Steelers Gameday Is Here, If Anyone Cares

Is it just me, or does this seem to be the week that the Steelers, and Steeler fans, just want to get through to get onto the nitty gritty of trying to turn around the season. All week reading the articles in the Pittsburgh papers, it seems that there are no standout themes for this week, nothing about the Raiders that jumps out as the story of the week. Once upon a time, a Steelers-Raiders game would be guaranteed to have five fights, three flagrant fouls and maybe a lawsuit afterwards. Now it's just a game that stands between the Steelers and hopefully improving to 3-4.

The papers today reflect that feeling. Last week the Sunday papers were filled with stories about Michael Vick. This week, the big story in the Tribune-Review is less about the Raiders and much more about the Steelers season in general, as the team tries to figure out why it's started out 2-4. The big reason, according to the Trib is turnovers, which I can agree with--they killed the Steelers in the Bengals and Falcons game, and played a part in the Chargers loss. The Post-Gazette also worries more about the Steelers with a look at how Pittsburgh has turned to the pass more in 2006.

More introspection on the Steelers comes in the form of a Q&A with Bryant McFadden, who likely returns to his nickel back role this week. But the Tribune-Review does have some game analysis with a look at the matchup between the Steelers defense and Raiders quarterback Andrew Walters. Something to watch for--Walters has fumbled eight times in five games. The Post-Gazette's matchup breakdown says the Steelers' Hines Ward should be licking his chops about this week's matchup. Speaking of Walters, the San Francisco Chronicle says the Raiders QB is causing a QB controversy.

Speaking of the lost rivalry, Franco Harris laments the decline of the Raiders.