Steelers football blog

Steelers on the wrong side of door vs. New England

It might seem strange to mention Bum Phillips one week before his son Wade leads his Dallas Cowboys to Heinz Field for one of the better interconference matchups of the season.

Phillips coached that other team in Texas, the old Houston Oilers, a generation ago, when it was among the best teams in the NFL. Problem was, the Oilers lived in the same division and conference as one of the best teams in pro football history, the 1970s Steelers.

After the Oilers lost two consecutive AFC championship games in Three Rivers Stadium after the 1978 and 1979 seasons -- ones in which the third and fourth Lombardi Trophies would ultimately be delivered to Pittsburgh -- Phillips made a promise.

"One year ago, we knocked on the door," the Oilers' coach said before the 1980 season. "This year, we beat on the door. Next year, we're going to kick the S.O.B. in." Continue

Steelers have a Cassel to storm

One of the most improbable success stories in the NFL is not without irony.Matt Cassel had never been in the right place at the right time, and that appeared destined to go down as an epitaph for his career.

Then Tom Brady, who hadn't missed a game since becoming a starter in 2001, suffered a season-ending knee injury. That the New England Patriots did not go down with Brady is in large part due to the player who had not started a game at quarterback since high school prior to September. If Cassel, who will lead the 7-4 Patriots against the 8-3 Steelers Sunday, has not replaced Brady, he has at least done a pretty fair imitation of the NFL's reigning MVP. Continue

Parker back to practice

Willie Parker returned to practice Thursday, and the Pro Bowl running back is hopeful that he will be able to play Sunday when the Steelers visit the New England Patriots. Parker, who aggravated an injury to his left knee in last week's 27-10 win over the Bengals, did not appear to be limited as he took part in a practice that lasted more than two hours at the team's South Side facility.

"I was real pleased," Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said. "He cut pretty good, so we'll keep our fingers crossed." Continue

Ward gathers no moss at WR

The veteran receiver will take the field in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, still a threat, still productive, still one of the best at his position in the NFL in his 11th season.

Randy Moss of the New England Patriots? Yes, him, too. But, for all the reputation Moss has had as a game-breaking, big-play wide receiver, fellow 1998 draft-class member Hines Ward can stand toe to toe with him this season, even if he is four inches shorter.At 32, Ward is on pace for his best season since 2003, his first 1,000-yard season since 2004 and virtually matching the faster, taller Moss statistically. Continue

Steelers face daunting schedule

Looks like the NFL's most difficult schedule is about to become even more challenging.

At 8-3, the Steelers lead Baltimore by a game in the AFC North and have positioned themselves as a top playoff contender. However, given the dynamics of head-to-head matchups and tiebreakers, the next four weeks could determine the Steelers' playoff position -- or if they even will advance to the postseason for the second consecutive year under coach Mike Tomlin.

Starting with Sunday's game at New England, the Steelers will face their toughest stretch of games under Tomlin. Continue

Farrior still playing at elite level

Steelers defensive captain James Farrior didn't even bother knocking on wood for good luck.

Farrior made his 11th start of the 2008 season, and his 54th consecutive start (including the playoffs) in Thursday night's 27-10 win against the Cincinnati Bengals.

"My body feels good," Farrior said. "I feel good mentally. I'm just ready to keep playing football.''

Since 2007, Farrior, fellow linebackers James Harrison and Larry Foote, cornerback Ike Taylor and tackle Willie Colon are the only starters who haven't been sidelined because of injury or illness. Continue

Steelers bring back Berger to punt

The Steelers have decided to bring back punter Mitch Berger as a replacement for Paul Ernster -- the second time this season Ernster has been waived in favor of Berger.

Coach Mike Tomlin said he needed to address the position after Ernster punted five times for a 28.5-yard average in the team's last game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Berger appeared in eight games for the Steelers this season, averaging 41.9 yards per punt, but he was released Nov. 5 because of hamstring problems in both legs. Ernster, who was with the team in training camp, was re-signed as his replacement. Continue

Steelers assistant head coach a pioneer on and off the field

He sat in a chair, just as one of the great statesmen of the 20th century had done before a speech that offers a glimpse into why the Steelers' defense is as leak-proof as they come, and he seemed just as comfortable talking about the fine arts as he did about football.

John Mitchell may be the caretaker of a defensive line that has been impenetrable but to label him a coach is to say the Steelers are just a football team. Continue

Steelers have no problem with WR hit

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said he didn't have a problem with the hit that knocked Santonio Holmes out of Thursday night's game with a concussion.

Cincinnati Bengals safety Chris Crocker drilled Holmes after the Steelers' wide receiver caught a 6-yard pass from Roethlisberger on a slant pattern. Holmes held onto the ball but staggered after getting up, and the Steelers held him out of the rest of the game."I don't think it was dirty," Roethlisberger said after the Steelers' 27-10 win. "It was a good, solid hit. I told (my teammates) not to retaliate on him." Continue

Roethlisberger, Steelers overcome wintry conditions to solidify AFC North lead

The Steelers and Cincinnati played last night as if they had little rest between games, and then the Bengals did what the Bengals do, they went to sleep.It was cold, windy and snowy at Heinz Field, where the sloppy play of both teams added to the mix before the Steelers prevailed, 27-10.

The victory nevertheless boosted the Steelers' record to 8-3 in first place in the AFC North Division while the Bengals stumbled to 1-9-1, the worst record in the conference."Being 8-3 in the next few days is nice," said defensive end Aaron Smith, who came through with three batted passes and another dominating performance. "Coming off a short week is hard." Continue