Wednesday, October 09, 2002
Steelers trace slump to Bengals
The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH — The Cincinnati Bengals haven't achieved much while losing 12 of their last 14 games, except maybe this: They gave the NFL a schematic for attacking the Pittsburgh Steelers defense.
Down by two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter of an essentially meaningless game Dec. 30, Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski switched to a no-huddle spread offense. What happened probably surprised the Bengals as much as it did the Steelers.
A couple of a touchdown passes, a recovered onside kick and an overtime field goal later, the Bengals had their signature victory of the season. And offensive coordinators suddenly had a new way to take on the NFL's No. 1 defense.
That loss did nothing to damage the Steelers' 2001 season, but they're still feeling the repercussions of it nearly 10 months later. The Patriots and Raiders employed copycat schemes of the once-fashionable run-and-shoot offense in remarkably similar victories over the Steelers (1-3) last month.
The losses set the tone for the first month of the Steelers' season, one that has seen their defense plunge into the bottom third of the league statistically while allowing 30 or more points three times.
Steelers coach Bill Cowher mildly disagreed Tuesday with suggestions the loss in Cincinnati established a pattern, though he understands it's hard to argue with the numbers. Raiders coach Bill Callahan, in a nod to the Bengals' success, said he planned all summer to go after the Steelers with the no-huddle.
“I just looked at the tape again and I went into it thinking that's what they (the Bengals) did, but a lot of the big plays came in regular sets and off play-action,” Cowher said. “It wasn't until they got into the fourth quarter that they spread it out and it was against our dime defense, to be honest, so I don't know what anybody took from that.
“I don't think anybody took the ideas (from that).”
Whatever the Bengals did, Jon Kitna had the game of his career, going 35-of-68 for 411 yards and two touchdowns against a defense that had allowed only 578 yards in its previous three games.
Another trend that Bengals game started is more alarming to Cowher than the spread offense: the Steelers' tendency to turn over the ball. Since that game, Pittsburgh has 25 turnovers in seven games, including the playoffs.
Not surprisingly, the Steelers are 2-5 during that span, and are currently tied with winless St. Louis for next-to-last in the NFL in turnover differential.
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Steelers trace slump to Bengals 
