By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Peter Diana / Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
It's January. It's Pittsburgh. It's playoff football. That means run, run and run some more.
Or does it?
The Steelers' running offense again ranked among the best in the National Football League at No. 3. Since the NFL merged with the AFL in 1970, no team has come close to running as often with as much success as the Steelers. The Steelers have 82,217 rushing yards since the NFL merger. Dallas is next with 77,061.
Therefore, don't be surprised Saturday night if the Steelers come out throwing, putting their fate against Jacksonville on the right arm of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
"It would be nice," Roethlisberger said. "We'll see what happens."
The Steelers might have little choice. Willie Parker, leading the NFL in rushing after 14 games, is not an option after breaking his leg in the 15th game of the season at St. Louis. Parker helped spur a Steelers comeback Dec. 16 against Jacksonville with runs of 13 and 27 yards on an 84-yard drive that tied the score, 22-22, in the fourth quarter.
Najeh Davenport replaced the injured Parker in St. Louis and ran for 123 yards. In Baltimore last week, though, Davenport managed only 27 yards on 12 carries.
Roethlisberger and his passing game could be the answer for what ails the Steelers on the ground.
"I think he's proven he's capable of doing that," guard Alan Faneca said. "There's no problem with doing that from the way he's performed and what he's shown he's capable of doing."
For reference, there is 2005, when the Steelers were fifth in the NFL running and 24th passing. They played at Indianapolis in the second round of the playoffs, and it was virtually assumed they would run the ball to try to keep it away from Peyton Manning.
Roethlisberger opened the game by completing six of seven passes in a 10-play drive that staked the Steelers to a 7-0 lead. His second touchdown pass of the first quarter put them ahead, 14-0, on the way to a stunning 21-18 victory.
They took a similar approach the following week in the AFC title game in Denver. Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes in the first half as part of 17 pass attempts and one sack and just 13 runs by Parker and Jerome Bettis. The Steelers led, 24-3, at halftime on the way to a 34-17 victory.
There's a track record, and this time Roethlisberger has two more years of experience and had a better overall season. For the record, their passing game ranked 22nd this season, mainly because they did not throw it much.
"Everybody looks at the Pittsburgh Steelers as a running, physical, hard-nosed team," receiver Nate Washington said. "Of course, people are going to look at us and think we're going to run the ball all the time. They fail to realize we have plenty of great receivers on this team that can get the job done."
Washington enters the game on a positive note, having caught three of his five touchdown receptions the past three games. Hines Ward is rested and healthy and has been as big a big-game player as they've had the past 20 years. Santonio Holmes led the team with eight touchdown catches, and his 18.1-yard average per catch is the best in the NFL among the top 50 yardage leaders.
Roethlisberger had problems as a rookie in his first two playoff games, at home against the Jets and Patriots in 2005. He's 4-0 in the postseason since then, and he was the major reason the Steelers reached Super Bowl XL. He's their best hope of getting past Jacksonville.
"I definitely think it helps him out having that experience of going through the good and bad times," Ward said. "He's definitely grown from it and, hopefully, he can go out there and continue to play well and lead us to a win."
Heath Miller did not see the rookie Roethlisberger but he's seen him grow the past three seasons.
"I feel like he's more confident," Miller said. "He knows this is his show and he's running it, and the guys in this locker room know it's his show."
It's showtime again.
Ed Bouchette and Gerry Dulac provide their weekly video installment of "Steelers Report" as Saturday's playoff game nears, only at www.post-gazette.com
First published on January 3, 2008 at 12:00 am
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