Blog 'n' Gold : Ben Roethlisberger

Steelers-Chefs live

Chuck Finder — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:54:00 GMT

Yes, I spelled Chiefs incorrectly on purpose. If it's good enough for the Bungles. . . .

A few pregame notes:

* Expect Willie Parker to play more today. Of course, Bruce Arians planned to play his -- dare we say this now -- No. 2 halfback more often, on every third series, the past two games. Situations worked out differently. But today the Chiefs bring the NFL's sixth-worst NFL defense against the run. Parker, recovered from his turf toe too, has a shredded them in the past.

* No Larry Johnson (now with the Bungles), no Troy Polamalu (absent today and maybe another game or two with that PCL injury). So much for calling this a hairpull.

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* These aren't the quality Chiefs you remember -- from McDonald's Marty Schottenheimer as coach or even Rich Gannon at quarterback, before he went to the Super Bowl with the Raiders. But Arrowhead can still be a tough place to play. Moreoever, Steelers fans should thank the Chiefs. If it wasn't for a draft-day trade up, the Steelers may not have been able to draft Polamalu in 2003.

FIRST QUARTER

1:02 p.m.: So much for an improved kickoff coverage. The team with already the most KO return touchdowns this season gave up their fourth in five games and their eighth return for a touchdown -- kick, fumble or interception. CBS, by the way, showed the wrong coach at first before focusing on Bob Ligashesky. Gee, and it has been four years since the Chefs returned one for a score. Remember Dante Hall? One more thing: Ryan Mundy appeared to have the best chance at him, and Patrick Bailey got taken out by a teammate, so it appeared. The Steelers gave up thinking he was down. More reckless play is required on this unit. Oh, and Jeff Reed was awfully deep -- around the Kansas City 40 -- on that coverage, which represents a major change from him being a safety valve at the 50 or deeper in Steelers territory. (So nobody can criticize him for not sticking his nose in there.) 1:09 p.m.: Is it just me, or are the Steelers trying to pump up Kansas City? Run, run holding, run (a reverse on second and way too long), throwing into triple coverage? Funny, Mundy and the punt-return unit flew down there on that one. Hmmmm. . . maybe they should have Daniel Sepulveda and those guys punt off, as with a safety, instead of using Reed and the kickoff unit. 1:18 p.m.: OK, I'll agree with you there: You just make a dandy run against a defense that knows it's bad against the run, and the next down you go empty set? Don't except the "screen is as good as a run" argument, either. Especially with the way Ben Roethlisberger passed last week and looks already today, they should run to set up the pass and alleviate the burden on the quarterback. 1:28 p.m.: Told ya about Willie Parker (pregame notes). And in the replay, just noticed that Lawrence Timmons was on the Ill-Fated Kickoff Unit, or IFKU. Isn't he a new addition there? 1:31 p.m.: Sign that Miracles Do Happen: The Browns have 10 points already. (OK, so it's just Detroit). . . Offensive line doing the Steelers no favors on this drive, which showed promise. The sooner the Steelers tie this game, the better chance they have of the Chefs realizing that they are indeed the Chefs. 1:36 p.m.: Five of seven on fourth-down conversions this season? That's impressive. And Mendenhall nearly took that one all the way. . . By the way, Hines Ward was down on that play, but when he loses the ball, it's not a good sign. The Chefs' defense is hitting with some vigor. . . . End of the first, 7-0 KC.

SECOND QUARTER

1:40 p.m.: Was Big Ben just showing his Little Owie to the ref? Potential headline, if the Steelers prevail today: Victory better than being poked in the eye. . . 1:41 p.m.: Seems to be a hollow way to end such a drive, But don't lose sight of a jarring trend that Reed's 36-yard field goal signifies: That makes five consecutive touchdown-less trips into the Red Zone for the Steelers. Ruh-roh, every score means a kickoff! There was Ike Taylor to the rescue. . . 1:51 p.m.: Mixed into that sea of red are 10,000-plus Steelers fans in a Midwest meeting of Steeler Nation. The P-G's Bob Dvorchak is on hand to report about it for tomorrow's print publication. Just listen to them cheer or chant "Heeeeath." . . .1:58 p.m.: With that catch, Miller has tied his career high with 47 receptions. He's on pace for roughly 75 catches -- that's Antonio Gates territory. Most important, it's Red Zone time again. Can the Steelers go 6-for-6? The must be able to run the ball. Just as I typed that, CBS threw up an interesting graphic: No team has gone longer without a rushing touchdown than the Steelers, with 95 consecutive carries. . . 2 p.m: Funny, but I was thinking Roethlisberger should've run just about the time he flicked the ball to a Ward who was wide open because Roethlisberger's feet caused Chefs defenders to creep toward the line of scrimmage to watch him. The 5-for-5 Red Zone skid without a touchdown finally comes to a halt. Now I'll answer you critics: Don't give up on this club just yet. The defense is better, even without Polamalu, than three-quarters of the rest of the NFL. The offense can overcome special-teams mistakes. And, overall, if you watch the rest of the league closely, the Steelers still possess one of the six best teams in the NFL, if not better. The question, though, is: Will they play that way? If they win today, there are easy victories against the Browns and Raiders upcoming -- that's nine victories. Beat Green Bay or Baltimore at home, or win in Bawlmer or Miami, which is surging, and 11 surely will earn them a playoff spot, if not home field for the wild-card game. The Bungles, playing an even lighter schedule the rest of the way, HAVE to win 11 minimum unless they fall completely off the Earth. Oh, and the Steelers lead, 10-7. . . 2:08 p.m.: Brownies update: They've scored 24! Of course, they've allowed 17. And it isn't even halftime yet in Detroit. (Hey, if you can't have fun at Cleveland's expense, you're clinically deceased.) Two-minute warning. . . 2:13 p.m.: Red Zone time again. A 96th consecutive carry without a touchdown. Followed by another vintage Roethlisberger play: somehow avoid the sack by ducking under, scooting to his left and finding an ad-libbing Miller for another Live At The Improv touchdown. Steelers cruising, 17-7. How much are they cruising? They have 279 yards to Kansas City's 43. They have a dozen first downs to Kansas City's two. They have possessed the ball for nearly 21 minutes to Kansas City's 8:05. They have put together 95- and 46-yard scoring drives in their past 17 total plays. They own this one. . . 2:18 p.m.: Lest anyone forget, too: Kansas City's offense on all four offensive possessions have passed their own 40-yard line, if not the 50. They've had prime real estate -- and done nothing with it aginast the Steelers. Can't wait to end up the total scores for Matt Cassel by the end of this one; remember, he lost with New England to these Steelers by 33-10 in Foxboro last November. What will today's final be in KC? It's still 17-7, Steelers.

For your halftime viewing pleasure. . .

EYE-an Eagle, the Eye network's play-by-play man today and a swell fella, once told me that he is the son of a television star. Yes, he said, that was his father starring in those Brother Dominic commercials -- this one from 1977 and the Super Bowl:

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THIRD QUARTER

2:32 p.m.: Give the 3-foot-7 guy (Reed's words, not ours) his due -- Stefan Logan has put together his best return day of the season, and the first one equal to his preseason hint of electricity. The last return, past the 40, was well blocked . . . so give the special teams and coaches their due there. But still the Steelers have allowed four touchdown returns and collected none of their own, a minus-4 ratio (and it indeed cost them the Cincinnati game), an inescapable fact. . . . 2:40 p.m.: Just looked it up: Roethlisberger has been intercepted just twice in his past 70 attempts, a stretch that included his admittedly off game against Cincinnati last Sunday. And both were on tipped passes. So, sharp or not, he hasn't hurt his team. The Chefs took this one and drove to a touchdown, which indeed hurts. The offense needs to come back and score to put the Chefs back in their 2-7 place and provide themselves with some breathing room, lest they return to their Bears, Lions and at Bungles second-half collapses of earlier this season. Chefs creep within 17-14, Steelers. . .

We pause for this commercial message:

Why is this a Thanksgiving movie? The carving?

2:47 p.m.: Left guard Chris Kemoeatu, so vital to the running game, particularly on pulling blocks, will be missed with injury the rest of the day. Kansas City stuffs the Steelers, and Sepulveda makes his first punt since the Steelers' opening possession. Now that defense, which just had its only bad series of the game, must stand firm -- if not come up with a game-turning takeaway. The longer you let the Chefs linger. . . . . . 2:58 p.m.: The middle is amazingly open for the Steelers. Give credit to Ramon Foster for filling in admirably thus far for Kemoeatu, too. Roethlisberger has time to throw, for the most part. . . 3:04 p.m.: Neat interactive set-up for the Chiefs' site live blog, but not nearly as entertaining or informative as this one, not to be too shamelessly promotional. . . 3:07 p.m.: Now there was a potentially fatal mistake by Roethlisberger -- he threw into four Kansas City defenders.Now the Steelers are fighting for their lives. A beautiful drive and a chance to drive a stake through Kansas City's heart, and instead they revive that heart. . . To think, if he put a little more air under that sideline pass to Mendenhall, the Steelers lead 24-14 instead of going down of getting tied here [CORRECTION AT 3:17]. . . 3:10 p.m.: James Harrison, whose name hadn't been called much, if at all, previously today comes up with a crucial sack. Still, the Chefs tie this game at 17-all behind a guy from the family that produced America's most infamous car and a kick whose name is pronounced Suck-up. . .

The Steelers have almost four times as much yardage and more than twice as much time of possession, but two turnovers, one drive and a special-teams blunder have allowed Kansas City to stay in a game undeservedly -- it is at Cincinnati, at Chicago and at Detroit all over again. Perhaps this is the road rule rather than the exception.

FOURTH QUARTER

3:15 p.m.: Roethlisberger is playing with fire. At least he threw that second-down pass away, but still they're placing way too much reliance on pass-blocking, the pass, Roethlisberger's feet. With Max Starks down and Kemoeatu already out, the Steelers are getting perilously thin and in dangerous territory. . . 3:17 p.m.: No, AFPilot, I'm NOT watching the game; I'm making all this up. But I sit corrected: A Willie Colon holding erased that Roethlisberger-to-Mendenhall play regardless. My bad. And the defense is going to have to win this one for the Steelers, if they can. . . 3:23 p.m.: Reasons why Chiefs are still in this game? They've kicked their bad habit and shut down the Steelers running game. And 0 giveaways by them. . . . Of course, as soon as I type that, Cassel coughs it up to -- Harrison again. . . Starks is back. . . 3:25 p.m.: How about this: If the Steelers don't score on this trip to the Red Zone -- the've failed on six of their past eight, remember -- we'll force them to decline an invitation to the playoffs. . . 3:28 p.m.: At least the Steelers tried to run the ball in the Red Zone. And this time -- I'll get it right, I'll get it right! -- Roethlisberger hits Mendenhall over the middle for the go-ahead score, 24-17 Steelers. And these Chefs linebackers, with Studebaker in and ex-Steeler Mike Vrabel absent, aren't very good at all. . . 3:31 p.m.: At 3:23, I forgot to point out one aspect: Kansas City, until that kick return, got called for only one penalty against the Steelers' 7 for 70 yards. See, the Steelers were giving this game to the Chefs. . . 3:36 p.m.: Former Steelers ballboy Todd Haley is attacking the Steelers safeties -- Deshea Townsend in nickel on the Lance Long catch to midfield, Ryan Clark on the double move by Chris Chambers to the Red Zone. Game on. . . 3:40 p.m.: Now the Steelers defense has been fairly shredded twice in the past four Kansas City offensive possessions. Brett Keisel really looked to be huffing and puffing there, a byproduct of both Aaron Smith and Travis Kirschke being absent due to injuries. It's 24-24. . . 3:43 p.m.: Huge offensive series for the Steelers. . . The next turnover will decide this game. . . 3:49 p.m. Cassel started this drive 8 for 15 passing for 140 yards this half alone. More importantly, he has steered Kansas City to two TDs and a field goal, with help from Roethlisberger. The Steelers come out of this 2-minute warning with a season-saving, third-and-3 staring them in the face. Well, that's overdramatic -- but this Kansas City possession determines this game, or at least saves overtime. . . 3:52 p.m.: Gutsy decision to blitz and leave those safeties in coverage. Just shows you the difference between good teams and bad: Lesser ones drop balls like that. . .

3:53 p.m.: One minute, 47 seconds to go and the ball in Roethlisberger's hands. Mewelde Moore couldn't handle Derrick Johnson on that first-down rush. . . But an illegal-downfield-contact penalty helped the Steelers' cause. Let's see what they can do with a break. . . 3:55 p.m.: One-29 to go, and wasn't that a lovely shot by CBS' cameras of Reed tugging on the seat of his pants? . . . 3:57 p.m.: Sixty-two seconds left, and a third-and-4 at midfield, and Roethlisberger can't make a play with his feet. Chefs try a safety blitz into that line, and now it's Cassel's turn to try to rescue the home side. . . 4 p.m.: We're going to overtime. It's up to a flip of the coin. . . or the next mistake.

True, this game never should've reached this point. But blame the defense, too, for allowing those second-half drives.

OVERTIME

4:02 p.m.: Tails, as in what the Steelers need kicked. The offense must run the ball and staunch that Kansas City rush. Even throw a shovel pass or quick screens. . . 4:04 p.m.: See, BA reads this Blog!. . . Seriously, Roethlisberger is 31 of 41 for 19 yards shy of 400, stats alone that show Kansas City never should've gotten this far. Once again, the middle is wide open for Ward. But, and I reiterate, run the ball with Mendenhall. The offensive line needs a break, too, and run-blocking is easier for them. And the Chefs are bad at it, when not blitzing. And Mendenhall, like that first-down run, is rushing hard and well. . . 4:07 p.m.: Roethlisberger indeed took a Derrick Johnson knee to the head, so it's on to Charlie Batch, who is woefully cold, and a tired offensive line. Go to two backs and run. Leave Batch with only short passes. You need two yards for a first down, then another 10 to 12 yards to get into Reed's range and get the heck out of Dodge. . . 4:10 p.m.: Excuse me, I forgot about the Hartwig hold. They need 22 to 25 yards for Reed. . . and then Batch threw that deep strike to Santonio Holmes, a gutsy call and a beautiful throw. But the Steelers should've sat on it and run from there. That Chefs defense should be a little weary deep down, too, from all that time on the field -- 41 minutes and counting -- and all that pass-rushing on 43 pass attempts. Great run by Mendenhall. Can Reed deliver again, like in overtime in the opener? . . . 4:13 p.m.: Not sure if Moore was the right man for that third-down job. Parker maybe, with his speed and having a decently warm, if not hot, hand in this game already. Sure, Moore is sure-handed, but. . . Now it's up to the Steelers defense. . . 4:15 p.m.: Can Taylor actually catch a huge ball and intercept it? . . . Nah. . . A harbinger, to be sure. . . This isn't the same Cassel as the first half, or last year's New England game. No, the Chefs deserve to win this -- and they will, after that long pass to Chambers.

4:18 p.m.: Suck-up's kick, of course, is good. Chefs, 27-24. They hadn't won back-to-back games in more than two years. Heck, they've mostly beaten the lowly Raiders the past two years. The Steelers need some soul-searching now.

They are 2-3 on the road, and they only played well once -- in Denver. They are two drastically different teams, especially on defense, home vs. road. And they now have their second two-game losing skid of the season.

Worse, they have imperiled their playoff chances. At Baltimore and at Miami look far more daunting now. And, geesh, could at Cleveland, too?

Great googly-moogly, indeed.

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Bengals-Steelers, live (Polamalu out)

Chuck Finder — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:53:00 GMT

(Last time they met, Cincinnati fans emailed that we were all offended by the "Bungles" references. Hey, lighten up, people, it's a Pittsburgh thing. It's a Cope thing. At least I didn't call them the Wicky-Wackys. . . )

12:59 p.m.: Tamara Tunie of "Law & Order SVU", also of McKeesport and Carnegie Mellon, sang the national anthem with a military flyover above. You can thank me later for dressing up the blog.

FIRST QUARTER

1:06 p.m.: Yeah, it's hard to focus on the game. . . Steelers cornerback William Gay, suffering from Ike Taylor Syndrome, has dropped two potential interceptions in the opening seven plays from scrimmage. A good sign or a bad sign?. . . 1:13 p.m.: Sounds like the old Bengal luck -- feel free to insert Mahrn's favorite nickname there: A 51-yard field goal wattempt by Cincy's Shayne Graham, and it's high enough, it's long enough, it's. . . going KERPLUNK off the right upright. No good. Steelers ball in dandy field position at their own 41. . .1:18 p.m.: For a second there, I felt like I was watching Rich Rodriguez's offense: wide-receiver screen right, wide-receiver screen left, etc. But you have to like Bruce Arians tossing out a new-look formation, which just so happened to be the old T- and pro-formation, side-by-side backfield a la Rocky and Franco. And Mewelde Moore, behind great seal blocking from the left side, ran 12 yards on a third-and-1. . . 1:21 p.m.: This Roethlisberger dude ought to run more often. So long as he doesn't continue to dive head-first. A batted pass and some Red Zone passing trouble leave Jeff Reed to clean up this nice opening drive with a 28-yard field goal. 11 plays, 49 yards, 6:06 -- and this offense can do a great job of eating up clock, staying in-bounds, milking the play-clock. Steelers, 3-0. . . 1:24 p.m.: Maybe they just should squib, pooch or onsides anymore -- for the third time in four games, the Steelers gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown. This time, rookie Bernard Scott, on only his third NFL return, whisked Reed's kick into the left corner some 96 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Missed tackles, botched lane assignments, some nice Cincinnati blocking, and next thing you know it was Scott vs. Reed, who at least turned him back into the field. According to our Ed Bouchette, that makes seven consecutive games in which the Steelers have given up a return for a touchdown: by fumble, interception, punt or kick. . .

1:33 p.m.: All-everything safety Troy Polamalu left the field and the game with what was described as a left knee injury -- the same one in which a sprained MCL prevented him from playing Games 2-5 and the final three quarters of the opener. In all, he has played less than 14 quarters all season, and he appeared as if he was just returning to his otherworldly form. Tyrone Carter, the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after two interceptions Monday in Denver while replacing safety Ryan Clark, is again filling in for Polamalu. . . 1:40 p.m.: For the record, the review on Santonio Holmes' third-down catch was correct; the bad spot was patently detectable by our naked eyes way up here in the press box. . . 1:42 p.m.: The Bengals are content to pick, pick, pick. Cedric Benson's runs here or there. Short Carson Palmer passes, to avoid the Steelers' rush. Of course, the Steelers are content to allow short plays and figure they'll make a play at some point. Still and all, Bengals, 6-3. End of first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

1:52 p.m.: Mike Tomlin noted this past week how well Holmes is doing the non-statistical things, such as blocking. Well, on that first-down pass to Hines Ward, Rashard Mendenhall threw a crushing cut block on Bengals linebacker Rey Maualaluga. But the offense isn't quite in sync. Perhaps it's time for the no-huddle. . . 1:59 p.m.: The Bengals were 3-for-5 on third down before that last, high Palmer pass for Chad Ochocinco, who is some kinda hacked. But he doesn't have much room to jaw, as he did while coming off the field after the third down incompletion. He should've caught the first-down deep pass from Palmer. That drop is all one No. 85. Or maybe he can blame it on Tweeter Tunnel Syndrome. . . 2:00 p.m.: Nice return by Little Logan, who was due. He is exciting, whether his scooting works or doesn't. . . 2:05 p.m.: Injury update -- The Bengals' Benson is listed as probable to return despite a hip injury. Steelers cornerback and special-teamer Keenan Lewis is questionable due to a left rib injury on that Bengals' punt return. . . 2:10 p.m.: Another nice drive, another aborted attempt inside the Red Zone. Forcing the second-down pass into the corner looked ill-advised, at least -- Ward was open at the left pylon, with the defensive back behind him. At worst, a throw to Ward would've given the Steelers third-and goal at the 1. Reed's 33-yard field goal ties it up, 6-6. . . 2:12 p.m.: I repeat, can't they squib, pooch or even onsides a kickoff? . . . 2:22 p.m.: Credit backup Bengals safety Chinedum Ndukwe with that 46-yard gain via a pass interference penalty. I'm not so sure Mike Wallace catches that ball, slightly beyond his reach, if Ndukwe doesn't grab his arms. And fellow safety Chris Crocker had Wallace covered. That shows some impact from Roy Williams being injured and placed on IR, forcing Ndukwe into a starting role. . . 2:25 p.m.: Jumpy Geathers is what you'd call a Steelers killer. They respect the heck outta him. Don't konw if Mike Wallace was supposed to chip Geathers and keep him from rushing free, but that pushed the Steelers offense back -- their third Red Zone failure to score a touchdown. Holmes' right-corner pass was tipped and caused the ball to go through his hands in a Super Bowl-reminiscent play. Nine plays, 61 yards, 2:40. And it results in a hat trick of field goals for Reed in the first half, this one from 35 yards. Steelers, 9-6. Halftime.

I'm a believer. Ray Lewis. Donovan McNabb. Shaun Alexander, Michael Vick. Vince Young. Brett Favre. Polamalu makes seven straight years where a coverboy got hurt (remember, they kept Favre's injury a secret last season) and the sixth time in seven where a cover-subject missed significant time, if not most or the rest of the season.

THIRD QUARTER

2:50 p.m.: Maybe that'll teach 'em to run on third-and-short. Roethlisberger's pass was badly behind Ward, but Morgan Trent batted it, and lineman Frostee Rucker snagged it. Presto. Bengals get the game-tying field goal, 9-9. . . 2:52 p.m.: By the way, it's the second-biggest crowd ever at Heinz Field. The 65,392 has been topped in the regular season only once before -- the last game here, Oct. 25 against Minnesota. . . 3:02 p.m.: It's a field-goal-fest. Or, put another way, it's an oh-ffensive display -- nary a touchdown by an offensive unit. The fifth field goal of the day, and fourth since that kickoff-return TD, makes it Bengals, 12-9. . .3:04 p.m.: Wallace back for the kickoff. That's his first in the NFL, officially. and he'll get more after that 26-yarder. . . 3:06 p.m.: It's Willie Parker, kids! But on his first appearance in the game, the pass was a bit high, and Parker stopped abruptly on the flare route. The next play they got it right -- you hand the ball to Parker, or use him as a decoy. Pass-catching isn't exactly his forte. . . 3:09 p.m.: Smells like panic time. They're playing "Renegade." . . . 3:13 p.m.: Game possession for the Steelers here, first down at the 50. Desperately need a TD, though a FG wouldn't hurt. . . 3:15 p.m.: A pass from an under-center formation? There's a wrinkle. Roethlisberger isn't as sharp as normal though, which can happen not just on occasion, but after a Monday night emotional and sharp game. Bengals only rushing three, and he's finding receivers -- but they're closely covered. Wallace grabbed the under-center, second-down throw before being clouted, and Miller caught the next one while double covered. End of quarter. Stick up those four fingers, it's the . . .

FOURTH QUARTER

3:23 p.m.: Gutsy call to go for it on fourth down. Press box consensus: Chuck Noll would've taken the points there, tied it at a dozen-dozen. But the Steelers convert the fourth down on a Roethlisberger sneak behind a strong push from the offensive line. . . 3:26 p.m.: Is it just me, or do the Bengals do a better job than anybody batting down passes at the line against the 6-foot-5 Roethlisberger. (Though you may ask yourself: Why didn't Roethlisberger pump there, step in and around a jumping Jonanthan Fanene, and find a receiver? Well, for one thing, the windows are smaller and the routes excruciatingly quicker in the Red Zone.) Oh, yeah, the fourth failure inside the Bengals' 15-yard line -- oh-for-4 is never good -- led to yet another Reed field goal, so it's tied at 12-12 after all. Ruh-roh, that means another Steelers kickoff. . . 3:30 p.m.: Deshea Townsend in for Carter at safety. . . 3:31 p.m.: Now Ryan Clark has that Ike Tyler Syndrome -- right through his hands, though it helped matters that Ochocinco ran the wrong route, out instead of in. . . . 3:32 p.m.: This has the look of a difference-making drive by Cincinnati, possibly even the game-winning drive. If they score a touchdown, that's something the Steelers have shown an inability to do thus far. Nice rhythm and pace to this drive, nice blocking by the Bengals line, nice job by Palmer picking out open receivers. . .3:39 p.m.: New slogan: The AFC North -- It's Trey-tastic! More field goals, which represents a moral victory for the Steeles. But the Bengals regain the lead, 15-12.

3:43 p.m.: Again, Roethlisberger is off. That third-down pass for Miller was way high. Tough angle, tough window. And now the Steelers are a woeful 3 for 14 on third-down conversions -- an even-worse 0-for-6 this half. If the Steelers' offense doesn't get its act together, or the defense conjure a score -- and Palmer doesn't make many bad decisions or mistakes that result in those -- this has a Bengals victory written all over it and a strong leg up in the race for the AFC North crown. . . 3:52 p.m.: So maybe Bill Cowher is a bigger genius than anyone gave him credit. Cincinnati is chewing up valuable time and within field-goal range, so they very well -- as Mr. Bill predicted -- could be on their way to the division title. After all, they have Oakland, Cleveland and Detroit all in a soft row, then Kansas City and the Jets to close. So a 12-4 season is well within reach, with a victory here. Third-and-eight at the Steelers 28, the Steelers use their next-to-last timeout, and. . . and. . . the Bengals, 4 for 12 previously on third down, get Lawrence Timmons to jump offsides. Hmmm. Third-and-three, and Palmer audibles into a run that Nick Eason stuffs it for a two-yard loss. Two minute warning. Graham, who before the play walked onto the field and took a couple of practice swings with his leg, gets to go for his fourth field goal of the day. . . 3:59 p.m.: Graham goes 4 for 5 for the day, his 43-yarder making it, 18-12 Bengals. Eleven plays, 52 yards, 4:20 on the Bengals drive. So it's either touchdown, or maybe hope for the wild card. . . 4:03 p.m.: Overthrowing Ward, with fill-in linebacker Brandon Johnson pulling his jersey back, and underthrowing Wallace on a 40-yard bomb, and throwing into an area where two Steelers receivers were crossing middle deep, and pressure by the Bengals causing him to throw away on fourth down. Remember those later, if the defending champions have to go on the road in the playoffs. It's over. Bengals, 18-12.

Vikings-Steelers, live

Chuck Finder — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:50:00 GMT

Minnesota -- how could a team with horns on its helmet call "tails?" -- won the toss and elected to receive. The temp is up to 55, and the sun makes it feel warmer. Game on.

FIRST QUARTER

1:03 p.m.: The Vikings gave the defense three very different looks, including a little no-huddle. And you saw James Harrison and Troy Polamalu make big plays. That's the kind of start they sought. Ed Bouchette asked an interesting point as soon as Minnesota declined first-and-five and took an 8-yard gain on the opening play for second-and-two: Why not take the penalty and gain a down? 1:16 p.m.: The Legend that is Brett Favre is 1 for 2 with a sack. Steelers defense looking sturdy so far, but soon the Vikings will feed them -- and, specifically, Aaron Smith replacement Travis Kirschke -- a steady diet of Adrian Peterson runs.1:22 p.m.: Harrison -- after LaMarr Woodley had the pressure -- and Polamalu, who appears to be wearing the knee brace this time (can you folks watching TV tell better?), are atop their games so far like they haven't been yet this season. Credit Gerry Dulac with the nickname for the Minnesota punter: Chris Kluwe-less. His punt to his own 39-yard line may have received a generous spot. (To answer ChiTown: Yes, even Mike Tomlin thought the right tackle lifted up prematurely on that snap, and let the side judge know about it.) 1:32 p.m.: It's the Mike Wallace Show. Nice, and critical, catch for 10 yards on third down. Then, after the Minnesota challenge that failed, a lovely flanker reverse -- with a dandy block by Santonio Holmes downfield. Willie Parker is in for this series, but still the question remains: Why aren't the Steelers challenging left cornerback Karl Paymah, Antoine Winfield's replacement whom Baltimore and Joe Flacco alighted for most of his 385 yards last week, includding 244 yards in the second half. 1:37 p.m.: A Heath Miller pass-interference penalty on the opposite end of the field wiped away Holmes' TD catch and run, and a sack left it to the foot of you know how. An eight-play, 18-yard drive ended when Jeff Reed punched through a 39-yard field goal. Steelers, 3-0. 1:39 p.m.: The Steelers coverage has been exemplary, but Percy Harvin has enough jets that he just might get past the first wave one of these times.

SECOND QUARTER

1:48 p.m.: Well, the Vikes ran Peterson and a quick, off-tackle play, and that one time it worked well (though why he slowed and shifted, I'll never know). The Battling LeBeaus seem to have them pretty well sniffed out otherwise, though. 1:51 p.m.: The play-calling on that Steelers series wasn't so bad. They do need to run, and they're holding back on those counter plays, apparently. And Roethlisberger, who isn't as sharp as he has been thus far this season, threw one into Vikings hands to Miller and the other high and slightly behind Hines Ward, who dropped the ball when clouted from behind. One thing to look for, though. Bruce Arians may try to play this one closer to the vest because it is shaping up to be a defensive, low-scoring game. (To me, with Favre and Peterson on the field, though, that can change in an eye-blink.) 1:54 p.m.: That's why he's a Legend. Favre, with Willie Gay flying at him in a delayed corner blitz, Favre found and hit a wide open Harvin to end a 1-for-5 third-down run and convert a first down with a 28-yard completion. The old guy still has it. 1:58 p.m.: Getting the idea that Favre is going after Gay? That and the right middle. Not a thing in the areas of Ryan Clark and Ike Taylor. 2 p.m.: Brad Childress just sprinted down to the 15-yard line to call that timeout, he wanted one so badly. Wait, isn't there a rule about straying out of the coaching box? 2:03 p.m.: The quicksilver Peterson skitters into the end zone on third down for the first touchdown of the game. So ended a confidence-instilling, 13-play, 76-yard, 5:22 drive. Vikings, 7-3. 2:10 p.m.: Sixty-five yards of Steelers offense so far -- no, that isn't going to cut it. You folks are correct, the defense -- against that massive Minnesota line -- will wear down at this rate come the second half. Maybe the no-huddle, or at least a varied play-calling that doesn't leave the Steelers' offense subject to seven-man blitzes. 2:21 p.m.: That third-down conversion, after the Steelers' 1-for-5 start, was all Mewelde Moore. And he bears watching: He declined all week to talk about his former team, so methinks he feels he has a little extra oomph for this one. 2:23 p.m.: Sure, a 22-yard pass for a first down to Wallace -- his Show continues -- but by now you can tell Roethlisberger, who made his career with plays afoot, didn't throw a sharp ball there. . . . But he threw a nifty one, with time, to Wallace for the go-ahead touchdown that dropped over two defenders and into the post-pattern arms of Wallace, snarled up the Vikings safeties and allowed the rookie to perform a somersault into the end zone with 24 seconds left in the half. Steelers, 10-3. But they did just leave The Legend 24 seconds to work. 2:26 p.m.: Excuse me while I update my resume to remove that "potential Offensive Coordinator" career move. Childress has Favre take a knee. Halftime, Steelers 10-7.

THIRD QUARTER

2:43 p.m.: What is this, 1992 all over again? Or 1992-2006? The Steelers are running, and effectively. Not a bad block by Roethlisberger on the reverse that the Vikings knew was coming -- and still that Paymah was called for a facemask. Man, there's a guy you attack all day. . . Nifty run by Roethlisberger, seeing the left side of the field wide open, but Benny Sapp dived through the air to elicit an unsportsmanlike penalty. He was even guilty of a charging penalty that an NHL ref called from Mellon Arena. 2:47 p.m.: That second-down play prompts questioning after the game -- did Wallace or Hines Ward run a wrong route in the right corner to cause Roethlisberger to refrain from throwing? did the QB worry about his fourth batted pass of the day? or was it a pass-run option, and Roethlisberger chose to tuck and run? One other thing: They ran the ball so well, outside of one crunching tackle, why go away from it compeltely in the Red Zone? . . . It's a record day in one capacity: The 65,597 attendance marks a Heinz Field record, surpassing by 247 the AFC championship game attendance last January and by 487 the Tennessee season opener last month. . , Reed's 27-yard field goal extends the lead a tad, but not enough to feel comfortable around The Legend and Peterson. Steelers, 13-7. 2:59 p.m.: That fourth-down play was vintage Favre. He pump-faked to freeze Polamalu for one step, and that allowed Sidney Rice to flash open behind the defense. 3:01 p.m.: Riddle me this: You got the best running back since maybe Barry Sanders, in Peterson, and you throw two of the three downs from the 1-yard line? The Steelers don't care. They made a stand and came away with the lead still. A moral victory, indeed. Don't fail to notice the Vikings put together another 13-play drive and they're 6 of 13 on third downs, meaning they've converted five of their past seven before failing on this last goalline play. The Minnesota field goal makes it Steelers, 13-10, with -- hmm, a harbinger? -- 4:44 left in the quarter.3:09 p.m.: Somebody in the press box is worried. They just cued up "Renegade," which Ryan Clark earlier this week noted is a sure signal that it's time to focus and bear down. (And, for the record, there are 17 minutes, 59 seconds of regulation left. Premature Styx, perhaps?) 3:14 p.m.: Harvin was already dropped that perfectly lovely, third-down throw by Favre, but Clark sure got into Harvin's bad shoulder and his head -- the rookie may not catch many more over the middle today, if at all. Steelers offense needs a prolonged drive and, it would help their cause, a score. 3:17 p.m.: The Steelers have piled up runs of 17, 16 and 14 -- and immediately after that last Mendenhall gallop around right end, behind stellar blocking, with a badly-thrown, badly-called halfback-release pass?

FOURTH QUARTER

3:21 p.m.: Right after an electric play by Holmes, who eluded six would-be tacklers -- or, from the Minnesota vantage point, six blown potential tackles -- Mendenhall followed with an ill-advised leap. He lost the ball in mid-air, and the Vikings recovered at their own three. This could present a HUGE point turnaround, and possibly even the game, in one play. We shall see. But, of course, Mendenhall and fumbling aren't exactly strangers. (Search his name along with "bounty" and "tucked." ) 3:27 p.m.: Lawrence Timmons twice stopped, and crumpled once, trying to get off the field with a bad, right ankle. And that's one position where the Steelers aren't exactly blessed with depth (where have you gone, Larry Foote?) You certainly do get the feeling The Legend is going to lead them on a 97-yard drive here. Good thing Harrison came to play at a Defensive Player of the Year level, and a holding penalty just negated that long Favre completion to Rice -- more than a 50-yard swing. 3:36 p.m.: That was a smart challenge, the proper review and a heck of a throw and catch, a 25-yard gain for a third down -- after penalties on three of four Minnesota snaps. It's their game for the taking now. 3:39 p.m.: Kirschke limped off, something with his left ankle, shin or foot, and that stands as another bad sign for the Steelers defense. Nick Eason, a third-teamer cut twice already this season, is playing left defensive end in the Red Zone agiansttwo of the game's best all-time offensive players? 3:41 p.m.: Get this, if the Packers do score a touchdown, they'll have gained almost 130 yards this drive, overcoming four penalties. Look at that, I just typed Packers. 3:43 p.m.: Universal reaction: Are you kiddin' me? Brett Keisel got credit for the sack and strip, LaMarr Woodley got no style points -- it was no Harrison Super Bowl Polamalu play -- but his fumble return of 77 yards with a cordon of defensive blockers makes it Steelers, 20-10. Harrison, by the way, lay on his back around midfield in glee afterward. The first non-defensive player to congratulate Woodley? Mendenhall. Who probably should buy him dinner. Some new clothes. . . Kirschke has a calf and Timmons has an ankle, as Coach Cahr used to say. They're done for the day. By the way, Bart Simpson has a cow.

3:47 p.m.: That buzz didn't last long.

Harvin's 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown -- the second against the Steelers in two weeks, remember -- brought the positive vibes down. And it also brought down back judge Richard Reels, who got accidentally clouted by backup Minnesota tight end Jeff Dugan. Interestingly, one of the Vikings front-line blockers, sorry I didn't catch a number, signaled for Harvin to move up just before Reed ran up to the ball. So he read something on the coverage-unit call or alignment. . . Also note that Reed didn't slow down Harvin with that mild midfield push, and he normally gives the rest of his coverage unit a fighting chance.

3:52 p.m.: For the second game in a row, carrying the fourth-quarter ball in the ground game is. . . neither Mendenhall nor Parker, who has been noticeably absent since the earlygoing. It was Moore.3:57 p.m.: Credit Justin Hartwig's knee for knocking that horrendously loose footbal out of bounds.That saved the Steelers roughly 30 yards in a game with a field-goal difference. Still and all, you give Brett Favre the ball and 3:21? He can score six touchdowns in that time. 4:01 p.m.: "Renegade" twice? Is that kosher? Look at it this way: Not just third and 4, but in the final two minutes, a less-than-2008 defense with Keyaron Fox and Eason playing must make a stand. 4:04 p.m.: Time to update that resume again, to add "potential Nostradamus." Fox went 82 yards with a pass that went from Favre to Chester Taylor -- a former Baltimore Raven, remember -- to Fox's belly, and he bolted down the left sideline without needing a single block downfield from personal escort Clark. Steelers, 27-17. 4:12 p.m.: It's ovah. Score this one: Patchwork Pittsburgh defense 14, Steelers offense 13 (for a home total of 27), Vikings 17.

Steelers-Lions live

Chuck Finder — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:48:00 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- We;re live, on location, at a Steelers bar. . . .. Oops, sorry, slipped into television blow-dry mode for a second there.

While in Florida picking up a number of other stories (shhhh, the folks at Brand X can read, so we have to keep it from them for awhile), the Live Blog follows me. Don't leave home without it, or somethin'. So here we are at East Side Pub, in the Coral Ranch section of this Atlantic Ocean paradise. Why, there's even a Primanti's here, barely 1.2 miles south. But that's yet another story for yet another day.

Younz guys would love this place, by the way. A 15-foot, blow-up Steeler stands guard out front. All kinds of signs -- OK, so their trademark is a Philly cheesesteak, and I just passed an Eagles bar -- adorn the walls, "Welcome to Steeler Nation," posters, photos, Iron City ads, you name it. By the way, I just met the owner, who three years ago turned the place back into a Steelers bar. After a co-owner from Pittsburgh sold the place, it became.a gay nightclub, whose owners sold it to a Canadian-born, Massachussetts couple who restored it to Steelers central, supposedly the hoppingest such bar north of Miami, if not in all of South Florida.. ,

Onto the game:

12:51 p.m.: Dante Culpepper is starting for the Lions, and methinks the Steelers are 2-0 (Minnesota and Miami) against him. Ergo, it should be better to play a quarterback you know and you've beaten rather than some new kid fresh off the draft line, Matthew Stafford.

FIRST QUARTER

1:05 p.m.: Well, Limas Sweed isn't in or on top of the Siberia that isn't Mike Tomlin's doghouse. And then, the first throw in his direction since the botched pass in Cincinnati's end zone two weeks ago (and one week after he was inactive against San Diego), the Big Texas Tease drops another one. A decent defensive play, the announcers corectly pointed out that it was a catchable ball. . . 1:07 p.m.: Disregarding the hold on James Harrison -- the officials apparently did -- Culpepper proved me wrong already with a dandy run. He faked out some Steeler defensive back there, Ike Taylor maybe?, on his way deep into Steelers territory. The Lions have a little offense. It's just a matter of scoring more in the second half, when they tend to turtle into an 0-16 team. . . . 1:12 p.m.: Detroit drive stalls. A 46-yard field goal, despite a Steelers offsides, gives the Lions a 3-0 lead. The Steelers need to answer, even with a sustained drive that doesn't culminate in a score. . . . 1:18 p.m.: Carp all you want about the Steelers running game, or lack thereof. Bruce Arians, Ben Roethlisberger and Co. have crafted a passing game almost as potent at Indianapolis or any other NFL team you care to name. There's a reason the quarterback is completing 75 percent of his passes in games, and, to be sure, the protection is a critical reason. But well-designed plays, patterns that cross up secondaries and pretty fair receivers -- that was a nice tackle-breaking run after catch on first down by Santonio Holmes -- and then the middle screen, behind blockers, with Rashard Mendenhall show a deep and varied playbook, a deep and varied talent base. Having said that, they'll probably rip off seven consecutive incompletions and a pick. 1:20 p.m.: All right, already, the running game looks to be decent in Mendenhall's hands, with Willie Parker ailing (and trust me, I've had one, turf toes take time; a month, maybe). Mendenhall broke one tackle and ran quickly to open space, but he also had outstanding blocking on that run, including a road-grading block by Heath Miller, whose value cannot be understated. . . . 1:23 p.m.: Shows you, the Steelers don't read this: A quick, cutting drive for a Mendenhall touchdown -- that's three touchdowns in five quarters for him, so maybe he's just a slow pro starter? Steelers, 7-0. . . .1:31 p.m.: Oooh, the Steelers' secondary is susceptible without Troy Polamalu in there? Brilliant deduction,Mr. Color Commentator (I hear Dick Enberg, who I like, but I don't even want to type his sidekick's name). But the key to that pass to the Lions fullback was: The linebackers, likely James Farrior, missed that coverage on a nicely designed play by Detroit -- both backs went into the middle for passes, with the Steelers failing to blitz on the play. Lions kick yet another field goal and decline yet another offsides call on the Steelers, who still lead by 7-6. (Oh, and for the record: It was wise to sit Polamalu. As noted Dr. Ryan Clark put it: Why use him in Week 5 against Detroit when you truly need him healthy for Week 10 and 15 and beyond?

SECOND QUARTER

1:43 p.m.: Mendenhall fumbles? Yeah, you remember that. Preseason his rookie year and again early this year? The $500 bounty on a ball he had to tote around the South Side complex? At least he doesn't drop the ball as often as Sweed. . . 1:48 p.m.: Nice acting job by Roethlisberger, but, who knows, maybe his right knee did endure more pain that it originally looked after being basically high-lowed by a pair of Lions. That bears further inspection. But, if nothing else, it erased a bad pick -- which most humans would throw with 500 pounds of beef bearing on you and your knees.. . .1:52 p.m.: Words a sports writer so rarely gets to type: And the bar goes wild! After Matt Spaeth's pull-down and penalty erased a touchdown, the Steelers -- as Ed Bouchette wrote earlier in the week -- went all Tony Gonzalez-Dallas Clark-Antonio Gates on the Lions, a touchdown catch and run by Heath Miller. Steelers, 14-6. They're actually playing the "Here We Go" song in this bar, which is a little larger than your average end zone. . . and packed with about 150 fans in various jersies and T's.

Yeah, I know. I'm in a bar. In Florida. Watching football. And it's a workday.

Such a tough life I lead.

Honest, Boss, I haven't touched a drop of libation, either. It is, after all, a workday.

Of course, you remember the last time the Steelers were in Ford Field.

A funny aside: A Seattle newspaper pal around the Thursday of Super Bowl week wrote about how the Seahawks were expecting a quiet crowd on Super Sunday, what with the corporate atmosphere and ticketholders to these glitzy affairs. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. My guesstimate was some 35,000, maybe even 40,000, Steelers fans were inside the building that XL day. A like number were around downtown Detroit, where cabbies charged per head and bars asked some $150 for a black-and-gold body to come inside and merely watch the game on TV. By the way, I always thought it was a good thing the Bears didn't win that NFC Champsionship: Could you imagine 70,000 to 80,000 Chicago fans and the same amount of Pittsburgh fans all getting insulated in Greektown on Saturday night? Could've been the largest drunken streetfight in U.S. history.

2:03 p.m.: I know what you're thinking: Mike Wallace must've gotten too close to Sweed. The dropsies are contagious. Maybe Sweed should cough into his elbow and the club should install those antibacterial-lotion machines on the sidelines. . . 2:08 p.m.: Oops, some kid goes all Ed Reed on Roethlisberger, one play after Wallace beat William James like a rented mule on that deep-pass drop, and it's Steelers, 14-13. . . .2:10 p.m.: A fan here has a legitimate question: Does being an ardent Steelers fan take years off your life? Miss Roethlisberger Throwback estimates it at 10 years. Might as well take up cliff diving or cigarette-pack smoking, right? UPMC, researchers get right on that. . . 2:14 p.m.: That's an amazing stat, 130-plus Steelers yards this quarter compared to just 1 yard by Detroit? Ward scored, bar erupted, Steelers regain a two-score lead at 21-13. But you gotta keep scoring, keep muffling that offense. But you gotta keep scoring, keep muffling that offense. A two-touchdown lead either before halftime or early the second, and this one will be in the books. (Hmmm, but didn't we say that at Chicago and Cincinnati, too? On second thought, the Steelers need a road victory any way they can get it right now. And, for the record, even some Florida fans have written off the club already: They won't win the Super Bowl. They don't have it. They don't look good. Tomlin needs to get on them. So, in short, a lovely climate and a different zip code doesn't alter Steeler Nation mentality much, does it. 2:24 p.m.: A James Harrison sack. There's something you haven't seen with anywhere near the same regularity as last season. By the way, his book comes out this week. 2:29 p.m.: HALFTIME, Steelers 21-13. Not a good half, not a bad half. They've done enough to get the lead, and, really, the defense isn't playing that bad, yielding just a pair of field goals mostly due to a couple of big plays (a nasty trend). But the frenetic fourth quarter is still to come.

THIRD QUARTER

2:46 p.m.: Yes, they serve Iron City here. But, again, Boss, I'm sippin' only diet pop. . . 2:55 p.m.: The leg, but not the accuracy for a 50-yarder anymore. Field-goal miss. Steelers need to turn that miss into points to pull away. . . 2:58 p.m.: Wallace caught THAT one. Even if it was underthrown a mite by Roethlisberger, who hadn't been off in his timing with the rookie since presesaon. Still and all, it's the kid's first NFL touchdown. And it breaks open this one. Steelers 28-13. Feel better now? . . . 3:15 p.m.: Rarer than a Harrison (or LaMarr Woodley) sack or a Sweed catch, it's a defensive turnover -- an interception, in particular. Clark's marked the Steelers' first pick in more than 150 pass attempts and 18-plus quarters (not counting overtime vs. Tennessee). The last one? Polamalu early against those Tennessee Tuxedos. Right there is your key defensive difference from last year.

FOURTH QUARTER

Just looked it up: The Steelers entered the day tied with the Patriots and Browns for dead last in the NFL with just one interception. Amazing. . 3:43 p.m.: Two ways to look at that Detroit touchdown. Glass half-full: That was Detroit's first offensive touchdown of the game and followed 3 2/3 quarters of just two field goals worth of offensive production. Glass half-empty: There's that fourth-quarter defensive problem again. As WVU coach Bill Stewart says: Hey, it's just a half-glass of water, anyway! Translation: The defense, as Dick LeBeau is wont to do, gave up stuff underneath. They allow the running backs and tight ends to catch short stuff, hoping that they'll get hit enough to develop alligator arms or drop balls on occasion. But they made Detroit's two-minute drill take three minutes. Still, they have one defensive stand yet to make, if not more. Lions TD makes it 28-20. Steelers. .3:52 p.m.: Playing with Polamalu is hard enough, but Clark, too? We'll see if the injury is severe. For a player of Clark's magnitude, anything more than a game or two -- Brett Favre approaches on the schedule -- could be verrrrrrry troubling. 4:02 p.m.: The LeBeau defense gave up the short stuff. Then, in the end, they turned the dogs loose. Three of their season-high seven sacks came on three of the final four downs. Sure, that last down was momentarily scarey, with two Lions receivers open underneath. . . before the Steelers' deep safeties stepped into the picture and snuffed out the threat. Hey, the Lions needed a 2-point conversion still to tie, remember. This team, similar to 2001, might be a team that juuuuuuust does enough to win, and that team won a ton of games by one score. Final: Steelers 28, Lions 20.

Live Chargers-Steelers

Chuck Finder — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:28:00 GMT

FIRST QUARTER

8:31 p.m.: Kickoff. . . . 8:32 p.m.: Two tight ends started, instead of No. 3 receiver Mike Wallace as introduced. For the record, Heath Miller didn't don the Reebok-pink shoes as promised (they don't fit), but he did add pink laces to the out-of-production line he normally wears. And, FTR II, Shawne Merriman didn't start for the Chargers. . . .8:34 p.m.: Just when a smart-aleck was going to say Who wants this team to run? They pass so well. . . Rashard Mendenhall bolted 9, 4 and 1 yard -- in the Red Zone -- for the touchdown. And how did you like backup guard-center Doug Legursky as the lead-blocker fullback in the goalline situation for that final, 1-yard touchdown plunge? Gotta give him the ball sometime, Bruce Arians, to keep defenses honest. Just . . . not for awhile yet. Steelers, 7-0, at the 11:49 mark.

8:47 p.m.: Who wants this team to pass? They run so well. . . OK, it might be a matchup: The Chargers aren't that solid against the run, especially without Merriman. Roethlisberger should've run on that scramble and fumble. . . 8:56 p.m.: Talk about taking what the defense gives you. Receivers are open. The line is more than holding its own -- it wasn't to fault on that Roethlisberger scramble/fumble, but, hey, that's the price you pay for the quarterback holding the ball and making plays more often than not. Finally, that touchdown play was a spot-on call. The Chargers blitzed seven, a bold move rarely employed by future Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau. And the Steelers reacted splendidly, with Roethlisberger immediately dropping that left-release pass to Mewelde Moore, who did a dandy job slicing into three awaiting Chargers and bulling into the end zone. Steelers, 14-0, with two drives for two touchdowns in a clock-munching 9:38 total, 17 plays, 154 yards. That's how you keep the ball out of Philip Rivers' hand. . . 9:01 p.m.: Now comes the bad news. Ryan Clark just got hurt, on a pass to Antonio Gates -- the biggest Steelers' fear. So with both Troy Polamalu and Clark absent, that leaves little Tyrone Carter and Deshea Townsend at safety, opposite that former Kent State basketball player Gates (sorry to bring that up, Pitt hoops fans with a memory of NCAA tournaments past). Clark, though, only missed one play. Still, safeties vs. Gates is a matchup to watch. . . . 9:07 p.m.: Interesting to note, at quarter's end, the Steelers possessed the ball for a whopping 10:58 -- impressive, but not leaving the Chargers with just one offensive play in a quarter, like the playoff game here last January. But also Roethlisberger is a clean 8-for-9 passing for 118 yards, and Mendenhall has as many yards in one quarter as he has in the past two weeks, 39 (all right, so all of that came on his last running play two weeks ago).

SECOND QUARTER

9:15 p.m.: A long drive -- 11 plays, 5:20 into the second -- for nuttin'. But, hey, Mendenhall, especially after that nifty, 14-yarder around right end (not to mention a crushing block in pass protection), has his career-high in rushing with 63 yards on 11 carries for an eye-popping 5.7 yards per. Could this be the jump-start of his career? The most worrisome thing here, however, is the Chargers have seemed to find an up-the-middle linebacker stunt that got to Roethlisberger on those back-to-back, drive-killing sacks. Mendenhall and the run might become more necessary.

In keeping with our college theme du jour. . . .

9:26 p.m.: You don't think LeBeau is reading this bl. . . . nah. But his defense not only blitzed a cornerback, but also sent the nickelback on that third-down pass. Keiwan Ratliff ran past Rivers (hey, these guys aren't used to pass rushing), but Ike Taylor timed it beautifully to bat the pass attempt. They must blitz Rivers some. . . .9:30 p.m.: Fourth-and-one, at your own 30? Man, that sure seemed like an attempt to draw San Diego offsides. . . but it worked! Gutsy call because it did; horrendously stupid if it hadn't. . . 9:34 p.m.: Mendenhall has 78 yards on 15 carries, the best half by a Steelers' back thus far -- Willie Parker conjured 73 in the Bungles first half last week. . . . 9:46 p.m.: This is the Mendenhall last seen at Illinois. But the blocking on that touchdown was stout, too: Chris Kemoeatu double-teamed the nose with Justin Hartwig, and didn't I see him grab a linebacker for good measure, too? Still and all, fine showing by the offense so far. Before the Chargers got the ball here, they limited Rivers, LT and the gang to just seven offensive snaps in the first and another seven in the second. HALFTIME, Steelers 21-0.

THIRD QUARTER

10:17 p.m.: So, ready to change the TV channel yet? With methodical precision, the Steelers are dissecting the Chargers. An eight-play, 81-yard, 5:01-eating drive made it: Steelers, 28-0. . . . 10:34 p.m.: Ruh-roh, Chargers scored. Aw, fuggetaboutit. This next Steelers offensive drive will tell the tale. Only 1:28 remains in the third (sorry, been busy writing for tomorrow's print edition). What the Steelers must do from here is put together yet another long drive. Even a field goal would be nice, a touchdown unnecessary. Yet eating up clock and pushing around the Chargers is a necessity. Killer instinct, if you want to call it, is a vital ingredient missing from the Chicago and Cincinnati losses. They're at home now. They seem to have their mojo back. A short drive here, and they may well lose it for awhile. You can't allow the Chargers a chance to cut it to 28-14, now that they've made it 28-7.

FOURTH QUARTER

10:43 p.m.: Nope, that Steelers drive wasn't what the doctor ordered. Two drops. A third-and-15 that kept getting worse, worser and worsest, until -- after a holding penalty negated a first-down completion to Shaun McDonald who, for last night, unseated inactive Limas Sweed for the No. 4 receiver's role -- a second penalty made it third-and-30. But, hey, they're playing Styx in the Mustard Bowl. All's well. . . not. It's up to the Steelers' defense to wrest back control of this game. . . 10:49 p.m.: There went a stiff defensive stand. Breakups by Willie Gay, dashing in all pink, and Ike Taylor (though he nearly allowed Chris Chambers to still catch that pass) were followed by a the punt return that Jacob Hester just swiped from Stefan Logan and returned it 41 yards for the touchdown to make it 28-14. Hmmm, didn't this blog just say something about that minutes ago, to end the Third Quarter segment? Back it goes to the offense. (By the way, that is the proper ruling -- if the whistle didn't blow to say Logan's forward progress had ended and the play was over, it's still fair and in play.) . . . 11:01 p.m.: A lot to like on that winning drive. Roethlisberger (24 of 31 for 311), with a passer rating near 130, is using his time -- just before taking his linemen to WWE Raw Monday night in Wilkes-Barre -- and deftly finding open receivers. A nice pitch by Mewelde Moore on the halfback option pass to Miller, a play opponents will have to defend from herein. Ward surpassed 100 yards receiving, though he did have two drops earlier in this half. And an eight-play, 70-yard, 5:19-consuming drive to make it 35-14 and put an emphatic exclamation point not only on this triumph, but a season that heretofore was a tenuous 1-2. Still, to this reporter, here is the best part of that drive: Mendenhall. After a 5-yard loss on the previous possession, a breakdown or a strong defensive play but not his fault, the kid in just his fifth NFL game with a carry showed something on that 32-yard romp. He hit that right-guard hole with speed, on another nicely blocked counter play with Kemoeatu pulling (same as that 39-yarder at Chicago). He eluded Alfonso Boone, I believe, lunging at his ankles. He sped into the next level and briskly cut to his left, from where he sped upfield before being tripped from behind. That's a big-league back play, folks. His 130 yards to this point surpasses his entire career output previously, 103 yards.

11:09 p.m.: All right, so the Chargers just made it 35-21, Steelers, with yet another touchdown. Yet another fourth-quarter fizzle by the Steelers? Only if they completely fall on their facemasks on this drive. . . . Well, blowing that onside kick didn't help. Just remember: The Steelers let the Chargers score two late ones in that 35-24, AFC Divisional playoff triumph last January. . . . 11:12 p.m.: Sit down, folks. It's about to be 35-28. James Harrison, as good as he is, cannot cover Mr. All-World Gates. . . 11:14 p.m.: Told ya.

11:15 p.m.: NBC has its audience back now. Just like the Steelers planned, right? You find out the true measure of a champion now. 11:25 p.m.: Now worry. Not about this drive, for Mendenhall -- with 166 yards on 28 carries to this point -- and the line have been handling this just fine. No, it's about Kemoeatu. If his injury is serious, it's a huge blow. He has been the best lineman on the field tonight, and his pulling blocks on the counter plays have made Mendenhall and Parker run for daylight the past two games. . . 11:31 p.m.: San Diego, field goal or not, might have been the fatal error. Why give the Steelers more time? Especially the way Reed has been kicking? You make them do something on fourth down with 1:20-plus still on the clock after that incompletion, but they took the 10-yard holding penalty and let the Steelers play with the ball some more. It'll be interesting to see how the two teams' seasons go from here. True, the defense gave up some late, excruciatingly soft touchdowns. But, ya know, the Chargers are pretty good, too: Gates, LT, Rivers. . . . The Steelers did enough to win this game, which they now lead 38-28. . . 11:37 p.m.: And that's it. A solid three quarters by the defense, but a dominant effort by the offense.

Pregame Chargers-Steelers

Chuck Finder — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:37:00 GMT

6:35 p.m.: Less than two hours until kickoff, and the fellas are just warming up -- pink shoes-to-pink shoes, Ben Roethlisberger to Hines Ward among them. The pink goalpost padding, the pink Gatorade towels hanging off the benches along the Steelers sideline and the pink "A Crucial Catch" slogan banner on the wall also dress up the field for this Breast Cancer Awareness Month across America and in the league.

Spotted Troy Polamalu ambling up and down the middle of the field underneath headphones, in no hurry. After a closer look through binoculars, his objective appeared clear: just out for a Sunday walk.

6:50 p.m.: A little light, pregame reading -- NFL.com's Pat Kirwan counted a combined 14 passes where Cincinnati's Carson Palmer and Chicaco's Jay Cutler were untouched by the Steelers' rush in their game-winning drives the past two Sundays.

7:07 p.m.: Interesting inactive list for the Steelers: Scratch Limas Sweed. No, Mike Tomlin has no doghouse. The others included the injured Willie Parker (turf toe), Polamalu (knee) and tight end-fullback David Johnson (high ankle sprain), plus cornerback Keenan Lewis along with linemen Kraig Urbik and Tony Hills. Dennis Dixon is the No. 3 quarterback.

The Steelers also announced that Rashard Mendenhall will start for Parker -- though the bet here is, unless Mendenhall dazzles, you will see a heavy dose of Mewelde Moore -- and Tyrone Carter will start for Polamalu. Again, Deshea Townsend received all the work at that strong safety spot in Friday's critical practice, so we'll watch closely how that plays out. . . especially against a San Diego tight end name of Antonio Gates.

Where have you gone, burnt-orange No. 4?............

For the Chargers, inactive are: safeties Kevin Ellison and C.J. Spillman, center Nick Hardwick, guard Tyronne Green, receiver Buster Davis, linebacker Antwan Applewhite and defensive lineman Travis Johnson. Charlie Whitehurst is their No. 3 quarterback.

BTW, the Chargers' inactives also mean outside linebacker Shawne Merriman is giving it a full go, whether that means select plays or he gives it as long as it lasts.

8:13 p.m.: Sorry, was out and about in the Mustard Bowl working on something. Nothing to report, though: Lotsa Chargers jersies behind their bench (family and friends), including a Lance Alworth throwback. Loved a Steeler fan with a nice facsimile of the Lombardi Trophy atop his hard hat. Something tells me there's a little kid somewhere missing his plastic toy football, which somebody snagged and painted silver. . . .

8:20 p.m.: 8:20 kickoff my tight end. But if you want a further pink update: lots of fellas in gloves, Roethlisberger with a forearm-band on his right, throwing arm, and Willie Gay, Santonio Holmes and Ryan Clark among those resplendent in the bright shoes and cleats.

Breast cancer patients/survivors are at midfield for the coin toss and national anthem. Game on.

We have football. . . sorta: Steelers-Cardinals preseason Game 1

Chuck Finder — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:09:00 GMT

8:07 p.m.: Meanwhile, back at the ranch. . . .

One-hundred ninety-three days later -- and, man, did those pass quickly -- the Super Bowl Polamalu finalists returned to kick-start their 2009 preseasons. A touchback, a nowhere run from a one-back, and the defending champYinz weren't exactly off to a repeat start.

But, then, who in Hades remembers the first coupla plays from preseason scrimmage?

If you do, report directly to your nearest emergency room. You got problems.

8:14 p.m.: What, no comments about Jon Gruden yet? C'mon, you've given the onetime Paul Hackett assistant at Pitt almost a full quarter of time on TV. You got to have an opinion of the new guy on Monday Night Football by now.

8:15 p.m.: Most of the crowd -- almost half of it seems to still be trickling in, due to Steelers-Bill Clinton-casino(?) traffic -- stood and roared at a Steelers punt not performed by the 29-yard-artist formerly known as Mitch Berger.

I think it was Bobby Walden.

No, it was surgically repaired Daniel Sepulveda. Nice punt, too. You missed him, didn't you?

8:24 p.m.: By the way, Travis Kirschke started for defensive end Brett Keisel, who was rested due to a calf injury.

8:38 p.m.: This just in: Michael Vick signs with Pennsylvania team. . . the Eagles, that is. Two-year deal, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, who is still gathering details. Wait, they just signed Adam DiMichele of Sto-Rox -- they didn't need another quarterback.

And how close were the Steelers to signing Vick? About 305 miles.

Charity was always a Rooney cause, not social work.

8:46 p.m.: Charlie Batch warming in the bullpen; an early night for the starters, and would you really want to expose Ben Roethlisberger like that behind a third-team, practice-squad center? Arizona's Anquan Boldin and Hines Ward were chatting on the field during the long and incorrectly announced review -- see, even the officials need preseason games to get into form.

8:52 p.m.: Limas, sweet. It's wayyyyyyyyyyyyy early, but he already -- and throw in even the AFC championship game, when he got wide open (that catching part must come later) -- is starting to look like a nice No. 3 receiver. No. 4, at worst. Nate Washington? Please pick up a white courtesy phone. . . .

8:58 p.m.: It's wayyyyyy early, and the weather is perfect for kicking, but Mike Tomlin lets Jeff Reed regularly attempt 50-yarders in camp. And he just hit that one a good 58, maybe longer. So you might see him try a few more of those long suckers in dry weather.

Oh, and beyond how Lawrence Timmons or Troy Polamalu -- who has hardly practiced in a week on that hamstring -- are performing in less-than-a-dress rehearsal, watch guys like Ziggy Hood, now on the defensive line, or Rashard Mendenhall (behind a patchwork, early line), or William Gay, or. . . more names to come. Preseason provides a gilmpse of new guys, or rising players.

for Southernburgh.

9:14 p.m.: Dennis Dixon in for Batch. Why not: Dixon can run the 2-minute drill, with 62 seconds left in the first half. And you can protect Batch's collarbone -- you know what he can do.

9:21 p.m.: Anthony Madison sure is talented -- he can make an interception AND get called for interference at the same time. Neil Rackers' 29-yard field goal with :00 on the clock ties it at halftime, 3-3. Not that it matters.

9:22 p.m.: From Bruce Springsteen to this. . . . dogs catching frisbees. John Steigerwald for years growled that this should be the standard halftime show.

And, to think, we already mentioned Mike Vick in this blog.

9:28 p.m.: Many pardons, this blog inadvertently left out Keith Urban playing the Mellon Arena in that 8:15 p.m. item about Dahntahn traffic.

9:40 p.m.: As a press-box wag pointed out, former coach Bill Cowher would've termed Joe Burnett's fumble after a 10-yard punt return "an auspicious debut." Especially considering that he meant "inauspicious," but from such verbiage he just couldn't be de-teered.

9:51 p.m.: Piotr Czech just missed a 36-yard field goal try, pushing it a tad left. But don't start those Bounced Czech puns. Every team needs an extra leg around to rest the incumbent, such as Reed.

10:10 p.m.: To answer a Comments question: No, there is no rent-a-leg punter in camp to help out Daniel Sepulveda. Maybe Mike Tomlin will give him a week off after this game. Five punts already for nearly a 50-yard average. Impressive.

Now, some early comments from the Steelers sidelines. . . . Ben Roethlisberger: "Overall, without look at film, I think [the offense] was OK. I think we had a couple of plays with few breakdowns, but it just felt good to go against someone other than your own guys." Hines Ward: "We played more, the first group, than we wanted to. We made some great plays and moved the ball out there." Max Starks about the talked-about offensive line: "Everybody is on the same page. Everybody was talking, that was very important to establish that early so there is no miscommunication, a guy coming free." Aaron Smith: "They moved the ball a little bit on us, but they didn't score, and I think we played all right. It's the first preseason game, and you're going to have mistakes here and there, guys being a little rough." LaMarr Woodley: "I think we did all right. It felt like we were on the field too long."

10:18 p.m.: Burnett acquitted himself nicely on that 42-yard interception return, huh? He resembled a fellow who knows what to do with the ball in his hands. That set up free-agent (yay, Bowie State!) Isaac Redman, who ran through one potential tackler and brushed off the arms of another in completing the final 3 yards in a touchdown rumble around right end. If this night illustrated nothing else, right there were a couple of new folks to watch this preseason, along with Mike Wallace.

10:34 p.m.: Yes, Redman is looking pretty good right now, running through people, rushing for a game-high 33 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns. Remember, though, he's playing against the bottom of the Cardinals' depth chart, as well. Besides, who does Bowie State play? Rod Stewart U.? Jagger A&M? Springsteen Tech? (I know, Virginia Union and Virginia State and Pennsylvania's own Lincoln are on the Bulldogs' schedule, among others.)

10:38 p.m.: Tyler Palko of Pitt and West Allegheny made quite a quick and successful Arizona debut. As another wag noted, he should be well familiar with the small size of the crowd left. And no wonder something like 1/4 of the Cardinals roster has Western Pennsylvania ties, befitting the Pittsburgh West flavor starting from the head coach down. Palko converted all five of his pass attempts, including the touchdown to cap his five-play, 59-yard, 1:59 drive.

10:53 p.m.: Czech, please. This one's over, 20-10 Steelers, on his field goal with 1:41 still to play. Didn't have that buzz of the last time they met, huh?

Super Bowl Polamalu (XLIII), Live

Chuck Finder — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:25:00 GMT

10:09 p.m.: Double wow. Double yoi. Greatest Super Bowl finish ever? Certainly for the Steelers.

Break open that 6 Pack now.

10:02 p.m.: Good call by McAulay: Holmes "toes" were in bounds. A freeze frame in NFL history, let alone the Super Bowl. With 35 seconds left? On what could be the game-winning drive? After putting them there? And nearly catching the potential winning touchdown in the other corner? In. Cred. A. Bull.

But wait...........................Arizona gets the ball with half a minute left. Fitzgerald and Warner have worked that magic before. Like, say, the fade touchdown that gave the Cardinals that 23-20 lead (sorry I missed a while there, but I have to write another story, on deadline, while the game is going on. What I wouldn't do for younz guys.)

9:59 p.m.: No way. Did Holmes really make that catch? Did he get both feet in?

Move aside, Lynn Swann and the bobble over Dallas' Mark Washingon. Heck, poor James Harrison made probably the greatest play in Super Bowl history at the end of the first half, what with the circumstances and how much that turned around a game that could've been 10-10 at half. Holmes just made the greatest catch in Supe annals. Heck, that may even surpass Joe Montana-to-Dwight Clark in that NFC Championship moment for the ages

9:58 p.m.: No timeouts left, a desperate need to score a touchdown, and first-and-goal at the Cardinals' 6 with 49 seconds left. You don't want overtime against this team, do you? Nice try on that overthrow by Santonio Holmes, who just made a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge catch and run to give the Steelers a chance to tie (the first overtime Supe) or win.

9:57 p.m.: Wow.

9:56 p.m.: Nothing like a fourth-quarter, must-have drive in the Super Bowl. Now that's drama. And Roethlisberger, with his idol John Elway the comeback kid in the crowd, with Elway's No. 7 and the Steelers on his back, was trying to collect yet another fourth-quarter flourish for which he has become famed already.

9:45 p.m.: Think Mike Tomlin wants that touchdown in the last goalline situation back right now?

In either?

9:43 p.m.: You have to pass from your own 1-yard line. You have to go for the first down. It looked like they got it, but holding on that offensive line again, Justin Hartwig. Safety. So it suddenly became 20-16, Steelers. That's better than a sack, even an interception. Maybe not a punt, though. We're about to find out. Give those knuckles a rest, Galaxy.

It was the first safety since Supe XXV, in Tampa, when Bruce Smith of Buffalo sacked the New York Giants Jeff Hostetler of West Virginia in the end zone.

9:30 p.m.: Fitzgerald is back. Mostly, Warner is finally looking for his franchise player. His 1-yard fade route -- who can stop that? -- gave Arizona Ol' Mo' and pared the Steelers' lead to 20-14. Hold onto your seats.

9:17 p.m.: Troy Polamalu, commercial MVP.

9:12 p.m.: First of all, didja expect Big Ben to outhrow Wingin' Warner through three quarters. It's 162 yards to 153, but, more important, that vaunted passing game has only 153 yards -- and less than 10 yards per completion. Fitzgerald entered the fourth quarter with just one catch, covered like a full-length mink by Ike Taylor. Warner isn't even throwing in Fitz's direction. That's some dandy defensive work right there, folks.

9:04 p.m.: End of third quarter, Steelers 20-7. With this defense, with the way the Steelers' offense is moving the ball and, more important, grinding up clock, it looks like you can almost pop open that 6 Pack.

Almost.

8:56 p.m.: Sixteen-play, 79-yard drive, which is incredible in and of itself. But to take up 8:39 of a quarter -- more than half -- on one drive, all those whack penalties or not? Now that's a crusher. With Reed's 21-yard field goal giving the Steelers a 20-7 lead, the Cardinals must muster some kind of score on their next drive, or they're history.

8:52 p.m.: That third-down was non-call was warranted. Then, on Jeff Reed's field goal, the Cardinals picked up a third personal foul of the drive when Adrian Wilson, in referee Terry McAulay's word, "ran over the holder," Mitch Berger. Automatic first down. And the clock's ticking away.

If you enlarge you can see Adrian Wilson about to level Mitch Berger

8:50 p.m.: I'm sorry, but this goal-line offense is laughable. There you got your wish, Willie Parker on a run -- and the blocking wasn't there, so he got corralled for a loss. Then a Heath Miller drop? You don't see that very often.

8:44 p.m.: Quiet. Listen. . . . You can almost hear Mike Holmgren and all those Seahawks fans yapping about the Steelers getting all the breaks from officials. In this instance, it's warranted. Santonio Holmes committed a facemask penalty on DRC, who was the one flagged. No wonder Holmes heard "facemask" and started pleading his case to the side judge -- he knows when he's guilty. . . .Then a second personal-foul penalty? On a questionable call on Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby for roughing Roethlisberger. Ya know, maybe those Pacific Northwesterners were on to something.

8:35 p.m.: Kurt Warner, just when he was leading the Cardinals downfield when they badly needed it, was called for a fumble -- his longtime bugaboo. But Arizona challenged that his arm was going forward, as replays seemed to show. If the Steelers get a field goal, minimum, on this next drive, it could be a death knell already for Arizona. At some point, of course, these former sleepwalkers (they're word) and realize, Hey, we are the Cardinals after all.

8:34 p.m.: Sorry, I'm still not recovered. . . . (Nice photos by Dan Gigler, too. Jus' givin' a shout out.)

8:19 p.m.: Bruce Springsteen is going to Disney Land. Will the Steelers, too?

7:57 p.m.: Excuse me while this intrepid reporter arises from his keyboard to worship at the altar of The Boss.

No, not Micco (sorry, Jer).

7:55 p.m.: Touchdown, 17-7, Steelers. Please refer to 7:07 for details.

That made Harrison's the longest play in Super Bowl history, offensive, defensive, special teams. Remember, Willie Parker registered the longest touchdown run, at 75 yards, in winning Super Bowl XL. Momentum, signs, you name it -- it points in the Steelers' direction right now.

7:51 p.m.: First and goal at the Steelers' 1, just 18 seconds left after good clock management. The Cardinals appeared to be in a must-throw down, and . . . someone call for oxygen for James Harrison. A 100-yard interception return for a touchdown -- hey, Deshea Townsend, get outta his way and block for somebody. Warner for Boldin went awry. Harrison exhausted, though Tomlin came over to congratulate.

The play was under review, but his head was the first thing that touched in the end zone. So it's a bigger miracle for the opposition since Tony Dungy got a Polamalu interception reversed in the Super Bowl XL playoff run.

Unbelievable play by the Defensive MVP of 2008 who, by now, we ought to expect this kind of thing. Believe it now, as Tampa gave its Super Bowl that slogan. (BTW: An unidentified Steeler clipped a Cardinal on the return.)

7:48 p.m.: That 12-yard catch and run by No. 11 marked the first catch of the day by Pitt's Larry Fitzgerald. The Steelers need to contain him to win this game, and so far they've done that. But. . . .

7:36 p.m.: Forget the bad offensive series by Arizona, and the strong push by the Steelers' D. The turning point, may have come at 2:59. The stadium entertainment folks just played "Love is Like a Rock" by Pittsburgh's own Dawnee Ahhriss.

7:30 p.m.: That quaking you feel just might be momentum, with a couple of penalties and a nice Breaston return giving Arizona some momentum. But that Steelers' pass rush, gaining a holding call on one and a sack on another, picked up the pace for the defense.

7:20 p.m.: Game-saving drive by the Cardinals. They looked poised and comfortable against that secondary, that defense. An Anquan Boldin open play, a couple of James/Breaston plays and a lack of a rush on Warner, and the Cardinals have a nine-play, 83-yard drive to cut the Steelers' lead to 10-7.

7:14 p.m.: Key thing to notice on that Cardinals first down: Kurt Warner got happy feet in the pocket and threw a bad pass. And there really wasn't a rush near him.

7:07 p.m.: Gary Russell just ran off the field faster than he ran on it. A plunge for a touchdown. A point after. An 11-play, 69-yard drive covering seven-plus minutes. And it was 10-0, Steelers.

Stat time: The Cardinals are 1-6 this season when they fall behind by 10 points or more. And 1-12 in two seasons under Whis.

7:04 p.m.: Third and goal at the one, and Mike Tomlin calls timeout. Will they call two plays and quickly go for a fourth-down try? Can Tomlin plunge that aggressive bent into his pocket and actually kick another field goal? Stay tuned. (Oh, yeah, right, like you were going to change over to "60 Minutes" or something right now. . . .)

7:00 p.m.: End of first quarter, 3-0 Steelers. But they're threatening. And hold on for an interesting stat if they do score. (Whis has that red flag ready. . . .) BTW: Steelers 140 yards, Cardinals 13. But that isn't the stat that counts most, ya know.

6:57 p.m.: Did NBC's John Madden just say, "That's Ben Roethlisberger being Superman"? Well, that was vintage Roethlisberger escapability, continually scanning downfield -- though you gotta wonder if he saw Hines Ward open and Heath Miller just popped into the picture at the last second.

6:54 p.m.: Yes, Nate Washington was as wide open as he looked on TV. Wider, even. Roethlisberger put too much air underneath it, underthrowing Washington, and rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie rallied to nearly intercept it. DRC, as they call him, is a star in the making. But the dude from Tiffin beat him badly on that one.

6:50 p.m.: Less of a stellar and more of a Stiller first possession by Arizona. Edgerrin James looked a bit rattled, with that fumble. Kurt Warner looked a tad confused by the defense's movement. And how about Troy Polamalu being all over the field: on a tackle, on the sidelines having trainer John Norwig reinsert his left contact lens, on Larry Fitzgerald one-on-one in bump-and-zone coverage off the line on third-and-17. That last part merits watching later. Nothing like having the two best players in this game, and possibly even the NFL, going head to head.

This just in, if it's a sign: Reed's field goal was the shortest in a Super Bowl in three decades since. . . the Steelers' Roy Gerela also kicked an 18-yarder in Super Bowl X, played in 1976.

6:46 p.m.: Color me shocked. This intrepid reporter was sure the Cardinals would come out in three or four wides. On second down, they did. . . and got a first down on a Kurt Warner pitch to Woodland Hills' Steve Breaston. Methinks Coach Whis will ditch the run rather soon and use those spread formations.

6:42 p.m.: After being aggressive all season, if not his entire head-coaching term thus far, Mike Tomlin opted for the points. Jeff Reed's field goal from 18 yards, after a 9-play, 71-yard, good-looking drive, gave the Steelers a 3-0 lead over Arizona.

Don't get cocky, Steelers galaxy. Arizona gave up a first-drive touchdown at Carolina and trailed 7-0 before scoring 33 unanswered points. And they were down to Atlanta, 17-14, in the wild-card game and responded with a touchdown and a lead they wouldn't relinquish in just 70-some seconds.

6:35 p.m.: For one thing, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt might be regretting that decision to defer already, huh? Boomer Esiason on Westwood One said Ben Roethlisberger already looks better than he did in all of Super Bowl XL. . . But this goal-line offense (Russell?) still has great difficulty without using Parker or the pass. . . .Maybe it's a Steelers sign: Roethlisberger, who many folks (including much of the Pacific Northwest) still don't think he scored going left in Ford Field, scores on a pass on which he took the run option. Touchdown -- or is it? Whisenhunt challenged, which is a smart call (especially being a student of history, having been in the press box in Detroit that day). Roethlisberger is close yet again. . . replays arethisclose. After review, officials overturn the touchdown call. Fourth-and-goal from the one, Darnell Dockett with the tackle and Whisenhunt with the touchdown-saving move.

6:33 p.m.: What bad knee? Hines Ward was open for 10 to 15 yards, easy.

6:31 p.m.: If someone fleet such as Santonio Holmes had returned that kickoff through the middle hole, it might well be 7-0 Steelers by now. Maybe Gary Russell was blinded by all the flashing cameras.

6:28 p.m.: Big-game conditions: 68 degrees, winds out of the north-northwest (holy Hitchcock) and skies mostly cloudy, though it's nighttime, so it doesn't matter. Best weather for a Steelers game since, what, September?

6:27 p.m.: Tails, by James Farrior. It's heads. Arizona defers. Hey, like Bill Cowher sorta said, nobody ever remembers who loses the coin toss at the Super Bowl. (Final) Game on.

Can Big Ben end a Souper Bowl curse?

Chuck Finder — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:56:00 GMT

Notice the extra "O" . . . something these Steelers can always use, right?

Four former soup pitchmen are vying today for a chance to take their team to Super Bowl Polamalu (43, get it?): Ben Roethlisberger, Todd Heap of Baltimore, Kurt Warner of Arizona and Donovan (plus Mama) McNabb of Philadelphia. If you notice, each member of that group has been, shall we say, a little snakebit after they promoted the product. DIdn't Roethlisberger miss a soup-company photo shoot because of his motorcycle accident? (Ben did other spots, some of which you can find here.)

Well, it seems these soupmakers have an entire Web site devoted to what they call the Campbell's Chunky Soup Curse, where they offer proof that -- quoting them here -- "every NFL player who endorses Campbell's Chunky Soup will suffer a rash of career- or even life-threatening injuries, failure on the field, humiliation and, ultimately, defeat." Not to sound harsh.

Granted, each Warner, Roethlisberger and McNabb reached a Super Bowl while pimping the canned goodies, but. . .: Warner lost there in his last year as a pitchman, got benched four times thereafter, got hurt and was exiled to Arizona (which now doesn't seem so bad); Roethlisberger had that accident, an appendectomy, a spinal concussion and back-to-back years where he never reached the playoffs' second round; and McNabb puked in the huddle in a failed final SB drive.

One more important boiling issue: Dave Nicodemus, through his site 5goldenrings.net, is trying to convince Steelers fans to click and vote for the team in what amounts to a Campbell's competition for the homeless. See, he explained, the Steelers and Bills are in a playoff competition that Buffalo was leading by an almost 2-to-1 margin. The winning team earns 18,000 free cans of the company's soup as a charitable trophy to a local food bank, which truly gives life-important meaning to a competition, huh?

Ben and mom Brenda in Oct. 2006 shoot

Chargers-Steelers live (in-game edition)

Chuck Finder — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:49:00 GMT

7:58 p.m.: The end. Steelers 35, Chargers 24. Same night next week, same venue, same old Ravens, 6:30 p.m.

7:52 p.m.: Ruh-roh, 62-yard pass from Rivers to Darren Sproles. . . but (can't resist) he comes up short. Chargers, 24-35. Four unanswered touchdowns by the Steelers were too much. So much for the maligned offense this night, eh? Sproles, for the record, has 11 rushes for 15 yards. Russell snagged the onsides kick to secure it.

7:48 p.m.: Only twice before this season have the Steelers conjured as many points as this, at Cincinnati and in that Texans opener. And they hadn't mustered more in their previous eight postseason games, that 36-33 Cleveland conquest (referenced earlier over the punt return) in 2002. In 48 playoff games in Steelers history, only four times have they scored more. One more historical footnote: Parker's 146 yards are the third-most in Steelers playoff annals, and the most since Franco Harris' 153 against Baltimore in 1975.

7:41 p.m.: The party's over. Warm up Styx and the Bolts bus. Remember, though: You aren't talking about the old axiom of beating a team three times in a season, you're talking 'bout attempting a hat trick over Ray Lewis and the menacing, confidence-swelled Ravens. And didja catch Ray-Ray on NFL Network with his fellow U. of Miami man Warren Sapp on Saturday? He says the Raves' D prefers the road, because the quiet home crowd allows the fellas to hear each other's pre-snap calls, adjustments and advice.

7:34 p.m.: On his 24th carry, he went wide right, shedding a would-be tackler, for 27 yards to give him 122 yards on the game. But, uh, shouldn't he stay in bounds? [By the way, this marks Parker's first 100-yard playoff game, now at 146 after that 16-yard, open-hole touchdown run (nice evening for the o-line, with just one sack to boot). Despite that 75-yard touchdown run in Supe XL, Parker compiled but 93 total on the game.] Seventy-three yard drive, ate up half of what was left of the fourth quarter. Steelers, 35-17 Factoid: Parker hasn't had a two-touchdown day like this since the first half of the first game, against the Houston Texans.

7:28 p.m.: When you want to milk clock, you throw deep -- element of surprise, OK, so that's slightly comprehensible -- but then call time out?

7:23 p.m.: 10-play, 73-yard Chargers march and a touchdown -- not what the Steelers wanted or needed at this point. So it's a two-score game now. The offense, ahem, needs to piece together a time-consuming drive and conjure points, though either would suffice.

7:09 p.m.: You know you're having a horrible day when, in 15 minutes' time, you head a punt to the other team AND have a bad pass-interference penalty on ya (yes, there is such a thing as a good one). Eric Weddle stuck again for the Bolts'. But, wait, they didn't give it to Davis? Gary Russell with the wide-left TD run with 12:52 remaining. A long way to go in this one, folks, as columnist Gene Collier just pointed out. So long as the defense doesn't lapse into a prevent and fail to rush Rivers, it should have breathing room. Steelers, 28-10.

7:05 p.m.: Chargers after that failure fall to 2-for-8 on third downs. That's crucial. If Steelers get a field goal on this possession, there's reason to feel relatively safe. Mostly due to that defense.

7:00 p.m.: Yet another goalline stand by the Bolts. Funny, but the right side of the offense -- and the Bolts' defensive left side -- looked like it had the upper hand in numbers, so a sweep or a Spaeth short out pattern or maybe even a Roethlisberger roll out seemed to be the way to go pre-snap. And giving it to Cary Davis? It's nice to reward the fullback, but your quarterback or Parker are your stars for a reason. Up to the defense. Another James Harrison end-zone strip?

6:59 p.m.: Third quarter time of possession: Steelers 14:43, Chargers :17. Seventeen seconds? Cripes, Britney Spears has been married longer than that. Twice.

6:56 p.m.: Hitting Hines Ward outta bounds? It's the Karma of Tim McKyer coming back to undo the Bolts. End of third quarter.

6:52 p.m.: What I meant to say was: If you punt the ball off Eric Weddle's widdle head, and William Gay recovers on the edge of the red zone. . . .

6:46 p.m.: Foote's hand was ruled to be underneath the ball -- and replays seemed tough to judge. . . . Trick call on a vital third-down-and-short? Better question: You want your $102 million franchise player with a concussed brain blocking one of the largest, toughest nose guards in the NFL, Jamal Williams? Geez, Roethlisberger threw a block like a good o-lineman. Even if the Steelers wind up punting, killing the clock and killing the Chargers' retribution chance at scoring would be monumental.

6:40 p.m.: Well, that's another way to regain momentum. . . Rivers' pass was tipped by a leaping Brett Keisel; o-lineman are supposed to keep their blockees down on earth, and Marcus McNeill failed to do it, but clouted him immediately afterward for bad measure). Then Larry Foote appeared to wrest that interception from James Harrison's hands. Hey, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year has enjoyed enough pub lately, anyway. Coach Norv Turner challenged the ruling, and why not because the game hinges on this juncture right here.

6:39 p.m.: Well, that's one way to lose your hard-fought edge -- a 63-yard kickoff return by Darren Sproles.

6:33 p.m.: Heath Miller! True, it's excruciatingly early. But Roethlisberger has gone 12 of 18 for 135 yards to this point and, besides the overthrows to Miller once and Holmes (juuuuust) twice, you would draw the conclusion here that he is sharper than he was last year against Jacksonville and even in Super Bowl XL. While I was typing....Miller again! Make Roethlisberger 13 for 19 for 143 and one touchdown after that 8-yard pass to that perpetually open tight end. Huge drive and touchdown. Steelers, 21-10. Wow, 13 plays, 77 yards, 7:56. Give credit where it's due: Arians, Roethlisberger, the line, the trainers, the commissioner (shout out to the Washington & Jefferson College grad), anybody with the offense on that drive.

6:28 p.m.: All right, get out your pool slips.....63,899 was just announced as today's attendance.Now that Parker has one good run among his first five carries, notice that the Chargers are rotating defensive linemen even on the same series. They may have made adjustments to play the gaps better. We'll see. Big possession here for the Steelers, particularly considering they deferred just to get this opportunity to pile on points to end the first and start the second. . . . Oooooh, milimeters, or less, from a game-breaking completion to Holmes. Actually, upon further review, it hit his fingertips, itwasthatclose.

6:14 p.m.: For you pro-Parker folks, he has 52 yards on 10 rushes. Cozy little average, eh?

6:11 p.m.: Halftime. [As we wrote at 4:56, let's stick with straight cocoa, coffee or tea, sollight?]

6:07 p.m.: Lovely deep pass by Roethlisberger -- once, twice, third time's a lucky lady. Nice placed over linebacker Stephen Cooper, and what was he doing covering Ward so deep? Oh, because Antonio Cromartie wasn't there in time. Sixty-six yards in 76 seconds, Parker polished it off with a touchdown sweep left on a nice block from. . . a fullback?. . . Cary Davis. Steelers, 14-10.

6:05 p.m.: Oh, what the hell do I know.

6:04 p.m.: Check, check! He will boot himself 56 yards through the uprights for missing Holmes on that easy post pattern for a touchdown.

6:03 p.m.: Roethlisberger will kick himself over missing that wide-open Miller in the right flat. That play would've put them in instant field-goal range, or helped for a touchdown chance.

5:57 p.m.: Nate Kaeding, showing no ill effects of a groin injury that caused him to miss practice time late this week, converted a 42-yard field goal on the far side of the two-minute warning. Bolts, 10-7.

5:49 p.m.: Can't wait to hear the post-game explanation on that fake punt. Those two Chargers, Antwan Applewhite and Jacob Hester, were completely unblocked as the snapper Jared Retkofsky and the left side of the line went left, and the right guard and that side moved right. Ryan Clark had no chance. The gambling call isn't so bad, but the execution -- or failing to check off it -- are open to debate. That's giving the Bolts a field goal, minimum.

5:34 p.m.: During the last two timeouts, the grounds crew came out with snowblowers and cleared the lines every five yards. Looks like Willie Parker and the offensive line are using those as guidelines. The o-line is pushing back blue-whale Jamal Williams and the Bolts' defensive front, allowing Parker and the occasional Mewelde Moore open lanes to rip off decent gains. That could have a wear-and-tear effect on this defense later.

5:10 p.m.: (Sorry, folks, either the wi-fi connection in the press box or the PG blog software is slooooowwww right now.) Holmes quickly makes amends for that holding call with a dandy punt return for a touchdown. Bolts punter Mike Scifres, the MVP of the wild-card victory over Indianapolis, kicked it 53 yards from the snowy shadow of the open-end end zone, but Holmes made a mad dash a team-record 67 yards for the knotting score. He eluded a lunging Brandon Siler, cut through an open middle and ambled down the left sideline -- pausing only to hurdle Legedu "I'll Buy a Vowel, Pat Sajak" Naanee. Tie, 7-7. For the record, it was the Steelers' first postseason, punt-return touchdown since Antwaan Randle-El's previous-record, 66-yarder against the Browns in that Jan. 5, 2003, come-from-behind, 36-33 victory. Get this: The last time the Chargers gave up a punt-return for a playoff score, Lyndon Banes Johnson was in the White House -- the 1965 AFL Championship game, to Butch Byrd of the Buffalo Bills.

4:56 p.m.: Put the bottles and cups down, people. Heath Miller on second down strained to erase the Santonio Holmes holding penalty and get back to the first stick, but at least one-third of the . . . uh, insulated. . . crowd began cheering because they thought it was a first down beyond the second stick. Then Ben Roethlisberger performed a quick-kick punt on fourth down -- left-footed. Let's see, if you're nimble with both hands, you're ambidextrous. What is it with both feet? Oh, yeah, you're a soccer player. . . . By the way, a bubble screen and a quick kick on the opening series? What are we watching, is Mike Tomlin's first boss Bill Stewart of the West Virginia Mountaineers calling plays?

4:49 p.m.: The Stay Classy Chargers scored in two minutes, one second. And it shouldn't have taken them that long. Antonio Gates was wide open on the first play -- how do you miss that guy in coverage? Darren Sproles appeared to be a couple of fingers away from breaking a screen pass for a long distance. And Vincent Jackson motored downfield on a post pattern, with Ike Taylor behind him and unable to stop Philip Rivers' perfect, 41-yard touchdown pass. Four plays, 75 yards, mute Heinz Field crowd. Hey, it was so quiet, you could hear the snow fall. Bolts, 7-0.

4:45 p.m.: With Jerome Bettis present as an honorary co-captain, the Steelers won the toss -- tails, for the record -- and opted to defer. Biiiig mistake.