Steelers continue to fall in power rankings
Given their current injury-status as well as their two-game slide that has them at 4-3 heading into the bye, perhaps it’s no surprise the Steelers continue to fall in the NFL’s weekly power rankings.
It’s not so bad on ESPN.com, who dropped the Steelers one spot to eighth place this week.
The news isn’t so good over on CBSSports.com, where Pittsburgh plunged six spots to 14th. Perhaps even more disconcerting is that the 3-4 Chargers and 3-3-1 Cardinals, who just finished in a 6-6 tie with the Seahawks Sunday night, are ranked ahead of the Steelers.
Here’s what writer Pete Brisco had to say:
“Without Ben Roethlisberger, they have big problems. The defense needs to get some pressure or they’ll be in trouble even when he comes back.”
AROUND COVER32
Winners and Losers Ajayi stars again and Bradford finally stumbles
Sunday Moments: The best plays from Week 7 of NFL football
No Steelers pass rush: Steelers last in the NFL in sacks
Steelers fall to 4-3: Steelers fall to Patriots, 27-16
Steelers suffered no serious injuries: The good news: The Steelers suffered no serious injuries this week
USA Today was about as kind as can be, keeping the Steelers in eighth place in the latest rankings.
However, the same can’t be said for NFL.com writer and notoriously tough Steelers grader, Elliot Harrison, who dropped Pittsburgh two spots to 12th and added this:
“So Landry Jones didn’t hold the Steelers back as much as was prognosticated coming into Week 7. If Ben Roethlisberger is the muscle car behind the Pittsburgh offense, consider Jones the ’83 Pulsar with an aftermarket moonroof. Roethlisberger’s fill-in threw for 281 yards with one touchdown and one pick, but he ultimately couldn’t move the chains often enough 6 of 18 on third and fourth downs) to keep pace with the Patriots offense. Much-needed bye on deck for Steelers, who come out of their weekend off with a date in Baltimore. That’s one important game in the AFC North.”
At the end of the day, the Steelers deserve to slip in these power rankings (fictional as they may be). When you execute as poorly as they have the past two games–injuries aside–you’re not going to receive very much love from the national media.
The good news for Pittsburgh is, even if they do slide in next week’s power rankings, it won’t be because of a loss or the loss of yet another key player.
The post Steelers continue to fall in power rankings appeared first on Cover32.
