AFC NORTH Historic tie against Falcons has Steelers perplexed

Sunday's non-win offered hope to Baltimore and Cleveland.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- It wasn't a loss, but it certainly didn't feel like a victory. It may not necessarily hurt the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3-1) in the AFC North race, but it probably won't help them.
It was the biggest record-setting day in the team's 70-season history, and another one to marvel at the dramatic changes quarterback Tommy Maddox has brought to what once was the NFL's most predictable offense. But it wasn't a winning day.
NFL players are accustomed to dealing with winning and losing, but the Steelers don't seem to know how to handle a tie, especially one in a game that already seemed won.
Even coach Bill Cowher was uncertain how to react after his team squandered a 17-point lead midway through the fourth quarter and was tied 34-34 Sunday by Atlanta, the NFL's first tie in five years.
Normally, Cowher gives his players Monday off only when they win. But he gave them Monday off -- perhaps because they didn't lose, even if it seemed that was exactly what happened.
Blown lead
The Steelers were in control 34-17 with eight minutes to play, only to have a fumbled Antwaan Randle El punt and consecutive three-and-out possessions lead to 17 quick Falcons points.
The overtime ended with Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress clutching the ball only a foot from victory, but with time expired.
"I've dealt with a lot of things in sports, but I don't know how to deal with a tie," Maddox said. "It's better than a loss."
Not much.
Maddox, in only his sixth Pittsburgh start, had the most prolific game by a Steelers quarterback. He threw for four touchdowns and 473 yards -- the most yardage by an NFL quarterback this season, and 64 yards more than Bobby Layne's 44-year-old club record.
Second-guessing
That's why there was considerable second-guessing of the Steelers' play-calling and a decision to use their dime defense exclusively down the stretch, even as Falcons quarterback Michael Vick repeatedly run through it or threw over it.
The Steelers went conservative early in the fourth quarter, giving the ball almost exclusively to Amos Zereoue, whose 37 carries were the second most in team history.
The 5-foot-8 Zereoue once carried on seven straight plays, and was given the ball on first and second downs on both of the critical three-and-out possessions.
The Steelers often utilize this run-the-clock strategy when Jerome Bettis is healthy, but Zereoue is a cutback runner, rather than a straight-ahead power runner who wears down defenses like Bettis does. Bettis has played only a couple of downs in three weeks because of a strained knee.
"If we don't fumble a punt, those [play-calling] questions aren't being asked," said Cowher.
The tie offers hope to the Baltimore Ravens (4-5) and Cleveland Browns (4-5).