Menden-HAUL or Haulin’ Ass

Okay, so I’ll gladly eat crow this morning. I was a very vocal skeptic on Rashard Mendenhall’s NFL prospects. I was sure he was a wash out. I think he answered myself and his other critics last night. He looked like Walter Payton out there. He was focused and very much in tune with the game. His blocking was impressive and as Willie Parker said, “He came back each and every play with a vengeance, like somebody said somethin’ about his mama or something”. Rashard played like a man possessed. Whatever lesson Mike Tomlin was teaching him by sitting him down against Chicago was obviously received. He was flat out exciting to watch. We actually had a running game for the first time this season. I’m sure Parker will return when he’s able. One great performance does not earn a starting spot. I expect he’ll be sharing the RB duties. With Isaac Redman joining the roster, Parker may have his work cut out for him when it comes to remaining their number 1 back. After the season Willie Parker will become a free agent. Time will tell who the number one back is next season.

Let’s not forget Big Ben. He completed 14 of 18 in the first half. He finished the game with 333 passing yards with two touchdowns. Not too shabby. In most contests these would be the stats that standout but Mendenhall’s play just outshined everyone.

Okay, so what the hell happened in the fourth quarter? Once again, the wheels came off. It’s very odd that a team could completely dominate a game in every way for 45 minutes and have a complete reversal of fortune. Is it a let down? Is it complacency? It’s difficult to answer. The defense had no reason to be tired. Ben and his offense were on the field twice a long as the D. (Time of possession was 40:20 for Pittsburgh and 19:40 for the Chargers.)

Hopefully this victory will be turn the corner. Lord knows the next two match-ups should be confidence boosters. The Lions followed by Browns. But that is exactly what frightens me. The Steelers just seem to better when they are underdogs. I’ve been chastised in the past for repeating this theory but it just so friggin’ tempting. How do you explain late losses to Cincy and Chicago. Well, maybe, just maybe, those teams are better than many people thought. Both are now 3 and 1. Not where anyone thought they’d be. Of course not many people predicted the Titans would be 0 and 4 right now either.