You just know Warren Sapp is going to accuse the Steelers, once again, of being "old and slow" following Sunday's loss in Houston.
Maybe some of 'em. Whatever. The Steelers failed to stop the run, as Houston's Arian Foster averaged 5.2 yards per carry while racking up 155 yards on 30 carries. Houston totaled 180 yards rushing. That's the main reason for this loss, and failing to stop the run is suddenly becoming a disturbing pattern.
The Texans set the tone for the game with their opening drive, a 19-play, 95-yard drive that went nearly 11 minutes. Nineteen plays? That's not exactly a case of the "defense getting off the field."
As the game wore on, the Steelers turned the ball over, failed to take that ball away, took five sacks, had zero sacks, committed stupid penalties, took wasteful time-outs, had a field goal blocked, were victimized once again at key times by a good tight end (Own Daniels) and lost the game.
The offensive line is a shambles, but we knew that already. The lopsided turnover-ratio, however, is getting tiresome, and then some.
What's more, the injuries are getting worrisome, to say the least. After the game, Ben Roethlisberger had X-rays on his foot and left the locker room in a walking boot, as did Aaron Smith. Rashard Mendehall has a bad hamstring, Casey Hampton left the game late, James Harrison still doesn't look right, and neither does Maurkice Pouncey.
Meantime, Houston's J.J. Watt, the big rookie out of Wisconsin, looked like a young clone of Aaron Smith in his prime.
Our vaunted linebackers seemed to be AWOL for vast stretches. Did Lamarr Woodley even play? James Harrison still looks hurt. Lawrence Timmons went missing for much of the game. James Farrior and Larry Foote did, in fact, look old and slow, once again.
At 2-2, the Steelers' record feels like 1-3 or even worse, if that's possible.
