I don't know if the Steelers loss to the Oilers was harder on the players, or the fans. The players have the benefit of knowing what they did wrong, and the knowledge of whether it is correctable.
We, as the fans, can only look at a loss like this as a sign of fallibility. Maybe all the hopes we had for this team were founded on blind faith. Maybe last Mondays first 3 quarters were nothing but a mirage, and the last quarter is what we should expect.
Why does a team with all this talent available come up short when the game is on the line. Is it a lack of faith in themselves? If it is, the coaches are not doing their jobs. If it isn't, then it must be a lack of talent.
This loss can not be blamed on the absence of Norm Johnson. With Cowhers track record, even if Norm was available, he would have opted to let his offense go back out and try to move the chains. When a team is in a 4th and inches situation, it is more a battle of desire, than it is a battle of talent. The Oilers desire, for some reason, was greater than the Steelers on this day. They repeatedly stopped the Steelers, when a score seemed imminent.
Pittsburghs first 2 drives of the game stalled in the red zone. They were surprisingly easy drives that seemed destined for points. But destiny was not on Pittsburghs side this day. It didn't matter that Kordell was as sharp as he's been all year. The drives stalled at the most inopportune times. Instead of taking control of the game, they allowed the Oilers to stay close enough to perform their last minute heroics.
The Jaguars were in a similar situation on their last drive on Sunday. The Steelers had a 4th down and a half a yard to ice the victory. The Jaguars needed a 71 yard run to ice theirs. Jacksonville had the desire. Jacksonville got the win.
I am by no means saying the Steeler season is over. At 6-4 they are still in the hunt. Just listen to the Oilers! They're 6-4 and already in the playoffs! One thing that is for certain, whether the coaches say it or not, next week is a MUST win. This team has 6 more weeks to play. They need to take the "60 minute men" T-shirts out of the closet. If they can learn to play a full game, their is no reason they can't win the rest of the way.
"It's no time to panic - just time to respond." - Linebacker Earl Holmes
This was his quote after the game. It says a lot about the mindset of this team. As disappointed as I am right now, I think Coach Cowher can rally the troops for another fantastic finish. The Jags game is just the beginning. I'm not ready to say it's the end.
