Quick turnaround for the Steelers
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Rashard Mendenhall and the Steelers bounced back to beat the Bengals, 24-17, Sunday in Cincinnati. The Steelers took back possession of first place in the AFC North, but that is likely to change this weekend.
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Last week, William Gay could cover no one, the Steelers defense reverted to old and slow and the Baltimore Ravens seemingly wrapped up the AFC North Division title with their last-second victory at Heinz Field.
But like the weather in Chicago, if you don't like the standings in the NFL, wait 15 minutes.
The Steelers have returned to first place in the AFC North at 7-3 thanks to a turnaround Sunday in which they knocked off one of the two teams tied for first, the Cincinnati Bengals. The Seahawks took care of the other one in Seattle where they upset the Ravens.
The weekend results left the Ravens and Bengals tied for second in the division at 6-3.
"It was a sad day in Pittsburgh last week," linebacker James Farrior said after his defense slammed the door on Cincinnati via Gay's interception that preserved a 24-17 victory. "But I think we're a little happier this week."
The AFC North will get another face-lift this weekend when Cincinnati visits Baltimore. Assuming no tie, one will leave that game deadlocked with the Steelers in first with six games left in the season. That's an eternity of football left the way things have played out in the NFL this season of the lockout, where up can be down, down can be up and things just aren't what they seem sometimes.
Nevertheless, the Steelers enter their weekend off -- the latest in their history -- feeling pretty good about where they stand.
"It felt like it would never come," wide receiver Mike Wallace said. "But now that it's here, I can't think of a better week for it."
The Steelers have several players whose status remains uncertain for their next game Nov. 27 at Kansas City. LaMarr Woodley said he won't know until he goes through treatment and tests his pulled hamstring. He has missed the past two games. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders had surgery on a knee to repair a meniscus only last week so he's not likely to go in that game.
But others who were injured and have returned will welcome the respite, such as Farrior, James Harrison, Doug Legursky and even Ben Roethlisberger, who has been beat up and had a slightly sore right arm.
They have a long way to go when they return because they still must finish ahead of Baltimore in order to win the division and not have to play every postseason game on the road.
First Published November 15, 2011 12:00 am
