No excuse to allow that 92 yd drive to lose the game

[steelspikes]

Costly loss could well result in Steelers being forced to vie for a wild card spot vs. Bengals or team from AFC East...Bills or Pats most likely. Just a real tough one to swallow. Ratbirds converted 66% on 3rd down. Defense just could not get off the field, and was probably somewhat fatiqued at the end. Steelers ineptitude in red zone continues: 1 out of 4 tonight.

[JensK]

As I said in some other topic, a lot of the secondary woes falls back to the safety play in my opinion. Ike Taylor was pretty solid throughout the game, only giving up a couple of quick slants which is really really hard to defend without LB help. Ryan Clark is just horrible in coverage. He is never there to help either of the CBs to make a play. There is only a few DBs in this league who can play man-man throughout a game without giving up plays - Gay is not one of them, neither is Lewis. When you know this, the natural thing is to give safety help over the top and Clark is totally incapable of that.

Having said that, a lot of that falls back to Troy as well. We all love to see him play as a LB because he generates a lot of amazing plays when he lines up there, but he leaves Clark alone with the safety duties which is pretty rough if you are bad in coverage as it is.

[SteelDad]

This team missed it's defensive MVP, Woodley. Plain and simple.

Exactly. Woodley is like our Mariano Rivera. He's the guy that comes in and closes out the opponent with a sack. Frankly, Silverback did all he could. I think he and the rest of the D were spent by the last drive.

[TampaSteelGirl]

I don't get it. They were lights out the two series before and then nothing when it counts for everything

This is what I don't understand on both sides of the ball...I understand that every opponent is different BUT it seemed to me at least we used the same scheme of play in game 1 against the Ravens...now I only watched live till halftime then watched DVR version to be it seemed we played them almost exactly like we did game 1 except we didn't get pummled this game...I dont' get it...we use all this trickery againts the Titans and put pressure on Brady all day last game....Flacco is NOT scared of our D now...we aren't making him scared any more, there isn't as much pressure as we use to lay down on him....now Harrison had a GREAT game and thank God for him!!
This game is what it is..a loss, time to move on and hopefully beat Cincy.

[LatrobePA]

This game is what it is..a loss, time to move on and hopefully beat Cincy.

What she said, it's time to prove to the NFL that cinci is a fraud!

[coldrolled]

Costly loss could well result in Steelers being forced to vie for a wild card spot vs. Bengals or team from AFC East...Bills or Pats most likely. Just a real tough one to swallow. Ratbirds converted 66% on 3rd down. Defense just could not get off the field, and was probably somewhat fatiqued at the end. Steelers ineptitude in red zone continues: 1 out of 4 tonight.

FIRE ARIANS><>>>

[Rampage]

Reliving the nightmare that was the 2009 season. On that drive, all I could think of was the game against the Bengals when they came from behind. Sadly, I wasn't surprised to see it.

[RIVERS OF STEEL]

Ya all been watchin Cincinnati lately?

[SteelerSteve]

A loss to Baltimore always stings but I'm taking the good with the bad. O-line looked pretty solid and the offense seems to be doing nothing but improving. Though I think we need to find a replacement for Gay for sure, seeing him line up with Boldin is terrifying. Plus, what's with the defense not being able to get off the field on 3rd down? That was the key to the game imo....Gotta take advantage of those third and longs

[nuclearchihuahuas]

we might kill dalton next week

yes please, that would definitely make me feel just a little bit better.