The Sports Monitor

Quick thoughts on the Steelers' 38-28 win over the Chargers on Sunday: Rashard Mendenhall had a great game (165 yards rushing, two touchdowns), but let's keep it in perspective. The Chargers have one of the worst run defenses in the league. They gave up nearly 150 yards against the Raiders in Week 1 and Dolphins last week, and 130 to the Ravens in Week 2. If Mendenhall, or Willie Parker, can consistently put up 100-yard games beyond the beyond the next two against the Lions and Browns, then I'll be convinced the line is better. If Mendenhall can have half the game like he had Sunday against the Vikings in Week 7, I'll be thoroughly impressed. Speaking of the offensive line, did Max Starks or anyone on the line pay off NBC announcer Chris Collinsworth to get compliments? If Mike Tomlin's benching of Mendenhall helped get this kind of production, then I can't wait to see Limas Sweed's next game. He was made inactive after dropping a touchdown pass against the ...

Random thoughts after the Steelers' 23-20 loss to the Bengals on Sunday: The Steelers need to line up linebacker James Harrison back on the outside. I don't understand why they're moving Harrison away from his strength. I don't know about you, but I got tired of hearing the announcers talk about how close the Bengals are from being undefeated, referencing the fluke play against the Broncos. If they want to play that game, give me a fourth-down stop against the Bears or Bengals and the Steelers would be 2-1. Of course, the Steelers easily could be 0-3 heading into the Chargers game Sunday. If they beat the Chargers, and it won't be easy, the Steelers will get games against the Lions and Browns. In case you were wondering, the Vikings, Broncos and Bengals follow. Willie Parker looked good in the first half, but didn't find as much room in the second half. The last time Parker faced the Bengals, he rushed for only 37 yards. I know he's still young and has talen...

If I didn't know any better, I could have sworn that the Steelers and Bengals switched uniforms at halftime Sunday. The Steelers played like the bumbling Bungles. There was an interception returned for a touchdown. There was Limas "Hands of Stone" Sweed's dropped touchdown catch. The defense couldn't get the opponent off the field when it counted, either. The Bengals, meanwhile, had the impressive touchdown run. Their defense came up with key stops in the fourth quarter. And, yes, there was that game-winning drive capped by a 4-yard TD pass with 14 seconds left. Those were the plays the team made last year on their way to winning the Super Bowl. Mike Tomlin knows it. "We need to finish football games better," he told reporters. "That's the mark of a champion, and that's not us at this point." I like Tomlin. He gets right to the point. And, right now, there's no avoiding the fact this team needs to turn things around. Now. It's j...