Mike Keith: What Kind Of Game Saturday
View From The Voice January 10, 2003

There are two schools of thought on the Pittsburgh Steelers as they come to Nashville to meet the Tennessee Titans on Saturday.

School of Thought #1: The Steelers are bulletproof.

While everyone talks about how hot the New York Jets are winners of three straight, it is Pittsburgh who has the four game win streak. Pittsburgh won convincingly at 12-4 Tampa Bay on December 23. Pittsburgh came from eleven down in the final quarter to beat Baltimore on December 29. Pittsburgh rallied from 17 down in the second half to beat Cleveland in the AFC Wildcard round last weekend.

People forget that the Steelers were at one time 0-2 and then 1-3. They were 6-4-1 when they left Nashville on November 17.

The Steelers will return to Nashville this weekend 11-5-1. Since the 1-3 start, Pittsburgh is 10-2-1.

The Steelers are plenty hot and have a great belief that they can overcome anything.

They believe that they are bulletproof, which makes them incredibly dangerous in the playoffs.

School of Thought #2: The Pittsburgh Steelers are tired and beat up.

Starting with the bashing of the Bucs on December 23, Pittsburgh will be playing their fourth game in 19 days when they kick off with the Titans on Saturday. They lose a day of rest/practice this week since the game is on Saturday.

Their secondary is injury-riddled. Cornerback Chad Scott is questionable with a broken thumb. Safety Mike Logan is out after having had knee surgery on Monday. Key backup Chidi Iwuoma is also dinged.

Add to that injury rundown the names of Steeler stalwarts like Jerome Bettis and Kendrell Bell and one understands Pittsburgh's plight. They are hurting, which seems to give the rested Titans a decided edge.

Which School of Thought should we buy into most?

Probably some of both.

The Steelers are dangerous because they are very good. They have a fabulous passing game led by quarterback Tommy Maddox and the best 1-2 punch at wideout in the NFL, Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress. They have the #1 run defense in the NFL. They have the people to make play after play on special teams. Plus, there is no tougher team in football.

All of that and the Pittsburgh Steelers believe that the force is with them. Call it luck or karma or whatever, but Pittsburgh believes that last Sunday's comeback win over the Browns proves that it is their year.

Still, the Steelers had to pull out all of the stops to win an emotional game and now will have one less day to get ready for the Titans. Tennessee had a bye. The game is at Nashville, where the Titans have won five in a row. Tennessee beat Pittsburgh, 31-23 on November 17.

Pittsburgh has advantages. Tennessee has advantages.

I think that this one may come down to who grabs the lead early.

If Pittsburgh gets on top early, their momentum and excitement may help them to overcome their aches and pains. Their feeling of playoff invincibility may kick in and get them to the AFC Championship Game. Plus, the Steelers are 9-0-1 in games where they have led at halftime in 2002. They love to play from in front.

If Tennessee gets an early edge and the Steelers are forced to play from behind, Pittsburgh may not have the gas in the tank to climb up the mountain for another week. In this case, Tennessee may be able to manage the second half and earn their second AFC Championship Game berth in the last four seasons. The Steelers are just 1-5 in games where they have trailed at the half.

Remember, however, that one come-from-behind win occurred last Sunday against the Browns.

This should be some game on Saturday.

It ought to kick off another exciting weekend of NFL playoffs.