Pittsburgh Steelers: Special Problems, Offensive Offense Doom Steelers

There are three phases to every football game.

Sunday, the Steelers failed miserably in two of those phases and wore down in the third phase. That added up to an 18-12 loss to division-leading Cincinnati. 

It wasn't just that the Steelers lost.

It was that they were beaten by a team that was playing their game, at their stadium, better than they were.

Cincinnati physically beat the Steelers on Sunday. There were no high offensive totals for Carson Palmer or Chad Ochocinco. There was no big day from Cedric Benson. 

There was (another) long kick return for a touchdown and a suffocating defensive effort that tallied a turnover, four sacks, and an amazing ten passes defensed. 

That, plus a usually dominant running game, is how the Steelers have destroyed teams for the better part of the last half century.

Let's break down what we found out Sunday.

Offense

The Steelers gaudy offensive statistics were bound to start falling back to Earth. Falling would have been normal. Crashing down like the aircraft carrier in 2012 ? That wasn't something anyone saw coming.

The Steelers failed to move the ball offensively, having an offensive day that was the worst in nearly a decade by this unit.

Ben Roethlisberger, usually accurate, threw high, wide, short, and low of his receivers when they managed to get open, completing 20 of his 40 attempts for 174 yards and an interception.

The rushing attack, keyed lately by an emergent Rashard Mendenhall, managed only 80 yards. Mendenhall managed only 36 on 13 carries.

The receivers couldn't get open. 

When they did and the ball came to them, they couldn't hang on. Usually steady Mike Wallace struggled. Hines Ward was often the victim of blanket coverage. Santonio Holmes had the best day with seven catches and 88 yards, but even his performance was lackluster.

Of all the offensive components, it was the offensive line, however, that shocked me the most. Steady and even spectacular since the opening game against Tennessee, the Steelers' line looked lost and out of sync. 

Roethlisberger was sacked four times and was regularly stuck in a collapsing pocket. The four sacks tied a season high for the Steelers offense (the other four sack game was by the Titans).

Overall, the offense was just offensive.

Defense

Troy Polamalu is hurt. Again.

Still, the Steelers defense played well. Dick LeBeau's usual goal is to allow less than 17 points defensively. He achieved it Sunday. The defense allowed four field goals (12 points) on Sunday. One of those came after a Roethlisberger interception which gave the Bengals the ball already in range. 

So let's say they legitimately gave up nine points.

That's a pretty good day.

And it would have been great had the Steelers won.

But the defense did have a letdown. It was on the Bengal's final scoring drive, late in the fourth.

At that point, the Bengals led 15-12. They were starting relatively deep in their own end.

Then it happened. A few cracks for Bernard Scott to run through, a bad personal foul against James Harrison, and another field goal later, the Bengals suddenly put the Steelers firmly against the wall.

The defense can't be blamed, however. One bad (and not really bad) drive doesn't make a whole game.

Carson Palmer was held to pedestrian totals (18 of 30, 178 yards) and was sacked twice. Cedric Benson wasn't a factor before getting hurt (33 yards on 13 carries) and Bernard Scott wasn't a factor after (22 yards on seven carries). Chad Ochocinco was also missing from the highlight reel, recording only two catches for 29 yards.

The Steelers didn't allow a touchdown by the Bengals offense. The shortest field goal (throwing out the 23 yard boot after the turnover) was 32 yards. The defense was, in every respect, very much on their game.

Do I nitpick and say they should have tried to pressure more? I could. But then I'd just be nitpicking when there's something more important to dissect.

Special Teams

Let's start with the good.

Jeff Reed and Daniel Sepulveda were weapons on Sunday. Reed kicked four field goals and was his usual steady self. Sepulveda had five punts, all excellent, including a 55 yard boot.

Here's the lackluster.

Stefan Logan was pedestrian. His speed pays off on occasion, but the Bengals wrapped him up for the most part. He did have a 30 yard kickoff return and a 25-yard punt return, both good. Like the defense, he can't be blamed for the loss.

Now let's look at the bad.

The coverage teams were poor once again. For the third time in four games, the Steelers allowed a return for a touchdown.

For the third time in four games, the touchdown occurred after several players missed tackles.

For the third time in four games, the touchdown completely robbed the Steelers of momentum.

For the first time, however, it cost them the game.

The Steelers lost by six points. Those six points were achieved when Bernard Scott, a rookie, ran 96 yards on a Jeff Reed kickoff.

Reed couldn't even slow Scott down, but no kicker should be making tackles. Blaming Reed for the return is like blaming a fire on the match that started it. The real culprits get overlooked.

This, as they say, is getting old.

The Big Picture and What Can Be Done About It

The offensive flameout could and probably is a blip on the radar and due more to a stellar game by the Bengals' defense than anything. The offense should experience a revival against the Chiefs this weekend.

Ben Roethlisberger must be more accurate with his throws. He had a rare off day which, again, is more likely the exception rather than the rule.

Along the line, the Steelers have to commit fewer mental mistakes. Chris Kemoeatu must continue to improve but also to play within himself. Willie Colon is still a liability, but was joined mysteriously by Max Starks on the turnstile list this week.

The running game will go as the line goes. The Bengals are a punishing defensive front. I didn't expect the running game to put up almost 200 yards again, but I did expect a more complete effort, particularly from Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall looked tired Sunday.

The defense will be tested, as Troy Polamalu is expected to miss at least one game and possibly more after re-injuring his balky left knee. But the defense was relatively good without Polamalu on Sunday.

They should be able to weather that storm.

As I've said before, one player cannot define a unit, let alone a team, unless it's a quarterback. Ten other players on the defense need to step up. They all have proved before that they are capable of such success.

The coverage units?

That's a problem. With a capital "P" that rhymes with "T" which stands for trouble.

Arnold Harrison was cut earlier today, the first casualty of what has become a dismal unit. He'll be replaced by Donovan Woods. Time will tell if Woods is an upgrade or not.

The veteran starters are speaking out, saying that the young players on the coverage teams need to want it more and that they would be willing to step in for anyone who isn't ready to cover kicks or punts.

Now, before people start saying "divisive locker room" and other things, don't misread the intent of the Steelers' veterans. This is leadership. The veterans are standing up and taking charge, just as Mike Tomlin expects them to do.

Tomlin needs to step in too, along with his special teams coaches, and get these coverage units on track before they allow another back-breaking, embarrassing touchdown that costs Pittsburgh a game.

What's Next?

Well, to put it in simple terms, a bad Kansas City team.

But to be a little bit more specific: a trap game.

Kansas City will be desperate to win at home against the reigning champions. Think about how big a boost that would be.

The Steelers better arrive equally desperate. If they are to still win the AFC North, it is very likely they will have to win their remaining seven contests, all against teams with worse records than theirs.

It starts Sunday with the Chiefs.

My Guess

I'm not going to be bold an predict that the Steelers blow away Kansas City. I'm sure the line will give them a wide berth, but the Steelers routinely pander to their competition, so it's safer to predict a closer contest.

I'm going to say the Steelers still win handily, 28-9, and get themselves back on a winning track.