Are You Ready To Hit The Panic Button?

Steelers don't want to dig out of deep hole in AFC North again
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Their flat-screens filled with their next opponent as the Steelers yesterday began preparations for their game in San Diego. Players and coaches flipped on the game tape of the San Diego Chargers from Sunday, yet they could not help avoid the other team on their big screens.
The Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens, who have been the Steelers' most-heated rivals for almost a decade, look as if they are over the hard times that left them 6-10 last season, their second in a row out of the playoffs. Baltimore beat San Diego, 16-13, and has shot to the top of the AFC North with a 4-0 record, 21/2 games ahead of the 1-2 defending Super Bowl champions.
"They're off to a great start," said defensive end Brett Keisel. "Everyone wants to start 4-0."
The good news from Sunday for the Steelers is that two teams are not 4-0 in their division; Cincinnati slipped to 3-1 after losing to New England at home. But as they head to San Diego, the Steelers know that they cannot let things get away from them early as they try to defend their NFL title.
"I feel like we have more of a sense of urgency because we're 1-2 and Baltimore's winning," linebacker James Farrior said. "Cincinnati lost, but they already beat us. It's not time to push the panic button, but we have to pick it up. We don't want to try to dig ourselves out of a hole this time."
The Steelers returned to work after three days off on their off weekend and found themselves not only in third place but only half a game ahead of the Cleveland Browns, who have finished last in the North Division the past three years.
"It's going to be tough to win this division," Farrior said. "You have three solid teams, and Cleveland's no slouch."
Receiver Hines Ward denied a comment attributed to him in the recent Sports Illustrated that he was reported to have said the day before the Steelers played Cincinnati Sept. 24:
"You don't want to overemphasize one early game. But let's face it -- if you get two games behind two teams, you're probably not going to win the division and you're going to be fighting to make the playoffs."
Said Ward: "I didn't say that. It's too early. It's not a must-win situation."
Coach Bill Cowher talked to his players about that subject yesterday. He told them not to concern themselves with what Baltimore, Cincinnati or other teams do, but to take care of their own business.
"We just have to take it one game at a time and find out what's our problem and how can we get on a streak to win and not really worry about Baltimore or Cincinnati," Ward said. "What they do has no control over us. Until we rectify what we've got going on, find a way to get ourselves better, it doesn't matter what they do or not."
The Steelers kicked off the entire NFL schedule with a resounding, 28-17 victory at home against what supposedly were the resurgent Miami Dolphins. But the Dolphins have started 1-3, and the Steelers have lost their past two games. Not only could they not score in Jacksonville, but they barely crossed the 50 just once in a 9-0 loss. Cowher and some of his players credited the Jaguars' defense for stopping them, particularly holding them to a Cowher-era low 20 yards rushing. Sunday, that Jaguars defense allowed 481 yards, including 152 rushing, by Washington in the Redskins' 36-30 victory.
Finally, the Steelers blew several leads and, though they out-gained the Bengals at home, lost, 28-20, Sept. 24. New England, playing with Steelers reject cornerbacks Chad Scott and Hank Poteat, won in Cincinnati Sunday, 38-13.
The Steelers have two games against Baltimore and one left against Cincinnati so, in essence, they still have things under their control. They just don't want to lose control so early that they have to worry about teams losing in the second half of the season.
"It's early in our season," linebacker Larry Foote said. "We have two losses, our destiny's in our hands, no matter what anybody else does. Last year, we had two teams from the division in the playoffs. If we handle our business, we control it."

(Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3878. )