The Steelers On A Winning Streak?

Because of Shaun Suisham and Le'Veon Bell the Steelers are on a winning streak

      The 1-4 PittsburghSteelers finally stopped the bleeding last week with a victory over the 3-3 New York Jets. More importantly, they turned the tide and stopped beating themselves with penalties and turnovers. Every week seems to be a new challenge for this Steelers team. The  Pittsburgh Steelers had their backs against the wall on Sunday and played like it. In the end, it wasn't the prettiest game, but the Steelers held on to get a 19-16 victory over their AFC North rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens dropped to 3-4 and they are below 500 in the first 7 games since John Harbaugh took over as head coach. The Streelers are now 2-4  and the whole team seems to sense a turn-around coming.

      The Pittsburgh Steelers have won two straight games after losing the first 4.  This week they beat their divisional rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, 19-16 in dramatic fashion. Shaun Suisham kicked the game-winning field goal in the final seconds to put the Steelers over the Ravens. Suisham just might be the team’s MVP so far this season unless someone on the offense breaks out. The Steelers will hit the road to face the Oakland Raiders to keep ir wining streak in alive. The Steelers need to just keep winning to increase their chance of a playoff berth and hope the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and the Ravens start losing more.

      Steelers came into yesterday's game with the second worst average in the NFL for rushing yard per game at 61 yards per, but got a strong effort from rookie running back Le'Veon Bell to put up 141 total rushing yards in the game. That's more than double their season average coming into the game and it was a big factor for the Steelers in their win. They were able to keep Joe Flacco and the Baltimore offense off the feild. Bell outran the average himself, as he carried the ball 19 times for 93 yards, even though he didn't score a touchdown, his play could have been the most important of any player in the win. Pittsburgh averaged 4.9 yards per carry in the. That's the best they've run so far this season.

What The Steelers Coach And Players Are Saying About Their Cardboard Defense

Do Troy or Ryan have any answers on defense?

      “I like the attitude, demeanor and approach to work that the guys have taken,” Mike Tomlin said. “That’s just part of the equation. Obviously, putting it together and producing victory is the most significant part of the equation.”“We have to minimize the big plays,” he said. “I think that has been an issue for us ... We just need to get more solid in that area, minimize big plays and make people work to produce points against us. That’s how we’ve done it for a long period of time. We have to quickly get back to that.”

      The lack of takeaways has the Pittsburgh Steelers on the verge of establishing a dubious mark. No team in NFL history has failed to record a takeaway five games into a season. The Steelers are at four games, and the players are still at a loss to explain what has to happen for the defense to start forcing turnovers. Turnovers, or the lack thereof, are a key again for the Steelers defense. But Troy Polamalu, said that securing them isn't just a product of what a defense does on the football field. "We've got to get more out of our offense as well. And we need splash plays from our special teams. So, turnovers aren't just a defensive thing."

      "I think the biggest thing we need to do more of is more people getting to the ball," safety, Ryan Clark said. "When you get multiple hats on the ball that gives the second guys opportunities to pull at the ball, try to get it out. So as a team I think that's a thing we can work on more." "Last year I had two interceptions and forced two fumbles and it just happened," free safety Ryan Clark said. "Sometimes those plays just come." But defenses have to make those plays happen too, Clark acknowledged.

      "Anytime we underperform, we let defensive coordinator, Dick LeBeau down, and we haven't performed very well during these first four games," Polamalu said. "Of course, he's displeased, as displeased as we are with what we've seen on film. It's tough to accept, being 0-4, but it's the state of what we are right now. We've put together 0-4 efforts and have executed an 0-4 style. "As a defense, we definitely have to stop the run first and we have to force teams to get into third-and-long situations, which teams have done a good job against us by not getting into those situations," Polamalu said.

Can The Steelers Save Their Season?

Is Ryan Clark serious? I hope so!

      It doesn't seem likely that the Pittsburgh Steelers will even have a mediocre record like their 8-8 season last year. They are 0-4 and could be 0-5 after they play the 3-2 New York Jets on Sunday. What can save them if they play them like they have their first 4 opponents? No team that has started a season 0-5 has made the playoffs since the postseason field was expanded in 1990. Well, it's hard to be optimistic, but at least one of the Steelers is.

      Steelers safety, Ryan Clark was asked if the Steelers would make the playoffs this year. "I just believe we can win. That's just the bottom line," Clark said on First Take. "I think we have the people in this room, the coaches (to win). Also, looking at our schedule, we're not playing world beaters, we're not playing gods. We're playing men." "We're playing football teams that have vulnerabilities and teams I think we can beat," Clark said. "That's five division opponents left, so it's in our own hands. I think we can win those games, and I think we will."

       To their credit, the Steelers haven't even given a rally much lip service except for Clark. At this moment, winning a single game is a big enough task. Not that the Steelers have any business thinking about the playoffs. They simply need a win to stop the hemorrhaging. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisbeger admits they are in uncharted territory being 0-4 to start the season, while suggesting they are the worst team in the NFL. "I just have to hope and believe we can turn it around because we have to believe that we can still be a part of something special," he said. "And if you don't believe that, then you don't need to be on this team or be out here."

The Steelers Are Still In A Fog After Leaving London Losers

Ben Roethlisberger Loses The Ball Again

       With the Pittsburgh Steelers off to their worst start in 45 years, Ben Roethlisberger isn't mincing words about where the team stacks up against the rest of the NFL. "Right now, you could say we're the worst team in the league," after Pittsburgh fell 34-27 to the Minnesota Vikings at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. "That hurts." The Steelers' defense gave up nearly 400 yards and again failed to force a turnover. Pittsburgh is without a takeaway this season.

        Roethlisberger was sacked five times and harassed all game by Jared Allen and the Vikings, the Steelers dropped to 0-4, their worst start since 1968, when they lost their first six games en route to a 2-11-1 record. “We are in uncharted territory, and the water is dangerous right now. It stings. I have to hope and believe we can turn it around. That's the approach I'm going to take this week and next week. I'm going to do the best I can to lead these guys and let them see how I go about my job. ”

         Roethlisberger, who has won two Super Bowls with Pittsburgh, acknowledged that this is the lowest point of his career. Roethlisberger completed 36 of 51 passes for 383 yards and one touchdown but also had one interception and a fumble on Sunday. The fumble came in the final seconds after he led the Steelers from their 22 to a first-and-goal at Minnesota's 6. "I felt like we made good strides on offense," Roethlisberger said. "It's just hard to say that and to feel very good about yourself after a loss."

         With a bye week before facing the New York Jets on Oct. 13 and perhaps mainly pride left to play for, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin put players on notice that jobs could be at stake. "I have great patience," he said. "The team will work to get better. As long as I see belief and effort and we continue to improve, that's what's going to change the outcome of these games. If I don't, [they] ain't going to be a part of it, whoever it may be. It's that simple."The challenge resonated with Ben. "Yeah, I'd start with myself," he said. "We have to hold ourselves accountable."