STEELERS Respect for Cowher hasn't diminished

The Pittsburgh coach has his players' respect despite a 5-8 record.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers might be a loss away from missing the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons. But there are no signs coach Bill Cowher has lost his team because of it.
Even during a five-game losing streak, there was no Raiders-like criticism of the coach from the locker room, no talk the Steelers had lost direction at the top, no finger-pointing, name-calling or coach-bashing.
About the only semblance of unhappiness was wide receiver Plaxico Burress' remarks that the offense was too predictable. But his comments clearly reflected more frustration than anger.
So, while the playoffs remain only a dim possibility, the Steelers (5-8) go into Sunday's game at the New York Jets (5-8) still trying to make something out of a season that has provided disappointment and little else -- even if any momentum they generate or turnaround they perform might not make a difference until next season.
"It is all in how you want to approach the game," Cowher said Tuesday. "I think sports are so much mind-set. When you go there and hear things all the time, you have to be able to deflect that and not let it affect you. It is easier said than done."
Strengths
Running back Jerome Bettis suggests Cowher's strengths as a coach can be more evident during bad times than good. It's easy for any coach to keep his players' respect during winning times, but it's more difficult to do so when they're losing.
"Look at the team we just played [Oakland], when the players don't believe the philosophy that the head coach has, then you are going to have issues," Bettis said. "It's obvious, you can hear it in the comments that are made. Everybody believes in our coach and what he has implemented and the system. That has not been an issue."
Before the Steelers beat the Raiders 27-7, Cowher told his players to put aside the distractions that accompany a discouraging season and again be the loose, confident team they were the previous two seasons.
Maybe the opponent factored into the equation, but the Steelers responded with their best combination of offense, defense and special teams since they beat Baltimore 34-15 in their opener. Bettis (106 yards), quarterback Tommy Maddox (266 yards) and kick returner Antwaan Randle El had productive games.
Win streak needed
This week, Cowher is focusing on another relatively simple goal: the season's first two-game winning streak. The Steelers haven't won two straight since taking their final three regular-season games and their first playoff game last year.
But Cowher won't spend a lot of time emphasizing the Steelers aren't officially out of the playoffs, mostly because they need so much outside help to get there. They must win their final three, Baltimore (8-5) must lose three straight and Cincinnati (7-6) must lose twice.
"I don't think we have played better because we did not have to worry about the playoffs," Cowher said. "It's been a play here, a play there and we have not been able to finish games. I think the challenge is to see if we can do this two weeks in a row. It's been up one week and down the next. We have consistently been inconsistent."