Steelers vs. Hated Ravens Review

If I had put in a prediction for this game, I would have predicted the Steelers to lose. This is not because I actually thought the Steelers would lose, but I had a track record of predicting them to lose, then they'd win. I was going to keep that up until they finally lost, then start making real predictions.

So, Sunday's loss is kind of a relief, because I was having a tough time trying to think of how the Steelers would lose to Cleveland. Then I thought of some other stuff about the Browns game coming up in Week 6, but more on that later.

I am bummed because I went to the game and Steelers lost, which puts my overall record at 12-3. It seems like so long ago that I was actually undefeated.

But, I had fun at the game, it was a great game, and I was able to get a ticket for one of my brother's groomsmen. He had never been to a professional football game and it was a great experience for him. The day would've been perfect if the Steelers had managed to win. Ultimately, though, I can't say that I'm that upset about the loss. The big thing is that I would have preferred it be to someone outside of the division, or, really someone outside of the conference. And I really really really wish it hadn't come at home against the hated Ravens.

Overall, though, I feel good about this season and I have reconciled Sunday's game.

This is for three reasons:

1. The Steelers are 3-1 and are heading into their bye week. I'm sure that every Steeler fan on the planet would've taken a 3-1 start when the season started.
   
2. Ben Roethlisberger comes back after the bye and will have a full week to get himself situated and prepare for Cleveland.
3. The Steelers would have won Sunday's game if Ben Roethlisberger was the quarterback instead of Charlie Batch. The Smithsonian must have noticed that Batch's arm was missing and taken it back. Roethlisberger would have made two or three of the key long throws that Batch couldn't make and the Steelers would've won.

But, there's one thing that worries me.

I know that the Steelers would have won on Sunday if Roethlisberger was starting... but I'm not sure that they'd be 3-1 or 4-0 if he started these first four games. There seemed to be something unique about those first three games. The defense had more fire, they got more pressure on the quarterback, seemed to be hitting harder. I think they understood that the offense wasn't going to win the game for them, so they had to go out and win it.

On Sunday, I think they had a little too much faith in Charlie Batch, even when he showed there was no reason to have faith in him. I think they might already be tired. I think they might already be starting to show their age, as evidenced by the ease of the last touchdown drive by the hated Ravens and possibly even how they let up and almost seemed to roll over in the last half of the fourth quarter against the Titans.

After the bye, the offense should be much better. But, I'm very skeptical of the thinking that Roethlisberger will fix the offense automatically; just by showing up. That seems to me to be a lot like trying to save a bad marriage by having a kid. The Steelers offense is still broken and one piece -- even one really big, really important piece -- won't be able to completely fix it.

I think a lot of people were too quick to accept that the offense was fixed just because it looked good against Tampa. I think the defense relaxed and may already have worn themselves out by carrying the offense for a month.

The defense is great, but it's also very old. Some new guys need to get more reps. The defense needs to slowly get younger, because suddenly overhauling an entire defense is a good way to finish in the bottom third of the league.

So, if you take the fact that the defense may already be worn out, the offense is overrated and possibly broken, and that no one knows what to expect from Roethlisberger -- or how the fans will react -- then you've got a pretty compelling argument that the Steelers will be a worse team after the bye with Roethlisberger.

I'm not saying keep Batch in there. Dear God, please, no. I'm not saying put in Leftwich or even my boyfriend Dennis Dixon. Ben Roethlisberger gives the Steelers the best chance to win -- and by a wide margin.

I'm saying that no one should expect the Steelers to start winning 38-6 every week (highest scoring effort of the season matched with best defensive effort of the season) just because they looked good as a team with their fourth string quarterback behind center and now have their first string guy. I'm also saying that it's possible that the Cleveland game could go the other way and the Steelers could lose 19-14 (highest points allowed, lowest points scored) or worse.

The defense might let down and the offense might not get on track. That could also persist for a couple of games. Or longer.

Having said all that, I'm still glad that they're 3-1, I still think they are in good shape, and I think they weathered this first storm well. The key will be how they weather the coming (possible) storm.