Wash, Rinse, Repeat! STEELERS Do In the Super Chargers

Sometimes you have to know when enough is enough. And sometimes you have to know when you are making things more complicated then they need be.

Sunday night the Steelers dominated and imploded simultaneously in the second half. Not quite a repeat of last week where the whole team struggled in the 2nd half. Nevertheless the Steelers once again could not play 4 quarters of mistake free football on both sides of the ball. Let's rewind to the first half however.

The Steelers clearly got the memo of how they have been lethargic and who they were playing on Sunday. Because they came out witha little foam in there mouth. They played the entire first half with a nice balanced offense. They opened the game with 3 nice passing plays to open up the Chargers defense. The 3rd throw to Rookie Mike Wallace demonstrated that this kid can play. (Sorry Limas, you had your shot) It was also a nice sideline throw by the Big Boy, Roethlisberger.

The Steelers then broke out there running back with a new attitude Rashard Mendenhall, who busted a 9 yard run from the San Diego 14 and then hit paydirt on a 4 yrd TD scamper. It appears that Mendenhall mended fences from his trip to the doghouse. Plus Willie Parker was out with a toe injury. Yes the dreaded toe injury. In a bizarre way I am happy they were forced to use Mendenhall as the mail carrier, because as I have said a million times, Parker's recent string of injuries has made him a supplement and not a workhorse anymore.

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And so it was a 7 to 0 Steelers lead. A little over a minute later the Steelers got the ball back thanks to their defense. This time the Steelers ride Mendenhall some more and mix in some Ben to Wallace, Ben to Hines, Ben to Spaeth, Ben to Heath Miller, and Ben to Mewelde Moore for TD #2 and a 14 to zip lead. All in all 11 plays for 81 yards.

The Chargers did with stand some more Steelers offense but they were having their own troubles with the Pittsburgh D. But the Steelers broke through again in the 2nd quarter with a 13 play 65 yard drive.This drive also featured that Mendenhall guy and some timely passes. Steelers 21 to 0 over Chargers. After another Steelers stop of the Chargers Ben takes a knee and the boys into the locker room.

1st half = domination Steelers. but that is why there are 4 quarters.

The 3rd quarter, which was owned by the Steelers in 2008, started out in Steelers fashion. The Steelers D goes to work first, stops opposing team and gives Ben and the boys the ball. At this point I was happy and curious to see if we had learned anything from our recent sins of the prior 2 weeks. With a 21 to 0 lead, can we pound the ball? Or will we methodically move the ball and eat the clock and tack on?

My prayers were answered as the Steelers did both. They executed a nice 8 play , 81 yard, 5 minute TD drive ending witha TD pass to Heath Miller. 4 carries from Rashard for 20 yard (get the rhyme?) and 61 passing yards from Ben. 28 to 0 and the route is on! Or is it?

Well, I didn't think the Chargers would be shut out so it was no surprise that the Chargers mounted a drive for 7. 13 plays and 79 yards for the Bolts. A lot of shotgun and some no huddle and the Chargers kept the Steelers pressure away giving Philip Rivers plenty of room move around and time to throw. Not the end of the world.

But then in the 4th quarter, the Chargers caught an enormous break when the Steelers stud return man was stripped of the ball and Jacob Hester made a bang bang play to the mother land for a quick Chargers TD. 28 to 14 all of the sudden. The Chargers get a whiff of smelling salt.

The Steelers offense however responded with a nice 8 yard 70 yard TD drive. This drive featured an explosive 32 yard run by Mendenhall, a clutch 18 yard pass to Hines Ward who punished would be tacklers, and a beautifully designed half back pass from Mewelde Moore to Heath Miller. Kudos to Bruce Arians, who I have been critical of, for drawing up a nice play and calling it at a perfect time. 35 to 14 Steelers.

The Chargers then go back into "we have to throw mode". They busted open a 4 play 66 yard TD drive. This drive demonstrated how much Polamalu is missed. There was not quite enough pressure on Rivers and the secondary was holding on for dear life. 35 to 21 Steelers.

And then the obvious on side kick. You're kidding me right? Yes the Chargers recover. By the way they say there is a 28% chance of recovering an expected on side kick.

San Diego then use momentum, 3 plays and one huge pass interference, to go the short 59 yards for another quick strike TD. It was now 35 to 28 Pittsburgh with about 4 and half minutes left.

The Steelers however would get the ball back. And they answered my prayers again by showing that they have a back and the ability to pound the ball with a lead. Ben also mixed in some more nice throws and even though the Chargers tightened up the D in their end the Steelers iced the game with a Jeff Reed field goal for the 38 to 28 victory.

NOTES:

I actually dig the retro uni

Mendehall - 29 carries, 165 yards, 2 TD's, (2 catches for 26 yards also) - any questions?

Roethlisberger - 26/33 and 333 yards, 2 TD's

7 different recievers involved. Hines Ward and HeathMiller both had 8 catches

Steelers held the Chargers to 16 yards on the ground

6 penalties is excessive

2 fumbles didn't help either

all in all this is the type of game plane I would like to see. The defense had a couple unusual brain cramps and the turnovers/on side kick made the game closer than it really was

If Parker can give you some good carries to spell this Rashard, the running game may be back in business. Credit the ) line for some of the best run blocking I have seen in a while. Although I am being cautiously optimistic being that I saw this as a likelihood vs San Diego

Antonio Gates is back after toe troubles. Uh oh the dreaded toe twice in one post

Jacob Hester made a man sized play to strip the ball from Stefan Logan and shame on the Steelers for not playing the play to the whistle

NICE WIN FELLA'S

By: Andy Natalie
ProFootball-fans.com Pittsburgh Steelers Correspondent