Cowher, Steelers relish underdog role in postseason

	Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger made a game-saving tackle on the Colts' Nick Harper after a fumble by Steelers RB Jerome Bettis. AP

By Don Banks, SI.com

WHAT WE LEARNED

Pittsburgh: For whatever reason -- and some would say it's Bill Cowher's ultra-conservative approach to postseason coaching -- the Steelers aren't cut out to be front-runners come playoff time. But they absolutely thrive on the underdog gig. To wit: Last year, Pittsburgh went 15-1 and wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the AFC with homefield advantage. Not that it did them much good. By all rights, the Steelers should have been beaten at home by the Jets in the divisional round. The following week at Heinz Field, they were embarrassed once again by New England in the AFC title game, their fourth loss at home in a conference championship in five tries in the Cowher era. But this year? With no such lead-dog pressure, the Steelers have become the first No. 6 seed to win two road games and a berth in the conference championship. Pittsburgh lost three games in a row in late November and early December to drop to 7-5, and only salvaged a wild-card berth by winning its last four games in the regular season. But once in the tournament, the Steelers have turned as tough as they looked soft last January, winning at Cincinnati and at Indianapolis. And don't look now, but next week at Denver, Pittsburgh won't be favored to join the 1985 New England Patriots as the only team in the NFL history to win three consecutive playoff games on the road. In other words, the Steelers got the Broncos right where they want them.

Indianapolis: Tell me again about how improved the speedy but always undersized Colts defense was this season? How the unit finally had difference makers who were more physical, more tenacious, and better suited to slug it out with bigger, brawnier opponents? That's what additions like defensive tackle Corey Simon, and the emergence of youth such as linebacker Cato June and safety Bob Sanders did for the Colts defense, right? Maybe in September and October it did, when the Colts defenders had fresh legs and the season was relatively young. But not late in the year, when the wear and tear of the long NFL schedule took its toll and made Indy's defense look as ordinary -- and frankly overmatched -- as it has in many recent seasons. I know they hate the "finesse'' label in Indy, but the Colts defense still doesn't look like it can stand up to the pounding when it runs up against a team that knows how to throw its weight around.

PLAYER WHO IMPRESSED ME

When was the last time you can recall a quarterback making a game-saving tackle to win a playoff game? That's what Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger did at the RCA Dome. Oh, and he had a decent day throwing the ball, too, completing 14 of 24 for 197 yards, with two touchdowns, an interception and a 95.3 rating. Roethlisberger isn't paid for his tackling, but he just might have saved the game and the season for the Steelers by tripping up Colts cornerback Nick Harper at the Indy 42 after Harper scooped up that Jerome Bettis fumble and set sail for the Pittsburgh end zone. Suddenly, Roethlisberger's career playoff record is 3-1 and it seems like a very long time ago since he struggled so mightily against the Jets and Patriots last January.

THE BIG PICTURE

The Steelers survived this time, but they have to craft a go-for-the-jugular game plan next week at Denver, because getting up 21-3 and then taking the air out of the ball nearly proved disastrous against Indianapolis. Cowher's Steelers have only lost once in his entire tenure when they've had a lead of at least 11 points in a game, and Pittsburgh is known for putting teams away with the running game once it gets up. But the Steelers are going to need every point they can get in next week's AFC title game, because the Jake Plummer-led Broncos can score in a hurry, as the Patriots found out first-hand on Saturday night. You've played it safe in past AFC Championship Games, Bill Cowher, and most times you've been sorry. Don't make that same mistake again.