Pittsburgh will be just a skinny tie ahead in the weakling AFC North.

 

Of course, the root of this debacle is obvious; teams that are (-2) in the takeaway department are losers, at about a 90% rate.� The Steelers turned it over (5) times today, the 3^rd time that has occurred this season.� To no one�s surprise, they are 0-3 in those tilts.� Beyond that, (3) TO were returned for TD and a 4^th resulted in Brown�s Open End Revenge.� I�m fairly confident that no team has spotted an opponent 21-24 points and come out ahead.�

 

On a day like today, it�s tough to pick a goat.� Still:

 

• Mike Mularkey opened pass heavy, throwing on better than 70% over the Steelers� first (2) possessions.� Tough to figure; I would have bet that the Steelers would have been run-heavy early to let T-Max get in the flow.� Obviously, the results weren�t good to include (1) sack, (1) score off a fumble on a scramble and, of course, (1) INT returned for a 2^nd score.� Given the way the Steeler defense dominated today, a more conservative approach, especially early on, would have been prudent.

 

• Tommy Maddox threw (2) picks and spit it up once.� Since opening the Titan game with a scoring throw to Ward, T-Max has thrown (5) INT.� It was cold in Tennessee; it was somewhat cold in Pittsburgh today; it remains unclear that Maddox can be effective outdoors in inclement weather.

 

• Antwaan Randle-El fumbled twice and made a couple poor decisions in the punt game; then too, he drew a procedural flag on the Steelers� first possession.

 

• Plaxico Burress had at least (6) drops today including (1) late; had he held on, that would have pulled the Steelers� to within a 2-point conversion of tying the game.

 

• The O-line allowed (6) sacks and never established a run game. Smith, Simmons and Okobi all had false starts.� Jerame Tuman had (1) hold late; this, with Ward�s later, was a killer considering that the Steelers, then (8) points down, had gotten great field position off their only takeaway.

 

• Steeler fans came early and left early.� There was a sea of yellow seats late.��

 

On a day like today, it�s tough to find any cause for optimism.� Still:

 

• Coach Cowher deserves credit for starting Maddox and for sticking with him throughout.� It is absolutely clear that the Steelers� best chance today was with kind of low-risk offense that is Kordell�s specialty.� It is equally clear that they�ll need more in the playoffs and, assuming Maddox can function in winter weather then he is their best bet to go deep in January.� Mr. Cowher gambled and lost today but the big payday is down the road; it will be interesting to see whether he stays the course.�

 

• Tim Lewis has changed his ways; since the Tennessee game, TL has mixed some nickel with his (previously reflexive) dime.� He has kept the base more nearly intact on 3^rd down and, as a result, the Jags converted just (3) last week and today the Texans had only (1).� Those aren�t the Chiefs or Raiders but still�

 

• �Did anyone else notice Casey Hampton paving the way for Bell�s delayed blitz late in the 4^th?�

 

• Bell, Porter and Gildon had sacks; Farrior had (3) stuffs.

 

How �bout them Texans?

 

• Aaron Glenn showed how to play the 3-step drop.� Twice, AG squatted on a slant, the Steelers� preferred hot read and twice AG brought it back.� Very clearly, this man is a Pro Bowl CB.

 

• Vic Fangio flips his CB as it suits him.� Notice how he matched his big CB, Coleman, vs. Burress in the RZ?� Tim Lewis might take note.

 

• Kris Brown boots it through at the open end before a rapidly diminishing crowd.

 

Game Balls:

 

Amoz, very tough and explosive running.

Casey, who relentlessly tooled the Texans� only legit O-lineman, Steve McKinney;

Farrior, who spent more time Houston�s backfield than Jon Wells and whose hit on J. Lewis put forced the Texans to use the rookie Gaffney in PR duties late; this man�s inexperience created the Steelers only takeaway.

 

Meaningless parallel:

 

The �95 Steelers got beat by the virgin Jags but went on to the SB.� However, that defeat was the nearer the opener than game 13.