Reeling Steelers searching for answers
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are finding out how the other half lives. At 0-4, they are off to their worst start in 45 years, before legendary coach Chuck Noll and the NFL merger arrived.
They have a bye week to lick their wounds after their 34-27 loss to the previously winless Minnesota Vikings in England. It will hardly be soothing, though.
Their defense, which finished No. 1 in the NFL the past two seasons in fewest yards allowed, is getting shredded. The 110 points they have allowed are eighth-most in the league. They have created no turnovers through four games while their offense has given up 11.
"It's awful," safety Ryan Clark said. "In no way is it fun. In no way is it good or positive. We understand that. We're turning over the stones. We're trying our best to figure it out."
In the meantime, they are wasting some good performances by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. His 51 attempts Sunday were the second-most he has thrown in a game, behind only the 54 he pitched against Denver in 2006.
"I mean right now, you can say we're the worst team in the league," Roethlisberger said. "That hurts. As a competitor, you don't like that, you want to do everything you can to win a football game. To turn it around, you just have to walk a fine line of trying not to do too much, hurt your team and yourself. We just have to keep playing as a team and find a way."
--RB Isaac Redman, who last week said he played through a concussion in the second game of the season, was among the inactives Sunday. The man who started the season as their starting halfback and makes a $1.3 million salary, is now fourth on the depth chart behind Le'Veon Bell, Jonathan Dwyer and Felix Jones.
-- G Ramon Foster left Sunday's game with a pectoral injury and was to be re-evaluated. If he cannot play following the bye, Kelvin Beachum could take his place, as he did against the. Vikings.
-- WR Markus Wheaton has an apparent broken little finger, but it did not prevent him from continuing to play Sunday.
-- Roethlisberger injured his right index finger during the game but did not come out. It is not broken.
