Question: The Atlanta game again showed that, while an awesome Tommy Gun-like passing game might put up some great yardage and points, the Steelers need to run the ball to control the time of possession and win. Where was Najeh Davenport in Atlanta? One carry?

Bruce Reale, Naples, Fla.

BOUCHETTE: It's hard to fault the Steelers for their strategy on offense Sunday. The fact they threw 35 times and ran 26 times did not lose the game. They were so efficient throwing the ball it must have been hard for them to call many of those 26 runs. In fact, they might have done better had they cut those carries in half, considering they averaged only 2.1 yards a carry. Atlanta was intent on stopping the run, a big reason the passing lanes were so open. The two quarterbacks did not throw an interception and pitched five TD passes. Fumbles and a defense not up to the task lost the game, not the passing attack.