Within mere
minutes of the Steelers' 30-12 dismantling of the Miami Dolphins going final at
Heinz Field Sunday afternoon, the domination of the defense as well
as another display of offensive proficiency had faded in to the background.
The starting
linebacker corps had just combined for 9 tackles for a loss, a forced fumble,
an interception, and 4 sacks. The starting running back continued a pace that’s
gained him 1,000 yards on the ground in just his last seven games played. The starting
wide receiver caught his sixth and seventh touchdown passes in that same
timeframe. A resounding postseason victory of that margin hadn’t been seen
on the North Side in twenty years.
Then the
starting quarterback walked into the media room with a protective boot on his
right ankle.
Several
hours later, the coach of those marauding linebackers was being placed in
handcuffs.
Before the Dolphins
even had time to thaw out, Pittsburgh and its fans were arguing about what should
have been done with starters when a game was out of hand and what should be
done about an assistant coach who allegedly put his hands on a police officer
while threatening a bouncer on the South Side.
The
distractions obscured the superlative performances. And those superlative
performances in turn clouded what may be the most impressive part of the last
two months for the Pittsburgh Steelers: An offensive line that has quietly
become the best in the NFL.
Since the
Steelers’ eight-game winning streak began November 20th in
Cleveland, they’ve missed zero man games along the offensive line due to injury,
have paved the way for 4.9 yards/carry and most impressively, have allowed just
5 sacks of their starting QB in his last 8 games played.
Perhaps it’s
time we started using names at this point. Maurkice Pouncey, Ramon Foster,
David DeCastro, Alejandro Villanueva, and Marcus Gilbert have provided the once
battle-worn and oft-damaged Ben Roethlisberger the cleanest half-season stretch
of his life. Moreover, it’s the cleanest 8-game stretch any quarterback has
seen in the NFL this year. Combine it with the prolific nature of the Steelers’
ground game since late November, and you’re left wondering why – aside from the
walking boot, the arrested linebacker coach, the legendary former QB’s salty attitude, the
cheerleading head coach, the dancing wide receiver, and everything else that
has been a story for the Steelers this season – why the nameless, faceless unit
that is at the core of their offensive success hasn’t received more attention.
So here’s a
quick reminder: Everything you’ve seen the last couple of months from Ben Roethlisberger,
Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, heck even from James Harrison, Bud Dupree, Ryan
Shazier, Stephon Tuitt, and even from behind the shadow of Terry Bradshaw and Mike
Tomlin, none of it should be talked about without at least whispering the five
names that have powered the Steelers’ momentum as they head for Kansas City:
Pouncey, Foster, DeCastro, Villanueva, and Gilbert.
