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Cowher ready for resolution
Cowher
Chaz Palla/TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Cowher
Chaz Palla/TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Scott Brown is the Steelers beat writer. He can be reached via e-mail. Also check out Brown's blog
It may also go down as his final weekly briefing with the media as the Steelers' coach.
Cowher didn't say Tuesday whether he will return to the Steelers next season. He did hint that an answer will come shortly after the season ends.
The Steelers play their final game Sunday against the Bengals in Cincinnati.
"It won't go long," Cowher said of his decision process. "I'm not sure what the time frame is, but I think the most important thing right now is focusing on this game, because there's such a difference in my mind between 8-8 and 7-9."
Cowher also framed what the Steelers' motivation entering the game at Cincinnati in more blunt terms.
"Let me put it this way," Cowher said. "Misery loves company, and we're looking for some company."
The Steelers (7-8) could very well be gunning for their 11th win of the season in Cincinnati, Cowher said, if not for a handful of plays.
The plays that made the difference were turnovers.
Only three teams have committed more turnovers than the Steelers, and they were particularly costly in close losses to the Bengals, Falcons and Raiders.
"If you look back on this year and reflect," Cowher said, "it still comes down to turning the football over. That has resulted in us losing some close games this year that in the past we would have won."
The Steelers have been plagued by inconsistent play in a number of areas. That includes the running game, even though Willie Parker made the Pro Bowl and has rushed for 1,360 yards.
Parker is having one of the best seasons, statistically, by a Steelers running back, but he has been held to fewer than 100 rushing yards in seven of the eight losses.
Parker managed just 51 rushing yards in the two losses to the Ravens this season.
Cowher all but said the Steelers need another running back to complement Parker.
"I think (Parker) is one of the better backs in the National Football League," Cowher said. "I do believe you need more than one back in this business if you're going to run the football through a 16-game season."
