STEELERS Pittsburgh hoping to shake off defeat

The Steelers did everything but beat Houston last week, now face the Panthers.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- As they monitored each other's game from afar on their stadium scoreboards, neither the Carolina Panthers nor the Pittsburgh Steelers could believe what they were seeing.
Whenever the Steelers looked up, the Panthers, one of the NFL's three lowest-scoring teams, were scoring another touchdown in a 52-31 romp over Cincinnati. It was only four fewer points than Carolina scored in its previous five games combined.
The Panthers couldn't believe how the Steelers outgained Houston 422-47 and had 24 first downs to the Texans' 3, only to lose 24-6 on three defensive touchdowns that resulted from Tommy Maddox's turnovers.
"I think it was one of the oddest games I have ever seen," said Carolina coach John Fox, a former Steelers assistant. "It is a strange game -- and that's what makes it exciting. I would say probably it was bizarre, to say the least."
Cowher is concerned
The Steelers (7-5-1) used some other words to describe it, with coach Bill Cowher suggesting his players spend five minutes venting their frustration before moving on to this week. His biggest worry is the loss might have some carryover effect the rest of the season.
In 1998, for example, the Steelers were 7-4 when they lost a similarly strange game -- the Jerome Bettis overtime coin flip dispute in Detroit -- and they went on to lose their final five and miss the playoffs.
This time, they still lead the AFC North by a half-game over Cleveland (7-6) and 1 1/2 games over Baltimore (6-7), but their margin for error with three games remaining is diminished.
"Fortunately enough, we're in this division," defensive back Lee Flowers said. "If we were in any other division, we would be getting ready for Christmas."
The Panthers (5-8) only wish they were in the Steelers' division. They're 3-0 against the AFC North, beating Baltimore, Cleveland and Cincinnati. However, they are 0-5 in their own NFC South, leaving them little to play for but an outside chance for a .500 season -- and, as Flowers said, a merry Christmas.
Finishing 8-8 would be a significant accomplishment for a team that recently lost eight in a row, but the Panthers must be wondering where the points will come from the rest of the season.
Injuries have left Dee Brown (286 yards) as their top running back, and the quarterback is 36-year-old retread Rodney Peete. If it wasn't for receiver-kick returner Steve Smith, who had two punt return touchdowns against the Bengals, the Panthers wouldn't have much offense at all.
They certainly haven't had much against teams that play a 3-4 defense, like Pittsburgh does, managing only 10 points in three games against such teams.
Panthers on win streak
Still, Peete said the Panthers' two-game winning streak proves they didn't fold up their season after dropping eight straight.
"It sits bad in your stomach, especially with the team going 1-15 the year before," Peete said. "The talking heads start to creep in and say, 'Here we go again.' I think all through that streak we were able to keep it together and not let things totally unravel."
Just as the Steelers say they won't let the outlandish loss to the Texans cause their season to come apart. Cornerback Dewayne Washington said they have felt the pressure all season of being the AFC's preseason favorite, but are ready to play well down the stretch. Flowers thinks they will, too.
"We've come too far and too close [to the Super Bowl] to let this year go by," Flowers said.