Keep it simple, win the game

By Mike Prisuta, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Friday, January 16, 2009


Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians talks to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Joe Apple/Tribune-Review


Although he wound up inspiring his offensive linemen, it was really information Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was seeking when he began the Steelers' playoff opener against San Diego with three scripted running plays.

That's how it works sometimes in the playoffs.

As much as anything else, Arians wanted to get a handle on the Chargers' substitution patterns. But his offensive linemen took what they saw when the 15-play script was unveiled Saturday night as a collective challenge.

The line responded, the Steelers ran for 22 yards on their first three snaps and 165 overall and the Chargers were conquered.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was looking to inspire his troops, at least in part, when he dialed up a fake punt on fourth-and-1 from the Steelers' 48-yard line with just more than 5 minutes left in the first half of a 7-7 game.

The play backfired, putting San Diego in position to move a short distance and boot a 42-yard field goal for its second and, as it turned out, last lead of the day.

It works out that way in the playoffs sometimes.

"I wanted to get our guys going and let our guys know we were playing to win," Tomlin said.

Hopefully, the Steelers will be aware of such details well in advance of Sunday's AFC Championship Game.

Knowing the Ravens as they do, they ought to have a handle on what Baltimore is capable of.

And if a shot at the Super Bowl against a hated rival at home isn't enough to get the Steelers going, will another fake punt or some such gimmick really alter their emotional state enough to make a difference?

Sunday shouldn't be about such things.

Sunday should be about determination rather than inspiration or trickery.

The Steelers can beat the Ravens, as they've proven twice already.

But to do it again, they're going to have to outslug the Ravens, and they're going to have to ensure that they don't somehow beat themselves.

The blueprint for success is pretty simple. But the execution of the required game plan will demand patience, perseverance and pain.

The script on offense can be whittled down to this: When running the ball, don't fumble it. And when passing, don't throw the ball to Ed Reed.

The rest is just details.

That's atypical, but then again, that's Steelers-Ravens, as Steelers safety Troy Polamalu has come to realize.

"In other games, against the Indianapolis Colts, a 4- or 5-yard gain is nothing," Polamalu said. "But a 5-yard gain in this game is like a 30-yard reception for the Indianapolis Colts.

"It means so much more because the style of the game is played so much differently."

That being the case, the idea isn't so much to beat the Ravens as it is to outlast them.

Concede nothing.

Risk nothing.

Wait them out.

Let them make the first mistake and pounce upon it.

And this week, don't gamble on surrendering a cheap three points or passing three up in the name of aggressiveness, because this week, that might get you beat, 10-7.

The game itself need not be especially artistic or inspirational.

A score of 10-7 in the Steelers favor still gets them to Tampa, Fla.