Steelers Fall 17-14

I am not sure what to think about the loss to the Bears. I do not want to make too much of it, nor do I want to ignore some troubling signs..........Hey, da Bears were supposed to be a very tough team according to experts as they entered the season. The addition of Cutler was supposed to make them a legitimate contender this year, then a poor showing in the opener v Green Bay left many wondering about Cutler, and the Bears. So if you like the glass half full, the Steelers lost a very close game to a good team that HAD to rebound from a poor showing on the road to make amends during their HOME OPENER. OK. Add to that the fact that the team could have and should have won the game by their usual M.O. had Jeff Reed not missed TWO makeable field goals in the fourth quarter. The running game showed some improvement and even Mendenhall flashed some of the moves that made him a first round pick in last years draft. If Holmes catches that TD pass, the Steelers likely win. So, they COULD HAVE and SHOULD HAVE WON, but for some uncharacteristic mistakes. Right?? Well, maybe.........If you are a glass half empty guy you can say that AGAIN the running game was sub par, and the fact that they felt that they HAVE to throw the ball in third and short or fourth and short situations on a rainy day PROVES that they KNOW that they cannot line up and knock the snot out of somebody to take a yard when they need it! Or you can say that a championship defense does not allow a very mediocre offensive team to drive 97 yards to tie the game at the end of the first half, period, and does not allow a game winning FG drive to end the game, period! ?The Steelers allowed 10 fourth quarter points lose this game, and the defense also allowed the Cardinals to drive up and down the field in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, needing a miracle drive and play from Big Ben and Santonio Holmes to take that game back......so in two of the last three meaningful games the Steel Curtain has collapsed in the fourth quarter. You can also say that the Steelers look undisciplined, taking too many penalties and that this will kill them. Finally, you can say that with Troy on the sideline, mediocre to good teams should beat the Steelers if they just spread the field and throw 40 t imes per game, or that we have seen no evidence of that ferocious pass rush from the latest version of Quiver and Quake, Woodley and Harrison. You would not be totally wrong looking at this game from either perspective. I, for one suspect that this team under Tomlin will go back to doing what has been its hallmark since he took over, and that they will win far more of these types than they will lose. They have to if they want to repeat as Champs, and I think that they will.