Not riding the rollercoaster

As Coach Tomlin often says, a game such as the one on Sunday--like a big win--is best put behind you quickly. Let's face it, a lot of stuff that normally works for the Steelers, simply didn't this time around. 

While we certainly can't take anything for granted, the Steelers match up quite well against the rest of the teams on our schedule. If they can use this dreadful game as a springboard, the Steelers can put together another winning steak that hopefully will carry them through the regular season and into the playoffs.

That being said, it's also pretty clear that everyhting is not hunky-dory in Steelerland. Anyone who thinks we're not getting some serious warning signals must be living in Fantasyland. Maybe a few heads will need to roll before this gets straightened out. But don't expect a lot to change before the next off-season. We've seen what happens to teams that make too many changes in mid-season (the Browns for example).

There's far more to pro football than just the talent of the players, which is fairly well distributed throughout the league. What has distinguished the black and gold through the years is their strong sense of team confidence and a willingness to do (in  Coach Nolls' words) "whatever it takes."

Greatness consists in doing what you need to do when the situation demands it. This game isn't just about X's and O's. The dismal, second loss to the Bengals represents a fork in the road for this team. It's an occasion to renew the great confidence of a champion and move forward.

I'm betting that the Steelers will step up and meet this challenge. And if they don't, I suspect they'll be getting plenty of "encouragement" from Steeler Nation and BTSC. That's one thing you can absolutely take to the bank.