NFL Steelers prepare for next challenge in San Francisco

After snapping its losing streak, Pittsburgh faces the rested 49ers Monday night.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- Steelers coach Bill Cowher admitted that after five consecutive losses he wasn't sure how to react after Sunday's 28-15 victory over Arizona at Heinz Field.
"It has been so long so I don't know how anyone knew how to feel," said Cowher after the Steelers improved to 3-6 and shaved a game off Baltimore's AFC North Division lead.
"There are a lot of things that we have to improve on," Cowher said. "We have to get ourselves prepared to go to San Francisco on a Monday night and that is going to be a tough game."
Time off
Cowher gave his players two days off while his staff is preparing gameplans for the 49ers (4-5), who are coming off their bye week.
"San Francisco is playing pretty well and they get an extra week to prepare for us after a great game against St. Louis," free safety Brent Alexander said. "They're going to have a lot of confidence and they are a solid team -- they've got some playmakers."
Alexander was referring to quarterback Jeff Garcia, who missed the 30-10 win over the Rams on Nov. 2, and wide receiver Terrell Owens.
"He always will get a little added attention -- he's a big-time player," said Alexander of Owens. "We know it, they know it.
"They're playing good football," said Alexander, referring to the 49ers' four losses by a combined eight points or less. "In the NFL, most games are decided by three points or less, so if you're in it at the end, a play here or there can turn it. It's going to be a good game.
"We're competing not only against San Francisco but also against our conference [opponents], trying to build to get that [playoff] spot that we want."
At stake
Guard Alan Faneca, who has been playing left tackle while Marvel Smith nurses a pinched nerve in his neck, tried to downplay the game's impact but admitted a loss would be deadly to their division title hopes.
"We've got to keep working hard and keep headstrong -- we still have to get better to win games," Faneca said. "The importance is that we're trying to get another win.
"It helps that nobody is undefeated in our division, but we're 3-6 so we really can't even look at our division yet," Faneca said. "For us to even compete for our division, we've got to win next week and try and then put together another couple of wins."
Linebacker Joey Porter said the Arizona game revived the spirit in the Steelers locker room.
"It's not like we have a great, great record right now, but we still know that we can get it done," Porter said. "If the guys in this room are believing, that's enough for us to get it done.
"The attitude wasn't really lost -- it was just a funk that we couldn't get out of," Porter said of the five straight losses.
"[Punt returner Antwaan] Randle El [made a] big return, [wide receiver] Hines [Ward] caught two TDs real quick, and just like that our confidence is sky high," Porter said. "And that's how we have to come into Monday night against San Francisco -- sky high."
Prime-time game
Ward, the Steelers' top All-Pro candidate, said his team hasn't fared well in recent night games.
"Last time we were on [national TV against Cleveland], we didn't play too well, so there's a redemption [factor]."
Last year, the Steelers opened with a Monday night loss at New England and a Sunday night defeat at home against Oakland.
"We want to make sure we go out and play well on national TV," Ward said. "We have to treat it like a one-game playoff from here on out."
williams@vindy.com