Ben, Offense Still Trying To Sync
PITTSBURGH (AP) — One touchdown in the last six quarters. One game with more than 28 points this season.
For most of this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense has looked ready to make another deep run into the playoffs. The offense hasn't, not even after Ben Roethlisberger returned from a four-game suspension to throw three touchdown passes against Cleveland on Oct. 17.
The Steelers' 20-10 loss to New Orleans on Sunday showed there's considerable work left if their offense is to look Super Bowl-worthy, despite Pittsburgh's 5-2 record. The running game is inconsistent, there are timing issues between Roethlisberger and the receiving corps and the offensive line is showing some leaks again.
Not that all the worries are limited to the offense. Just like last season, the Steelers' 24th-ranked secondary is starting to give up big yardage in the second half - a concern with New England, Baltimore and, yes, resurgent Oakland upcoming on the schedule in the next month.
Roethlisberger made it look easy by throwing for 257 yards while not being sacked against Cleveland. There have been some rough spots since then, a possible sign that Roethlisberger might be behind in his timing after sitting out a month. Against New Orleans, he was 17 of 28 for 195 yards and a 66.8 passer rating.
The offense produced a single touchdown drive in New Orleans, when some often predictable play-calling on first down repeatedly left the Steelers in unfavorable situations on second down.
Roethlisberger, sacked three times while being hit repeatedly, also had a succession of passes that were underthrown or weren't in the vicinity of the intended receiver - either because the throw was imprecise or the route wasn't run correctly.
"You can't make excuses. We have to play better," Roethlisberger said. "We never got into any rhythm. This is definitely a gut check for us. We got knocked down a little bit and now it will be interesting to see how we will bounce back."
They'll have an extra day to do it, as they don't play division rival Cincinnati (2-5) until next Monday. The Bengals, last season's AFC North champions, are stuck in a four-game losing streak.
After losing in New Orleans, the Steelers probably are thankful for what even they acknowledged was a lucky victory at Miami.
The Steelers were limited to two field goals during the second half of that 23-22 win on Oct. 24, one made possible when an official's errant call on a Roethlisberger touchdown run that wasn't, allowed them to kick what proved to be the decisive field goal with 2:26 remaining.
Take away that favorable call, and the Steelers likely would be looking up at Baltimore in the AFC North standings rather than being tied with the Ravens (5-2).
Still, the offense's struggles can't be blamed entirely on Roethlisberger's layoff, or the time he's needed to get his game legs back. While the defense leads the league in fewest points and rushing yards allowed, the offense is much closer to the bottom of the league than the top.
The Steelers are No. 27 in total offense, No. 29 in passing yardage and No. 20 in points after scoring 19 or fewer four times. The only breakout game was the 38-13 victory at Tampa Bay on Sept. 26, when Charlie Batch threw three touchdown passes.
While Rashard Mendenhall is No. 8 in rushing with an 86.1 yards per game average, the Steelers were turned away late in the second half during a key goal-line stand by New Orleans that started inside the 1-yard line. Isaac Redman lost a yard on first down and Mendenhall gained a single yard on the next two carries, forcing Pittsburgh to settle for a field goal.
"We've got to learn from this, and I'm sure we will," coach Mike Tomlin said.
The offense also hurt itself when, while driving for what would have been the go-ahead score during the fourth quarter, tight end Heath Miller fumbled at the Saints' 34 following a 25-yard completion. Miller might be the most mistake-free player on offense - his teammates say so - but the Steelers never got their momentum back after a fumble that Roethlisberger termed "freaky."
"There's no need to panic," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "We have a terrific football team. This is just one loss and we have to prepare now for Cincinnati."
