By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jimmy Clausen (2) is sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers' Nick Eason (93) and Ziggy Hood (96) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010. The Steelers won 27-3. (AP)Surely, there have been bigger mismatches in Steelers history than their defense against the Carolina Panthers offense Thursday night at Heinz Field.
I'll be darned if I can think of one.
The two teams could play until next Christmas Eve and the Panthers wouldn't score a touchdown.
The Steelers didn't even need safety Troy Polamalu to win, 27-3, at cold, damp Heinz Field. The only points the defense allowed came after the Panthers took possession at the Steelers 23 after a fourth-quarter punt. The defense deserved a shutout.
"If only our special teams had helped us out just a little bit ... " linebacker James Farrior said, grinning.
Not that anyone would have bragged all that much about a shutout.
"They were 2-12 for a reason," safety Ryan Clark said of the Panthers.
A couple of reasons, actually.
Carolina's offense ranks last in the NFL in points scored, passing yards and total yards. Its rookie quarterback is -- how can I say this politely -- pathetic. Jimmy Clausen wasn't very good at Notre Dame.
Not to be critical.
"A rookie quarterback against coach LeBeau? That's not a matchup at all," Clark said of Clausen trying to solve Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's defense.
The Panthers' only chance was to run the football. I didn't say it was a big chance; the Steelers rank No. 1 in the league against the rush. But it was their only chance.
Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart had a couple of nice runs early for 12 and 7 yards. That helped Carolina keep the ball on the game's opening drive for more than seven minutes. But the Panthers self-destructed, as they so often do, taking consecutive false-start penalties on the Steelers 35 and 40. They ended up punting from the 32.
The Steelers took a 3-0 lead on their first drive.
I swear, it felt like the game was over.
PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 23: James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers pumps up the crowd during the game against the Carolina Panthers on December 23, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)The Panthers did make it to the Steelers 29 on their next possession before they were turned away by the ageless Farrior. OK, he'll be 36 Jan. 6. But he's playing like he's 26. On third-and-2, running back Mike Goodson took the snap in the Panthers' version of the wildcat and was thrown for a 3-yard loss by Farrior. On fourth-and-5, Clausen was sacked for a 4-yard loss by Farrior.
"Not bad for an old guy," Farrior said, grinning again.
Funny thing is Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had talked before the game about the Panthers being the younger team and having an advantage in a short week. He made it clear afterward that he wouldn't trade Farrior for any of Carolina's young guys.
"He's the unquestioned leader of our football team," Tomlin said. "He does it all for us -- inside the white lines and outside the white lines. He's a professional. He's a competitor. He's a leader and they follow."
Not long after Farrior shut down the Panthers' second drive, the Steelers took a 10-0 lead.
Now the game really was over.
Let me count the ways Clausen was tormented:
Cornerback Bryant McFadden intercepted one of his passes.
Farrior, linebacker James Harrison and defensive ends Brett Keisel and Ziggy Hood sacked him.
The defense held him to 10 completions in 23 attempts for 72 yards.
It sent him home with a 33.2 passer rating.
It held his offense to 119 yards.
Merry Christmas!
Make no mistake, it will be a great holiday for the Steelers. They get the weekend off to spend with their families. They might even find a little time Sunday to watch some football and root for the Cleveland Browns to beat the Baltimore Ravens on the Lake Erie shore. That would clinch the AFC North Division championship for the Steelers and assure them of the No. 2 seed for the AFC playoffs.
"That would be huge," nose tackle Casey Hampton said. "It gets you one step closer to the Super Bowl. You only have to win two games to get there, not three."
A Browns win against the Ravens would be nice, but the Steelers probably shouldn't count on it. The division race figures to come down to their game Jan. 2 in Cleveland. Win it and they accomplish all of their regular-season goals.
By then, Polamalu's calf injury might be well enough for him to play.
I'm thinking the Steelers will need him.
This I know:
The Browns will put up much more of a fight than the Panthers.
Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com. Ron Cook can be heard on the "Vinnie and Cook" show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.
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