Steelers' defense remains stout in defeat

By Mike Prisuta
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Monday, October 27, 2008

PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 26: Derrick Ward #34 of the New York Giants is tackled by Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 26, 2008 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Giants won 21-14. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

It's still October, but this one felt like the postseason.

The Steelers' defense responded with a playoff-worthy performance, legitimizing its No. 1 overall ranking against the NFL's No. 2 offense and No. 1 rushing attack.

The one touchdown the Steelers allowed turned out to be one too many in a 21-14 loss to the defending-champion New York Giants at Heinz Field.

That one TD the Steelers surrendered occurred on the visitor's sixth trip inside the Steelers' red zone.

In the first half, Giants possessions achieved first downs at the Steelers' 9-, 2-, 19- and 15-yard lines.

The Giants came away with all of nine points.

The highlight for the Steelers was a fourth-and-inches stuffing of monster back Brandon Jacobs early in the second quarter. It was a play that was necessitated by a replay challenge from coach Mike Tomlin that overturned a touchdown call on third down, and one that wasn't confirmed until a challenge from Giants coach Tom Coughlin upheld the fourth-down call on the field.

That's how competitive it gets when teams with 5-1 records meet.

Jacobs, all 6-foot-4, 264 pounds of him, followed fullback Madison Hedgecock and tight end Michael Matthews, who had motioned into the middle, up the gut from a formation that included third offensive tackle/tight end Kevin Boothe.

Jacobs went nowhere.

PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 26: Brandon Jacobs #27 of the New York Giants is tackled by LaMarr Woodley #56 of the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 26, 2008 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Safety Ryan Clark was the first to arrive, and defensive ends Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel each received credit for half a tackle at the bottom of a mass of humanity that somehow held the line.

The Giants remained behind, 7-3.

In the fourth quarter, now trailing 14-9, the Giants secured another first-and-goal, this time from the Steelers' 4.

After Keisel stopped running back Derrick Ward for a loss of 2 yards on first down, the Giants gave up on running it in entirely.

Two incomplete passes later, they kicked their fourth field goal.

The Giants' final trip inside the 20 finally reached the end zone when quarterback Eli Manning found open tight end Kevin Boss on second-and-goal from the Steelers' 2 with 3:11 remaining.

The big play in advance of that was a 25-yard hookup from Manning to wide receiver Steve Smith that put the ball on the Steelers' 25.

The Giants exploited cornerback Deshea Townsend on the play, as they had attempted to do throughout the game with periodic success.

So the Steelers' defense isn't perfect. But in holding Jacobs to 2.6 yards per attempt on 18 carries and the Giants to 2.4 yards per carry on 35 rushes overall, the Steelers' defense legitimized its No. 1 ranking.

Had the Steelers' No. 25 offense managed more first downs in the fourth quarter -- one would have been an improvement over what they accomplished in that department in the final 15 minutes -- a Giants loss might have been celebrated.

As it was, the Steelers emerged believing the outcome could have easily turned out differently.

"They weren't better than us; I'll say it to their face," offensive tackle Willie Colon said.

Actually, they were, but the Steelers' defense is more than good enough.

Should they fix the rest, beginning with protection issues that once again had quarterback Ben Roethlisberger under siege, they'll have the chance to write a different script against teams of the Giants' caliber in January.

Mike Prisuta is a columnist for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached at mprisuta@tribweb.com or 412-320-7923.