It constantly amuses me to hear national pundits and local Joe-the-plumbers talk about how great the Jets coaching job is, how great the Broncos job is, and how dysfunctional the Browns situation is.  It's amazing, really, how absurd that is.

The NFL is not like college.  t's not like comparing the Ohio State job with the Indiana job, where one team will line up every year with better talent at virtually every position.  The NFL is the ultimate level playing field.  The salary caps are all equal, facilities are all equal, ownership is relatively equal, strength and conditioning is equal, the acquisition of talent is equal, scheduling is equal, everything.

This means that turnaround can be instant.  Tradition, both good and bad, can change in a hurry.  How many times have we seen the woeful St. Louis Rams suddenly win a Super Bowl?  The Dolphins barely won one game last year, and two days ago they were the three seed.  The troubles you have in Cleveland pale in camparison to the folks in Atlanta, whose franchise was gutted by the shame of its icon centerpiece being led to prison.  Look at them already.

These examples alone should prove that no franchise is a better coaching job than another, unless there are ownership issues.  Working for a senile Al Davis could be problematic.  Working for a meddlesome Jerry Jones could be a circus.  Perhaps working for a thrifty Mike Brown could be argued.  Randy Lerner is not only none of those, he is the Anti-Mike Brown.  He is losing a boatload to make the changes he feels is necessary.

But the Cleveland job goes much deeper than all of that.  In cities like Pittsburgh, Green Bay and Cleveland, the football fan base is not a casual sidestreet that complements some larger culture.  Football is a passion that is burned into the fabric of the community.  People in cities like ours are not transplants from some other geography  The people in Cleveland are from Cleveland.  So are their parents and grandparents.  Being a Browns fan isn't some acquired taste.  It is a right of passage, handed down from generation to generation through the umbilical cord.

In Pittsburgh, Green Bay and Cleveland, football is not another social diversion.  It is religion.  In fact, every Sunday there are two religions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  This past weekend we witnessed two playoff games that were still blacked out the day before the game (Arizona and Minnesota).  In Pittsburgh and Cleveland, a playoff stadium would have been sold out three times over.  In fact, if the Steelers or Browns were playing the Cardinals or Vikings, there would have been no blackout discussion,  We would have filled those stadiums from the road.

So tell me coach, where would you rather be?  Do you want to be in New York where multiple media outlets compete with each other to see who can run you out of town first?  Do you want to be in a town that can't sell out a playoff game?  Do you want to work in a city where football is somewhere down the middle of the social food chain?  Or would you like to coach in a place like Cleveland where people would name their children after you if you won a championship?

If I were the hottest commodity in the market right now, I know where I would go.

Great to be at the game yesterday.  It was the first time I really wished my seats were behind the visitor's bench.  It had to be 12 degress warmer in the sun all day while those of us on the other side were in the shade all game...Oh, well...

1)  Great meeting Acrollet...He strolled by while we were tailgating...Rebecca did a great job with the choir before the game....Always nice to place a friendly face with all of our BTSC names...The wind was blowing my tailgate away so Maryrose stayed in the car...I wish we had more time and the wind wasn't making me preoccupied...

2)  Those of you who have kids will especially get this next one...Occasionally they will do something wrong that needs scolding, but deep inside you love it...Troy P sneaked back into the game after Tomlin told him he was through...Tomlin  gave him a scolding on the sidelines, but how can you blame a guy for wanting to play football...NO TROY! (atta boy)...

3)  All four of the road teams this playoff week are slight favorites.  Interesting when a home team is a slight dog, everybody thinks the visiting team is going to roll.  Baltimore and Indy are the sexy picks in the AFC this weekend.  Eight days ago the Sexy Steelers, being a slight road favorite, were supposed to roll over Tennessee...Hmmm...

4)  For the third game in a row the Steelers spiked the ball, taking away a valuable snap.  Fortunately, Byron scampered into the end zone and they didn't need it.  The score was only 7-0 at the time...I am going to break a blood vessel the next time this happens.  How can an NFL team that has nothing else to do in life but prepare for these situations not have a couple "spike plays" in the plan?  You need to get all your guys set anyway.  At that point wouldn't it make infinite more sense to run a quick post pass?  If it's there, TD, if not, heave it into the Monongahela.  You had almost a whole minute left in the half.  Aren't five seconds a good price to pay for using one of three chances to score? (assuming a FG on fourth)...I'd have three "spike plays."...Spike One is a post, Spike Two is a quick out  and Spike Three is a sideline fly, all three of which are quick and easy to throw away...I swear one of these times we are going to pay dearly for not having another down left.  The only time to spike the ball is when you do not have time to run a couple more plays anyway, which hasn't been the case for us the last three games...

5)  I have no problem whatsoever with Ben being in the game the entire first half, especially when we didn't score for the first one and two-thirds quarters.  The bye is next week, not yesterday.  Play football for a half, especially the Steelers offense, which needed to and did gain some momentum...

6)  Speaking of the Steelers offense, don't get tempered because they played the Browns.  The Great Peyton scored precisely three points against the Browns defense.  The Steelers scored 10.  In half of their games, the Browns gave up less than 20 points, including 17 to the Manning Brothers COMBINED.  This was a great game for our offense yesterday.

7)  Our 2009 schedule features the Chargers, Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, Bears, Vikings, Packers, Lions, Titans and Dolphins, in addition to the usual suspects in our division...

8)  I'm glad Cowher is out of the running for the Browns job.  I know it would make great theater if Cowher heated up the rivalry, but I don't need heat.  The Browns need to hire a future loser, not bill Cowher.  My chants for "four more years Romeo" did not go over well with the handful of incognito Browns fans at the game yesterday...

9)  For the second straight year, the Steelers have reached three of my four stated goals.  First, beat Cleveland.  Second, beat Cleveland again.  Third, go to a home playoff game.  Fourth, win the Super Bowl.  It's been 30 years since all four happened.  I'm due for all four again, but really, three out of four is awefully sweet.

      

Yes, I sat on Santa's lap, and he allowed me 10 wishes for 2009.  He knew I was a big Steelers fan, so the rule was that I couldn't wish for any specific victories, Super Bowls etc.  That would be too easy.  So, like David Letterman's countback from 10, here are the wishes I gave to Santa (though in no particular order):

10)  Dermontti Dawson, Donnie Shell and Art Rooney Jr. are announced as inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  (I didn't include Rod Woodson since he doesn't need Santa's help.)  Dawson was so good he was underappreciated as an offensive lineman.  Oh how we understand that these days.  Shell deserves to be in, but is not because of how many 1970 Steelers are already in.  He is a victim of association.  Likewise, Art Jr. is not in because of how many Rooneys are already in.  Poppycock.  That man drafted nine Hall of Famers in six years..

9)  James Harrison is named Defensive Player-of-the-Year for not just sacks, but coverage, tackles and leadership skills on a remarkable defense.

8)  The Cleveland Browns proudly announce Larry Zierlein as their new head coach, with a 10-year contract that guarantees he can't be fired.

7)  The new ownership group of the Steelers shows total devotion to Dan and Art II and announces that "Money is no object.  Jerry Jones is chump change."

6)  Blitz gets a little more sleep, and while I'm at it, a little more recognition for being the captain of the best fan web site in existence.  Kudos Blitz.  Try Sominex.

5)  This site continues to grow in popularity, especially with older fans and young kids, as we all understand how necessary respect is, and how unnecessary vulgarity is.

4)  The Steelers land a major free agent offensive line acquisition and follow that up with a first-round selection of an offensive lineman.  No more fourth-round projects.  While we are at it, a couple D-linemen in the pipeline wouldn't hurt either.

3)  Elijah Smith, Aaron's son, learns that his leukemia is completely under control and that his life expentancy is 85.

2)  The NFL announces that Dick LeBeau has been shamefully omitted from the Hall of Fame and by special vote of the Executive Committee, will be inducted in 2010.

1)  Every Steelers fan who reads this has a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah and a prosperous 2009.

Happy Holidays to each and every one of you.  Thanks for adding a layer of joy to my life as a passionate Steelers fan.

As a sequel to Fahey's excellent recount of 2002, there is another playoff game that should also be remembered between these two franchises.  Thirteen years before the Oscar in Music City, on the last day of the 1980s decade, it was the Steelers who came out on top of an overtime thriller with a field goal against the Houston Oilers, predecessors to the Tennessee Titans.

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Living in Youngstown, Ohio, both Heinz Field and Cleveland Browns Stadium are exactly an hour and a half away in opposite directions.  The taverns in Youngstown are filled with both Hatfields and McCoys, half Steelers' fans and half Browns' fans.  Recently a digruntled Browns' fan came up to me proclaiming that the Browns' problem was that they haven't hired a head coach with head coaching experience since 1971 (that being Nick Skorich).  He was shocked when I responded that the Steelers haven't hired a head coach with previous head coaching experience since 1958 (that being Buddy Parker).  The Rooneys aren't interested in hiring Norv Turner re-treads.  They want up-and-coming, sharp as a whip, no-nonsense leaders who know the game, and just as importantly, know the people who play it.

Enter Mike Tomlin.  Hired in January, 2007, he began his tenure with the Steelers behind the eight ball.  After Bill Cowher announced his resignation, Steeler Nation was divided between current assistants Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm as to their next leader.  Both coaches were nationally considered head coaching material.  Surely one of them would get the job.  Whisenhunt scurried off to Arizona, perhaps seeing the writing on the wall.  In any case, Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II proudly announced Mike Tomlin as the new Steelers' coach.  Tomlin had been defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings. 

Tomlin's first act was to meet a fan-base who considered him a complete unknown and was generally disappointed that one of the two inside guys weren't at the podium.  Tomlin's handling of this was flawless.  He didn't apologize for getting the job.  He was delicate and yet firm, respectful of the past and yet excited about the future.

His second hurdle also came before the season, during training camp.  All Pro guard and possible future Hall of Famer Alan Faneca was out of sorts for two reasons.  One, his position coach was Russ Grimm and Faneca really wanted Grimm to get the job.  Secondly, Faneca wanted a long-term contract extension and the Steelers decided his age did not warrant such.  Tomlin was caught in the middle.  He needed to be respectful to Faneca.  He needed him badly for the 2007 season.  He also needed to make sure Faneca's pouting did not bring the team down.  Again a fine line and again, he handled the situation perfectly.

Tomlin obviously had his team ready for the season.  The Steelers crushed the Browns, in Cleveland, to win the 2007 season opener.  The Steelers also won the next two games over Buffalo and San Francisco rather handily.  Pittsburgh made the playoffs in Tomlin's inaugural season.  The Steelers lost their first playoff game at home, however, never a good thing, to Jacksonville.  Prior to the playoff game, the Steelers lost the NFL's leading rusher in Willie Parker and their most underrated defensive lineman in Aaron Smith, both to injuries.

Still, Tomlin would not allow injuries to be an excuse.  Any reasonable mind would tell you that the league's leading running back (not to mention Aaron Smith), would surely be the difference in a 31-29 thriller.  Tomlin would have none of that.  Most coaches will give obligatory lip service in saying that injuries are no excuse.  When Mike Tomlin said those words, you could feel his genuine conviction.  As a fan you love a coach like that.

So Tomlin's first season ended at 10-6 plus a home playoff loss.  He showed during his first offseason that we wasn't going to be stubborn.  Desperately needing a center to replace Jeff Hartings after 2006, the Steelers signed free agent Sean Mahan, who got manhandled by defensive tackles in 2007.  So the Steelers signed another free agent center the very next year, Justin Hartwig.  Tomlin and the team were willing to cut their losses and correct their mistake rather than stubbornly stick with Mahan.

Tomlin's next lesson in human relations took place on the first day of training camp when All Pro nose tackle Casey Hamptom came into camp badly out of shape.  Tomlin made it very clear that this was unacceptable, even for a standout veteran.  Hamptom was placed on the Physically Unable to Play List.  More importantly, notice was served.  It is unlikely the same problem will present itself next summer, by Hampton or anyone.

With last season's fizzle clear in his mind, Tomlin has fine-tuned his regimen, another example of his willingness to look in the mirror and adapt.  Veterans like Hines Ward and Deshea Townsend, among others, often do not practice on Wednesdays to preserve their aging football bodies.  They are not listed with an ankle or knee, they are honestly depicted as "Hines missed practice because he's Hines."  The Steelers are playing fresher this year in December.  They are playing a full 60 minutes, unlike some of their opponents.  Their current five-game winning streak has a completely different look than last year's December.

The Steelers are certainly not without their struggles.  The offense, the line and the running game are still a great work in progress, to use Tomlin's words.  Last week star running back Wille Parker complained to the media about that running game.  Coach Tomlin would have none of that.  With a knack for classic soundbites, he reminded everyone that Pittsburgh is the proud owner of "five Lombardis, not five rushing titles."  His words that "Willie's comments can be construed as selfish, which he is not," were perfect.  Moreover, Tomlin named Parker an honorary co-captain before the Ravens game in a public display of forgiving and forgetting.  His human relations instincts are exemplary.

There were several monkeys on Tomlin's back from a season ago.  Getting smashed by the Belichick Patriots, continuing the road losing streak in Baltimore and then losing to Jacksonville twice are three such monkeys, not to mention the abysmal coverage on kickoffs and punts.  What a difference year-two makes.  He returned to Foxboro and returned the smashing, broke the Jaguars' hearts in front of their fans and the jinx against the Ravens?  Nevermore.  In addition, the coverage units thus far have been a strength of the team instead of a major weakness.  That is massive reversal from a year ago.

This season is far from over.  We all know the achilles heel that could ruin a great season.  We know we have work to do in the offseason and more changes are in store.  But for a young second-year coach to have 21 wins under his belt with more opportunities available, raise your hand if you like Mike Tomlin.  Being a great wordsmith is one thing.  Meaning those words and then putting them to action is yet another.  Mike Tomlin has a great future in front of him.  Hopefully, some of that greatness will be witnessed in the next six weeks.

As a complement to Blitz's Sports Illustrated piece, the Steelers are now firmly entrenched as the Number One team in the NFL:

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcwest/0-6-179/Power-rankings--How-the-voters-voted.html

We need to proceed, however, as Mike Tomlin heeds cautiously.  I hope these last five wins give the team confidence but not false ego.  We still can't block very well and if we lose from here on out, that will be the culprit.

It's great to be a little giddy this week, but we must temper it with NFL reality.

First, regarding the offensive line, how is it doing?  I heard earlier when you guys were in that mild Romoless slump that the O-Line was a team weakness.  Of course, I am from Pittsburgh so all I got was the national scuttlebut and not any of your local scoop.  Curious.  Our line was horrible earlier and now it seems to have improved as the season wears on, but we shall see.

Second, has Ware or Barber practiced?  Mike Tomlin seems to think they are playing for sure, or at least he is preparing for such.  That doctor interview you had was outstanding. What is the latest?

PS, I wrote an historical piece on our website featuring the Steelers-Cowboys rivalry.  Of course, it is slanted from a Pittsburgh view, but I think you might enjoy. 

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/

When the Dallas Cowboys came into existence in 1960, the Steelers welcomed them with open arms.  Being an expansion franchise, the Cowboys were one of the few teams that Pittsburgh could beat on a regular basis.  The Steelers won seven of the first 10 meetings.

In 1963, Steelers' receiver Buddy Dial was one of my all-time favorites.  He led the NFL in yards-per-reception (a lofty 21.6) and campiled 1,295 yards and nine touchdowns in just 14 games.  He was terrific.  The Steelers decided to trade the All Pro in an effort to get younger.  The Cowboys, already young and in need of experience, were the perfect trade partner.  The two teams agreed that if a player named Scott Appleton was still available fourth, where the Cowboys picked in the 1964 NFL draft, the Steelers would ship Dial back to his home state for Appleton.

The trade proved disastrous for both teams.  Appleton never played a down for the Steelers.  He opted instead to sign with the Houston Oilers of the AFL, who also drafted him (back then the two leagues held seperate drafts).  The Steelers got absolutely nothing in return for a Pro Bowl receiver.  Dallas didn't fare much better.  Dial hurt his back and was never a productive Cowboy.  Several back operations led to an addiction to painkillers which in turn led to kidney failure and premature death at the age of 71.

The Cowboys got real good nonetheless and in 1965 commenced whipping the Steelers seven times in a row.  The Steelers' win that ended that drought came in the 1976 Super Bowl.  With MVP Lynn Swann making four huge catches for 161 yards, all with Dallas cornerback Mark Washington draped all over him in perfect coverage, Pittsburgh won, 21-17.  Swann's catches are still shown in highlights to the chagrin of Cowboys' fans. 

The turning point in the game occurred in the third quarter when Roy Gerela missed his second field goal.  Cowboy defensive back Cliff Harris decided to taunt Gerela and tapped him mockingly on the helmet.  Jack Lambert caught this act of foolishness out of the corner of his eye.  If there was ever one Steeler you did not want to agitate it was Jack Lambert.  He picked up Harris and threw him to the ground like a rag doll.  In today's game Harris would have been flagged and Lambert would have been ejected.  In 1976, boys would be boys. 

Lambert was a man possessed from that point forward.  He had a hand in the next five tackles.  For the rest of the game, until Pittsburgh had all the points they would need, the Dallas offense was rendered completely useless.  Lambert was all over the field and Staubach, nicknamed "the Dodger" for his elusiveness, found himself eating a heavy dosage of dirt.  He ended up being sacked seven times in the game.

The two teams met in the Super Bowl three years later and the Steelers won by the same four points, this time 35-31.  I was in college in Miami at the time and had the opportunity to work the game as a volunteer.  Blessed with a field pass, I may have been the closest human being to Rocky Bleier when he caught his touchdown pass at the end of the half.  I had to move out of the way so he wouldn't run into me.  And I think for sure I was the closest person to Jackie Smith when he dropped his opportunity in the same end zone (certainly no Steelers were anywhere near).

That game, known as the best Super Bowl up to the time, featured the bogus pass interference call on Benny Barnes when his feet tangled with Lynn Swann's.  It also featured the infamous Hollywood Henderson's claim that Terry Bradshaw "could not spell cat if you spotted him the 'c' and the 'a'."  Bradshaw got the last laugh.  Henderson's bigger mistake that game was claiming not to hear a whistle.  On a third-down play, the Steelers didn't get the play off.  The whistle stopped play for delay of game and everyone heard it, except Henderson.  He came in untouched and flung Bradshaw to the ground.  Today he would have been flagged, incarcerated and deprived of his first-born male.  Back then it wasn't even a penalty. 

It did, however, spark a fire in Franco Harris.  In 12 years with the Steelers, I never saw him lose his cool or become emotional, even after the Immaculate Reception, but he was infuriated with Henderson.  He got in Hollywood's face and was jawing at him for the one and only time I ever saw Franco do anything of the sort.  He then screamed something in his own huddle.  On the very next play, despite being third and nine, Harris went up the middle like a maniac and went all the way to the house.  The only Cowboy who have a chance of tackling him, Charlie Waters, ran smack into the umpire and the play was history.

Roy Gerela squibbed the ensuing kickoff and Hall of Famer Randy White tried to return it.  He had a cast on his arm from a fracture the week prior, which didn't help matters when none other than Tony Dungy blasted into him and caused a fumble.  Dirt Winston recovered and on the very next play, the Blonde Bomber went right to the end zone where Lynn Swann made one of his patented acrobatic catches to make the score 35-17. 

The third time would be a charm for Dallas, as the Cowboys gained revenge in the 1996 Super Bowl.  The Boys were loaded with superstars Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders.  All of them contributed to the Cowboys' 27-17 win.  But for the first time ever, a cornerback was the game's MVP.  As happy as Dallas' fans were with Larry Brown, they were even happier with Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell.  Not once, but twice, with a close game on the line, O'Donnell threw perfect passes to a surprised Brown who broke the Steelers' back.  Both were long returns inside the Pittsburgh red zone and both resulted in Dallas touchdowns.  Neil O'Donnell would never again wear a Steelers' uniform.  He scurried out of town to the New York Jets in 1996.

It should be noted that the Steelers and Cowboys have one very important legend in common.  The great Ernie Stautner Played for the Steelers from 1950 through 1963.  His playing days as a defensive tackle earned status into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  After he retired, Stautner became an assistant coach for the Cowboys, a position he held for 23 years, from 1966 through 1988.  He was a major factor in the development of Dallas' Doomsday Defense, playing concurrent with the famous Steelers' Steel Curtain.

Another interesting connection is halfback Preston Pearson.  Pearson played for the Steelers from 1970 through 1974.  He was with the team for the Steelers' first Super Bowl ring.  The very next year, 1975, he was traded to Dallas.  Ironically, that year he played against the Steelers in the Super Bowl!  He finished his career with Dallas in 1980.


The last meeting between the two teams was in 2004, in Dallas, when rookie Ben Roethlisberger proved his mettle by bringing Pittsburgh back from a double-digit deficit for a victory.  Since 1960, the Steelers have won 14 times, with Dallas winning 15.  For Pittsburgh fans, this Sunday would be a glorious time to even the all-time series.

Steelers fans don't need me or anyone else to remind them how impressive our defense has been this season, but now with three-quarters of the season in the books, it is interesting to look inside some of the numbers.  The Steelers lead the NFL in the grand slam of all four defensive rankings, most importantly, points-per-game:

1. Steelers ....14.2 ppg
2. Titans.........14.6 ppg
3. NFL Average...22.3 ppg

Remarkably, Pittsburgh has given up 10 points or fewer in half of their 12 games, including the last three in a row and four of the last five games.  What makes Pittsburgh's league-leading scoring defense more impressive is the fact they are disadvantaged by "hidden yards" more so than any other team I suspect, because of horrible punting and self-inflicted penalties.

The Steelers are dead last in the NFL in punting average (39.5), yet rank eighth in opponents' punting average against (43.2).  Using the median between total Steelers' punts (57) and our opponents (66) to arrive at a per-game yardage difference, the Steelers give the opposition 19 yards-per-game in field position.  All of those poor Steelers punts give the opponents a shorter field and yet the defense still gives up the league's fewest points.  In addition, we have been penalized more than our opponents, 695 yards to 672.  That margin is not nearly as dramatic as the punting, but it does add to the hidden yardage that works against the defense.

The Steelers have given up 16 touchdowns this season.  You may recall the first two came in the fourth quarter of the Houston massacre when the first string was texting their families on the sidelines.  Another came against Baltimore when Mitch Berger booted a quarter-pounder to the Steelers 44-yard line.  Of course, Ben gave Rashean Mathis his obligatory pick-six against Jacksonville, and then gave the Colts two early Christmas gifts on the 30-yard line.  This past Sunday, Ben gave New England a 14-yard field to work with on the Vrabel interception.  That leaves a total of nine touchdowns this year (and this includes the Ike Taylor gift to Reggie Wayne) where the opposition drove at least half the field to get into the end zone.  That's less than one per game, or three every four games to be exact.

The Steelers have also given up 18 field goals.  Five of those came from turnovers without the opposition getting a first down (Houston, Philly, New York and Washington twice).  Another five came from turnovers or shanked punts that surrendered the ball on our side of the field (Philly, Baltimore twice, New York and Cincy).  Only eight times have the opposition driven past midfield to score a field goal.  That too is less than one per game, or two every three games to be exact.  Incredibly, only 17 times all season has the opposition crossed the 50-yard line to score any points against Pittsburgh's first-team defense, and half of those have been field goals.

In addition to scoring defense, the Steelers lead the NFL in the yardage hat trick:  rushing yards, passing yards and then of course, total yards:

Rushing Yards Per Game

1.  Steelers........71 
2.  Vikings...........73
3.  NFL Average...114

 Passing Yards Per Game

1. Steelers......166
2. Baltimore....175
3. NFL Average....212

 Total Yards Per Game

1. Steelers.......238
2. Baltimore.....253
3. NFL Average.....327

In rushing, the Steelers have not allowed a 100-yard rusher all season, compared to the NFL average of 114 yards-per-game.  They have not allowed a 300-yard game, despite the NFL average of 327.  Not only are they better than average, they've never allowed average.  In passing defense, this past Sunday, the Patriots caught 19 of Matt Cassel's passes for 169 yards.  The Steelers defense caught two of Cassel's passes for 112 yards.

Put this Man in the Hall of Fame

Yes, anyone who follows the Steelers knows that the defense is playing exceptionally well these days.  The numbers are great without qualification.  Yet when you factor in the horrible punting, penalties (especially so many on third downs that keep drives alive) and costly turnovers that have put the defense on the defensive, these guys and their coaches deserve a great big Steeler Nation salute.

I refuse to call this a "big win," simply because the phrases "big win" and big game" can be used every week (unless you have locked a playoff seed) and are therefore redundant and overused.  However, it is an understatement to say that certain elements of this game can bode very special harbingers of things to come.

While the true impetus for this win came once again from the NFL's finest defense, there is really nothing that General LeBeau and his troops do that surprise us anymore.  We have come to expect their performance, perhaps unfairly so, but they have proven our expectation time and time again.

I am much more excited about the offensive line, which to me is like the Prodigal Son. The offensive line does not deserve our praise more than the defense, but I will give it anyway.  That part of our game strayed and has been much maligned, by none more so than yours truly.  I welcome them back with open arms and shower them with praise.  The line created gaps between the tackles and sealed the edge for our running backs.  The line also made Ben feel like the quarterback he is capable of in passing plays.  Yes, the ball came out of Ben's hands wobbly most of the game, but consider he was throwing in a steady downpour.  More importantly, consider he was throwing while not under duress.

Mind you, none other than Bill Belichick, a four-star general in his own right, was scheming against them.  This was not the Cincinnati Bengals.  Various snippets from Mike Tomlin on occasion suggest he is acutely aware of public opinion by media and fans, perhaps even oversensitive.  Be that as it may, there is evidence that he uses this sensitivity to make his team better.

Picture yourself in the special teams meeting where Tomlin comes in and drills the players over and over how none of "us" believes they can tackle anyone.  Tomlin doesn't tear them down directly.  He uses "us."  Brilliant strategy on his part, and it worked (knock on wood).  Tomlin's next task was the offensive line.  I can just hear him pounding away that "we" don't think they can block.  Tomlin plays the good cop while we are the bad cop.

Why do I think all this?  In the post-game press conference, after a blowout road win against the Great Belichick, Tomlin gave a telling anser to an innocent question:  "How would you assess your running game tonight?"  Tomlin's answer was that his assessment didn't matter since "You guys are just going to write that we can't run the ball anyway."  Very interesting response.  Perhaps some of you feel like Tomlin is too sensitive and that professional athletes should not need psychology or motivation.  I beg to differ.  Professional athletes are not robots.  They are human beings like you and I.  Believe it or not, the Pittsburgh Steelers feel the weight of Steeler Nation.  Any means of motivation that Tomlin uses is OK in my book.

We talked before about improving in increments.  Just give me one more inch this week.  We clearly saw that inch against San Diego, despite the quirk of not getting the ball into the end zone.  The Bengals are still the Bengals, so that inch may not have been celebrated, but it is undeniable that we saw another couple inches Sunday in Foxboro.

While the future, of course, is completely unknown, I don't think there is a single one of us who doesn't believe that much of our hopes hinge upon that O-line giving us one more inch each week we take the field.  That is not to suggest that we don't have other work.  Dropped passes and senseless penalties are sure tokens on the train to disaster.  They need to be corrected, to be sure.  In the meantime, I have just one message for our Prodigal Son, though admittedly much easier said than done.  Dallas is coming to town.  One more inch, baby, just one more inch.