TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, January 5, 2008
They may have limped to the finish, but at least the Steelers made the playoffs. By doing so, they've come full circle in the transition from Bill Cowher to Mike Tomlin.
The Steelers reached the postseason in 1992 -- Cowher's initial season at the helm -- and nine times in the 14 seasons that followed.
The Cowher-era Steelers will always be remembered for Super Bowl XL, but they really distinguished themselves by bringing playoff football to the North Shore on a regular basis.
Only one team can win the Super Bowl, but even while failing to do so 14 times in Cowher's 15 campaigns, the Steelers hosted a playoff game on a remarkable 13 occasions.
They were at home in the postseason more times than any other team from 1992-2006 (at 11, San Francisco was second).
They're home again tonight, most likely for the final time this season and for the final time as we've come to know the recent bunch.
Two years ago, they were champions.
Last season, they were also-rans with an asterisk.
They entered this season with a championship core still intact, and hoping to recapture the magic, while, this time, avoiding such unforeseen developments as an emergency appendectomy and a motorcycle accident.
Ben Roethlisberger did his part -- remaining upright despite being forced to the ground 47 times -- but as the season played out, it became apparent these Steelers were a lot further removed from the Super Bowl than initially anticipated.
They're not a bad team; they're better than average, actually.
But their season is most likely destined to end soon, either tonight against a Jaguars, team that's beaten them once already at Heinz Field, or the following weekend in New England.
Once it does, that championship core will continue to dissipate and the Steelers will become that much less recognizable in relation to their championship predecessors.
By the time this season began, the likes of Kimo von Oelhoffen, Joey Porter, Chris Hope, Jeff Hartings, Antwaan Randle El, Jerome Bettis and Chris Gardocki had moved on down the road.
Once this one concludes, it's likely that Super Bowl XL-holdovers Dan Kreider, Alan Faneca, Max Starks and Clark Haggans will have played their final downs with the Steelers.
And before the 2008 campaign commences, Hines Ward will turn 32, Deshea Townsend will be on the verge of turning 33 and James Farrior will be 33 (that happens tomorrow).
And Marvel Smith will have to have established that he's made it back from back surgery.
The team is aging.
And the times, they are a changing.
That's why nights such as tonight ought to be embraced by Steeler Nation.
Home playoff games used to be taken for granted in these parts, and four of the five staged between 1992-2006 that decided the AFC championship aren't remembered fondly.
But they haven't played one of these since Jan. 23, 2005, and it might be some time before they play another one.
As Cowher used to say, "seize the moment."
As the Steelers rebuild, retool and re-invent themselves under Tomlin, they may take a step or two back before moving forward no matter what happens against Jacksonville.
They'll always have Super Bowl XL, but tonight might well be the previous incarnation's last hurrah.
Mike Prisuta is a columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He can be reached at mprisuta@tribweb.com or 412-320-7923.
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