The great, bitter rivalry between the Steelers and the Raiders, 20 years dormant, sprouted anew yesterday.
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Lee Flowers has backed up his brash talk with 95 tackles, four forced fumbles and one interception this season, (Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette) | |
Appropriately, it came from a member of the secondary. In a series whose brutality was often illustrated by Oakland safety George Atkinson delivering a concussion to Steelers receiver Lynn Swann, there has been a role reversal.
This time, it's a Steelers safety tossing out the first forearm, at least verbally. Strong safety Lee Flowers said the Steelers' secondary plans to turn up the hits on Oakland's receivers Sunday in Three Rivers Stadium.
"Right now, I think with this Oakland mystique thing, their coach allows them to get personal fouls and stuff, or he excuses it, I should say. Whatever they want to do, we're going to do."
That, Flowers explained, would be the most aggressive play by the secondary this season.
"This might be the first game you guys really see us, secondary-wise, the way we're going to play on Sunday," Flowers said.
"It's going to be a big game."
At 6-6, the Steelers likely must win their remaining four games to make the playoffs. The Raiders, at 10-2, are tied with Minnesota for the best record in the NFL. They can clinch a playoff spot Sunday and are trying to secure the top seed in the AFC.
"I think we have something to prove, too," Flowers said. "It's going to be a physical game, but, at the same time, they pass the ball a lot. Any time those guys catch the ball, we have to pound them."
The Steelers' secondary has been effective for most of the season after allowing big plays early on. Of the 12 passes completed against them for more than 25 yards, eight came in September. But even though Flowers is second on the team with 95 tackles, "we haven't been as physical as we wanted to be in the past.
"The last couple weeks, we haven't been tested [through the air], because guys have been running up and down the field on us. This game, you're going to see a lot of balls thrown in the air."
Oakland's Tim Brown is sixth in the AFC with 928 yards receiving on 61 catches, nine for touchdowns. He is 6 feet, 195. James Jett, the other starter, is a speedy 5-10, 170, but has just 11 receptions. Slot man Andre Rison, who stands 6-0, 195, has 33 receptions for 510 yards.
The Steelers will counter with a secondary that includes the 6-foot, 211-pound Flowers, free safety Brent Alexander (5-11, 196) and cornerbacks Chad Scott (6-1, 192) and Dewayne Washington (6-0, 193).
"We have some big corners and we have some tough safeties," Flowers said. "It's going to be a very physical game. They have some big receivers, and those guys are going to block you until the whistle blows."
Flowers paused.
"It's going to be one of those little rivalries, how they used to play in the '70s."
The two teams have not met in Three Rivers Stadium since the Raiders beat the defending Super Bowl champs, 45-34, in 1980. The teams have split their six meetings since then, all on the West Coast. The Steelers have won both games against the Raiders under Coach Bill Cowher, in 1994 and 1995.
Because of the absence of such annual games, there has not been the kind of vitriol the series once embraced when the teams played a record five playoff games in five years between 1972 and 1976, a span that also included four regular-season games.
But, perhaps, Cowher has ratcheted the intensity this week for the renewal of acquaintances between them.
"Coach Cowher wants us to come out and play physical," Flowers said. "That's our game, that's how we play. I'm sure they're going to come and play physical.
"If they win this game they clinch a playoff berth. They have a lot riding on this game. I'm sure they want to clinch as soon as possible.
"It's going to be a big game. Our backs are against the wall, just like Coach Cowher said. I think we have something to prove, too."
Scott said the Raiders' receivers "try to push and tug and stuff like that and make it like a street fight, you know what I'm saying?
"You can't allow them."
Washington suggested those with weak stomachs might want to turn the channel on Sunday.
"It's not going to be a game for the weak-hearted," he said.
Said Alexander, "They manage to go in on offense and really just push people around. As a defense, we have to be aggressive and hold our ground."
Flowers said not many receivers have ventured over the middle against the Steelers' secondary this season.
"We control our zone. Anytime a receiver runs up the field, I guarantee they're looking for us."
Receivers, he said, break down over a full game after taking a constant pounding.
"We're not just saying Oakland can't take it," Flowers said. "I don't think any receiver in this league can take a 60-minute game of pounding, and that's what we're going to do.
"Every time they catch the ball, we're going to make the tackle and make a good one."
Flowers says secondary will get physical with Raiders 
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