Yes, Steelers fans, Cowher lost his share of clunkers
There’s a myth amongst Steelers fans who look back on the days of Bill Cowher the same way some do the teams of the 1970s.
The myth is Cowher’s teams never lost to inferior opponents in the same way current head coach Mike Tomlin’s teams seem to do.
And it is exactly that, a myth.
The first road game I covered in 1993, when I started on this beat, was a 27-0 shellacking at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams, a team that finished 5-11. That season also included a 16-6 loss at Seattle, a team that won six games.
But that was a 9-7 Cowher team that got into the playoffs only by beating Cleveland at home in the final game of the regular season.
So let’s take a look at some of Cowher’s better teams.
In 1995, Cowher’s first Super Bowl season, the Steelers were dismantled at home, 44-24, by a Minnesota team that finished 8-8, and also lost at 4-12 Jacksonville, 20-16.
In 2001, the Steelers finished 13-3 but were beaten by Cincinnati, which went 6-10. In 2002, there was a ridiculous 24-6 loss at home to expansion Houston (4-12) in which the Steelers outgained the Texans, 422-47, in total yardage.
What about bad losses for Cowher during the Ben Roethlisberger years?
Certainly, there can’t be many of those.
Sure, there aren’t many, but there are some.
How about a 16-13 overtime loss at 6-10 Baltimore in 2005, or a 20-13 defeat at 2-14 Oakland in 2006?
The bottom line is all NFL teams suffer a bump in the road here or there during the season, even the great ones.
And Tomlin’s recent teams can’t be considered great.
This current group is a good team that stumbled last week.
The Steelers, however, are 17-2 in games against rookie quarterbacks since Dick LeBeau returned as defensive coordinator in 2004. Both of those losses came in games not started by Roethlisberger.
Pittsburgh will face another rookie quarterback this week in Jacksonville’s Blake Bortles, a game in which the Steelers are favored by 6 points.
I’ll go with history on this one.
Take the Steelers, 34-17
This seems like a gimmee. The Jets can’t stop the pass. All the Chargers do is pass.
Take San Diego, 31-17
I thought the Titans would be better. I thought the Browns would be worse.
Take Cleveland, 24-20
Arizona’s defense is good, but without Carson Palmer, the Cards have no chance here.
Take Denver, 30-16
You’d probably have to look back a bit to find a game when New England wasn’t favored at home. Tom Brady bounces back.
Take New England, 27-23
Alex Smith returns to San Francisco, and should keep this close.
Take Kansas City to cover in a 24-20 loss
The Panthers have no healthy running backs to take advantage of Chicago’s porous run defense.
Take Chicago, 27-20
Take the home team in this battle for Texas. Houston’s a different team on the road.
Take Dallas, 26-17
The Seahawks aren’t as daunting a team on the road, but they should have enough to beat Washington.
Take Seattle, 23-13
It’s make-or-break time for the Ravens, who play four of their next five games on the road.
Take Indianapolis, 24-17
The Falcons aren’t very good on the road. The Giants are a much better team at home.
Take the Giants, 30-20
The Eagles’ offense should be too much for St. Louis.
Take Philadelphia, 34-17
The Saints in the dome are much more formidable than they are on the road, where they’ve lost 14 of their past 20.
Take New Orleans, 31-20
The Lions are looking like the best team in the NFC North.
Take Detroit, 28-14
Last Week: 6-6 ATS, 6-6 Straight up
Overall: 24-32-1 ATS; 32-25 Straight up
F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com