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Steelers poised to end playoffs in San Diego
Still, the Steelers (10-5-1) insist they'll enter the AFC playoffs confident that a Super Bowl berth is within their grasp.
What's more, they're convinced their rediscovered confidence and swagger was bolstered rather than eroded by a sloppy 34-31 victory over the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field in the regular-season finale.
So, what do they know that others don't?
What do these Steelers have going for them that the rest of an apparently even-matched AFC field does not?
"Persistence," defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen said. "We're just persistent and we're physical. We will wear people down; there's no doubt about that. We will not give up, and I don't think physically anybody can match us. Both sides (of the ball), we're a very physical team."
There's much to be said for that.
In this season of debate and consternation over whether to run or to pass, about who should be doing the running and passing, about personnel and scheme regarding third-down defense, about field-goal kicking, kickoff and punt coverage and returns and play-calling, particularly offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey's weekly array of gadgets, it's been easy at times to lose sight of the game's bare necessities, blocking and tackling. The teams that can block and tackle above all else win much more often than not. If you're physical enough, you can inflict your will, plain and simple.
The Steelers became such a team in the regular season's final month.
"We will have success if we don't turn the ball over and have good special teams; I really believe so," offensive tackle Wayne Gandy said. "Physically, we can match anybody, and talent-wise, I think we can match anybody."
That can take the Steelers far, indeed, assuming quarterback Tommy Maddox can avoid a reprise of his three-turnovers-for-touchdowns meltdown against Houston (on Dec. 8) and kicker Jeff Reed doesn't suddenly morph into Todd Peterson, both of which are reasonable assumptions.
"The thing that we've gotta do is continue to control the line of scrimmage the way we have," Maddox said. "I think the defense has been playing really well. If they continue to play like they did last Monday night (at Tampa), against Carolina and against Houston, it's going to be hard for teams to move the football on us.
"Offensively, we just have to be smart and take our chances when we get 'em and put some points on the board. I think when we do that we're a pretty tough team to beat."
Not having a bye week in the opening round will make it tougher on what should be a very tough team to beat, but not so tough that it should be the determining factor of the Steelers' postseason.
"Three weeks is easy," von Oelhoffen said. "Anybody can get up for three weeks."
Especially when a team is riding as high emotionally as Maddox contends the Steelers are after wiping out an 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit and then turning the Ravens away in the closing seconds.
"I'm telling ya, when a team sticks together and wins a game like this, it's a huge momentum lift," Maddox said. "It's an exciting way for our team to go into the playoffs."
The Steelers' lack of home-field advantage throughout will also be perceived as a negative.
Truth be told, the way this team's character and chemistry has developed, it might turn out to be a positive.
"We don't play bad on the road, so that's not going to be a problem," Gandy said. "If we have to go to Oakland, if we have to go to Tennessee, we're not a bad road team. We don't have that Green Bay mystique where you're undefeated at home and then get on the road and lose. We actually do pretty well on the road."
The eventual destination is San Diego.
The Steelers are capable of taking the long road to get there.
Considering the regular season they've just completed, doing so would be most appropriate.
If they stay healthy, it'll happen.
