Steelers vs. Jaguars: A fast start is a must for Pittsburgh in Week 5

The sting is still there. It won't go away as fast as you'd like, but you can't help but think where this team would be standing if not for last week's disaster vs. Tampa Bay.

It's painful to look back and consider how much better you'd feel if the Steelers were 3-1 as opposed to 2-2 after four weeks of football.Losing hurts, especially losing at home with only seconds on the clock to an inferior team.

That's a stone-cold stunner.

But as they say, you must not look back, but forward if you're to move on. The Pittsburgh Steelers must do exactly that today as they face another Florida team looking for their first win of the season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are awful; a team in full-rebuild mode. One that's starting a rookie at quarterback today. Blake Bortles is drawing comparisons to a guy named Roethlisberger. He's tall and he can sling the ball. He can shake off big, burly, would-be tacklers and extend plays.

The question is can he win?

If you're a Black and Gold fan, you'd hope not to see Bortles answer that question affirmatively today. That's an outcome you pray unfolds against, say Baltimore or Houston, or anybody else not named the Steelers.

Simply put, the Steelers can end speculation, at least for one week, simply by hitting the gas pedal and not looking back today vs Jacksonville. They need to come out and smack the Jags right in the face and keep pounding them into submission for 60 minutes.

No prevent-defense should be played to protect any lead, however large. No run-run-short pass three-and-outs on offense. Just step on the gas and don't look back.

But that's easier said than done. The Jaguars aren't going to just lay down, let the Steelers walk all over them and grab a win so easily.

No, the Steelers need to apply offensive pressure early and often to do that. Ben needs to be unleashed, meaning he must be allowed to call plays allowing him to get the ball downfield to his weapons, most notably Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton and Heath Miller.

Miller, I feel, could have a big day for the Steelers. His ability to draw one-on-one coverage vs. a linebacker is a promising scenario that usually makes for big plays, extended drives and points on the scoreboard.

I know AB dropped a big pass last week. Run the same play today and you won't see that mistake twice. AB knows better and, after the celebration penalty, you get the feeling he's ready to break out and make up for last week.

Two things stand in the Steelers way from doing what I've projected. One is penalties - they're killing this team. This needs to stop, and fast. The second is the need to force turnovers. Grabbing two TOs today will help the cause and give this team a lift.

It won't be easy, but there's no reason to think the Steelers aren't capable of doing this today. Now they simply need to get out there and just do it.

John Phillips is a radio personality for 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh and a columnist for Behind The Steel Curtain. Check him out on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.