Ed Bouchette: Don't Count Steelers Out

BGI Analysis: Don't count Steelers out
Pittsburgh has its own defensive 'genius' in LeBeau
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Is it me, or does it seem that anyone with an opinion is picking the New England Patriots to win on Sunday night?

It's as if the Steelers' 15-1 season was wiped out by their overtime victory against the New York Jets. It's as if the Steelers are dead men walking because they should have been eliminated by Doug Brien, gunned down from either 47 or 43 yards, take your pick.

I've already pointed out that the Patriots of 2001 were similarly fortunate to survive their divisional playoff at home by the "tuck" rule, and then went on to win their first Super Bowl.

New England may very well come to Pittsburgh and leave with its third Super Bowl ticket in four years. The Patriots are a tough team, physically and mentally, with an outstanding head coach. But that 15-1 record by the other team in this game wasn't built on newspaper clippings.

There's also the accepted theory that master chef Bill Belichick will cook up all kinds of trouble for quarterback Ben Roethlsiberger. That the swirling Patriots defense will devour the rookie and spit him out as Little Ben.

Perhaps. But where was that defense on Halloween? Why didn't they confuse Roethlsiberger then? Were they saving all of their tactics for when they would meet again in the AFC championship game? It was Roethlisberger and the Steelers, offense and defense, that had the Patriots for lunch that day. The Steelers rushed for 221 yards against New England.

Roethlisberger, making only his fifth NFL start, completed 18 of 24 passes for 196 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and he was not sacked.

Did New England not try hard that day? OK, Corey Dillon was hurt. Gee, the Steelers haven't had any injuries this season. The theory is that with Dillon, the Patriots are a much better offense and I don't disagree. But had they had Dillon that day, it would have made little difference because the Patriots fell behind so far so quickly they abandoned any thoughts of running the ball.

It wasn't the rookie quarterback who was consumed by a defense that day, it was New England's two-time Super Bowl MVP, Tom Brady.

Trailing 3-0, Roethlisberger threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress. Then Joey Porter sacked Brady, forcing a fumble that Kimo von Oelhoffen recovered. Five plays later, Roethlhisberger found Burress for his second touchdown pass.

Next play, Deshea Townsend intercepted Brady and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown. The first quarter was over and the Patriots' heads were spinning in a 21-3 hole. They didn't know what hit them.

Yes, that was 2 1/2 months ago. But the Steelers haven't lost since then. They got lucky last week, but not because anyone picked apart their defense. Someone will come away from Sunday night's game carrying the genius label, and don't be surprised if his name is Dick LeBeau.