Mike Tomlin led the Steelers to the AFC North Title in his first season as head coach of the Steelers.  Following a legend like Bill Cowher is never easy but Tomlin didn’t change a whole lot of things and the results were good.  Still, he made some strategic errors in the playoff game that caused the team to lose.  Tomlin led the Steelers to a 10-6 (.625 %) regular season record but he was 0-1 in the playoffs.

This was an amazing game as the Steelers rallied from 28-10 down at the start of the 4th quarter to take a 29-28 lead late in the game.  But, the defense flat out choked when they needed to make a play.  On a 4th and 2 in Steelers territory…..David Garrard scampered for a first down which set up Josh Scobee to make the game winning field goal with 37 seconds left. 

Ben Roethlisberger played awful for most of this football game despite the numbers he racked up.  He completed 29 of 42 passes for 337 yards with 2 TD passes and 3 interceptions (one returned 63 yards for a TD by Rashean Mathis).  He also lost a fumble on the Steelers last play of the game to seal the loss!  The Steelers really missed Willie Parker in this game as Najeh Davenport didn’t do much as he carried the ball 16 times for 25 yards (1.6 ypc) with 2 TD runs and he also caught 2 passes for 23 yards (11.5 avg).  Hines Ward (10 rec, 135 yards), Heath Miller (8 rec, 85 yards, TD) and Santonio Holmes (3 rec, 49 yards, TD) all had solid games for the Steelers.  The Steelers finished up with 43 yards rushing on 26 carries (1.7 ypc) and they also completed 29 of 42 passes for 297 yards.

The Steelers defense didn’t play that bad yesterday until the Jags last drive of the game.  James Harrison (10 tackles, 1.5 sacks), James Farrior (9 tackles, 1/2 sack, interception) and Ike Taylor (3 tackles, interception) led the way for the Steelers defense.  The Jaguars carried the ball 29 times for 135 yards (4.7 ypc) and they also completed 9 of 21 passes for 104 yards.

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The Steelers come into this game limping as they did not have a good second half of the season.  The Jaguars are one of the most physical teams in the NFL and they beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh 29-22 just three weeks ago.

The Jaguars will do what they do best and that’s run the football despite the Steelers only allowing 89.9 yards rushing per game this season.  That’s because the Jaguars rushed for 244 yards in the first meeting between the teams this season.  Fred Taylor has rolled up an amazing 381 yards rushing in his last two games against the Steelers!  Don’t forget Maurice Jones-Drew who can hurt the Steelers as a runner, receiver or kickoff returner.  If the Jaguars get the running game going the Steelers will be at the mercy of David Garrard.  Garrard has spread the ball around well this season as the Jags don’t have any receivers that really stand out.

The Steelers would be smart if they just came out throwing the football.  The Jaguars allow 213.5 yards passing per game this season so look for Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller to be very active in this game.  Plus, if the Steelers get the early lead they can get the Jaguars away from their running game.  Ben Roethlisberger has played well in the playoffs before and the Steelers will likely be leaning on him without Willie Parker (broken leg) available.  Najeh Davenport will be the main man in the running game but his style doesn’t seem to match up well with the Jaguars defense.

PREDICTION:  JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 21, PITTSBURGH STEELERS 20

Ben Roethlisberger rebounded from his worst NFL season to have a very solid one that ended with the Steelers making the playoffs as champions of the AFC North.  Roethlisberger played in 15 games this season for the Steelers and he completed 264 of 404 passes (65.3%) for 3,154 yards with 32 TD passes and 11 interceptions (104.1 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 35 times for 204 yards (5.8 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He has now played in 56 games in his NFL career and he has completed 908 of 1,436 passes (63.2%) for 11,673 yards with 84 TD passes and 54 interceptions (92.5 QB Rating).  He also has carried the football 154 times for 515 yards (3.3 ypc) with 8 TD runs.

Charlie Batch didn’t have to play much but he had his worst season as a Steeler.  He played in 7 games for the Steelers this season and he completed 17 of 36 passes (47.2%) for 232 yards with 2 TD passes and 3 interceptions (52.1 QB Rating).  He also carried the football 12 times for 7 yards (0.6 ypc).  Batch has now played in 70 games in his NFL career and he has completed 818 of 1,459 passes (56.1%) for 10,033 yards with 57 TD passes and 44 interceptions (77.9 QB Rating).  He also carried the football 162 times for 609 yards (3.8 ypc) with 6 TD runs.

The Steelers rested a lot of their regulars and still almost beat the Baltimore Ravens.  Charlie Batch got a rare start and he completed 16 of 31 passes for 218 yards with 2 TD passes and 2 interceptions.  Najeh Davenport made a brief appearance and he carried the ball 12 times for 27 yards (2.3 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Undrafted rookie running back Gary Russell got some playing time as he carried the ball 6 times for 20 yards (3.3 ypc).  Santonio Holmes (4 rec, 98 yards, TD) and Nate Washington (5 rec, 68 yards) both had solid games at receiver for the Steelers in this game.  The Steelers finished up with 46 yards rushing on 19 carries (2.4 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 31 passes for 218 yards.

Ike Taylor and James Farrior led the Steelers defense with 9 tackles apiece.  The Ravens finished up with 180 yards rushing on 40 carries (4.5 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 27 passes for 154 yards.