Don't look now Pittsburgh, the Ravens are right next to you

Pitt looks to take the spark out of the Chargers

With this weeks game hosting the San Diego Chargers the Steelers can prove a lot to themselves and to the rest of the league. With losses to the Eagles, the Giants, and the Colts they can still hold your head high considering they are all good teams. But the Steelers also need to fill out there resume' with wins against good teams. And the Chargers are a good team.

I'll be honest I never saw the Chargers as a Super Bowl favorite as many did coming into 2008 but they are one of the more talented teams in the league. Personally I think their biggest problem is the head coach Norv Turner. I do not think he is a good head coach period. With the exception of last season his teams methodically get worse over time and under achieve. But hey that is not the Steelers concern now is it? We have enough of our own problems.

It's time for our second year head coach to show what he is made of. His team has been on a streak of lethargic offense and it's time he snaps them out of it. I also have a bone of contention with Bruce Arians the offensive coordinator. I do not think he makes any significant impact. And the offense being stagnant doesn't make me any more confident.

Of course the players have to be accountable also. Give Ben credit for toughing out his on-going injuries but if it hampers his effectiveness than some one needs to have the guts to make a tough decision. Although his mistakes of been more of a mental lapse than physical. He needs to be sharper with his judgement and more decisive with his throws. Take your steps and let her fly Ben. Run the plays as they were designed, will you?

And while I am being overly critical I want to call out the run game. Yes Mewelde Moore has filled in nicely for Willie Parker but the Steelers need some ball control from their O-line and their running backs whoever they are. The 24th ranked rushing offense is not acceptable in Pittsburgh. They are averaging under 100 yards per game as a team! No franchise changes their identity on the fly. If you want to win throwing the ball it is going to take a few years of adjustment. The Steelers were a running team up until now. So if you want to maintian Super Bowl hopes, which I do, then stop this nonsense of 40+ passing attempts and run the ball like a Steelers team always has!

Hey if Ben wants to chuck it up tell him to go and study John Elway's career. He won Super Bowls by efficient passing and Terrell Davis rushing attacks. Lord knows he tried to win with a pass happy philosophy and how did that turn out? Oh and Ben remember how you got your ring? By playing like a disciplined All-Pro QB and running Bettis and Parker down everyone's throat.

So this week I expect the defense to come through as usual. Even with Ladanian Tomlinson leading San Diego with 629 rushing yards. The Steelers know how to stop an elite rushing team and star rusher. They will have their cleets full of stopping Philip Rivers also. He is second behind Kurt Warner in QB rating and leads the 6th ranked passing offense and the 10th overall offense. Pittsburgh remains #1 in NFL defense however!

"Injuries force the Steelers to look for depth" - is a story this week however on STEELERS.com. The Steelers signed CB Fernando Bryant to help an ailing secondary. Deshea Townsend and Bryant McFadden will not be available this week. LaMarr Woodley is expected back though.

On offense I am hoping Ben comes out of his stooper and plays like he can. Getting Willie Parker back will be nice if indeed that does happen.

Just an observation on my boy Ben. Coming into the NFL the same year as Eli Manning he was shot out of a cannon and played within himself and played smart. The team also kept his swashbuckling style under wraps. Eli on the other hand tried to do too much as the Manning brand name put early pressure on him. However as the years have gone by he is comfortable being the shrewd decision maker and has become a rock at QB. Montana, Elway? No. But he is an All-Pro level QB who can win more Super Bowls. He brings out the best in his team instead of trying to do it himself.

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Ben in comparison has regressed into the gun slinger who wants to make the huge play on every down. He is trying to hard now. He is not bringing out the best in his team like he used to. I see more miscommunications now then I did in his first couple years. Some one needs to get in his ears and set him straight before he becomes totally rogue. Yes we to often confuse winging it with improvising. Occassionally things nreak down and a superstar does the impossible but you can't manufacture those moments. Ben tries too. "Hey Ben, please stop it".

I would like to see the Steelers sustain drives and take a few shots down field with balance, execution and intensity. The Washington game was the best game they had as an offense. They need to build on that performance.

I fear that the Chargers desperation is similar to the Colts of last week. So the question will be how many mistakes and by who? The Steelers recent trends are making me lean toward a San Diego victory. And that kills me. Again I pray I am wrong.

Chargers 31 Steelers 26.

By Andy Natalie
ProFootball-fans.com Pittsburgh Steelers Correspondent