Forget about records. Forget about prestige. And forget about the Tennessee Titans.
The Pittsburgh Steelers look like the best team in the AFC and quite possibly in the entire league after their resounding 33-10 spanking of the New England Patriots on Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. Even though it was probably the most impressive victory of their season, it is the way the Steelers have been consistently smashing the rest of the conference that makes them a prime favorite to reach the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay come February.
So how have the Steelers managed to become so dominant at the right time in the season? Through the perfect amalgamation of a talent-heavy and smash-mouth running game with a defense whose destruction capability mirrors that of a magnitude 10 earthquake. With a 9-3 record, the Steelers hold the second best mark in the conference, trailing only the 11-1 Titans and their cupcake schedule.
The game versus the Patriots marked the sixth time this season that the Pittsburgh defense has held its opponent to 10 points or fewer. Once more, the unit has not given up more than 24 points all year.
On Sunday, the Steelers took the field at Gillette Stadium leading the NFL's total scoring, rushing and passing defense, and they forced up-and-coming quarterback Matt Cassel into tossing two interceptions and coughing up the ball twice more. The manner in which they relentlessly battered Cassel was impressive and a served as a definitive notice to the rest of the league.
Linebacker James Harrison, a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, burst past the Patriot line twice for sacks that resulted in fumbles recovered by the Steelers, one of which was recovered by LaMarr Woodley. Woodley and Harrison have teamed up to form the most prolific sack tandem in a Pittsburgh history littered with defensive stars, combining to record 25.5 so far this year.
The defense's ability to clamp down in the clutch will likely make the Steelers extremely dangerous down the stretch, even as they enter the toughest part of their schedule. New England converted only once on 13 third downs, that sole blip coming on a third-and-inches sneak by Cassel.
On the offensive end, a large portion of Pittsburgh's success has come courtesy its running game, headed by Willie Parker and journeyman Mewelde Moore. The duo has combined for over 1,200 total yards and 10 touchdowns while surrendering only one turnover.
Both are averaging over 4.0 yards per carry, but it was their ability to grind out the tough yards against the Patriots which makes the Steelers so dangerous on the ground. The focus on the run is a staple of Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin's offense, especially since a heavy pass game tends to lead to unproductive results for his team: The two games this year when the Steelers' leading receiver had over 100 yards resulted in a loss and a one-point win on a field goal with 11 seconds left.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's play this year has revolved around one concept: leadership. Roethlisberger is 17th in the league in passing yards, 11th in touchdowns and 23rd in quarterback rating. But he has only thrown the ball 139 fewer times than league leader Kurt Warner, a testament to the fact that Tomlin expects him to direct the offense and make the big play when necessary.
Thus far, Roethlisberger has excelled in that role, driving Pittsburgh down the field to score just enough points, enabling the defense to take care of the rest. His tendency to turn the ball over, however, has proved costly in the past this year.
The three blemishes on the Steelers' record have come as a result of inefficient play on the part of their stars, which are seemingly more like miniscule glitches than indications of consistent poor performance. A Week 3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was a direct result of Roethlisberger's bandaged hand and a combined 33 rushing yards. A seven-point loss to the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants on Oct. 26 and a four-point defeat to the Indianapolis Colts two weeks later were results of Roethlisberger blunders, as he combined for seven picks in the two contests.
With a playoff spot all but wrapped up, the Steelers will have to make power through the gauntlet in their next four weeks in order to secure home field advantage for at least the first round. On tap for Pittsburgh in the next three weeks are the Dallas Cowboys (8-4), the division rival Baltimore Ravens (8-4) and the Titans. The decisive win over the Patriots will probably lose some of its shine if Pittsburgh cannot take care of business against some of the league's best.
