Steelers catch big break; open week works magic

A string of big games will greet Pittsburgh when it returns to practice.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Coach Mike Tomlin seems driven to prevent the Pittsburgh Steelers from taking any week off as they play what may be one of the most challenging schedules in their history.

For a few days, he’s making an exception.

With Pro Bowl players Willie Parker (knee) and Casey Hampton (groin) healing from significant injuries, Ben Roethlisberger going game to game with a slight shoulder separation and the Steelers (4-1) sore from three consecutive physical games, this weekend’s bye affords a welcomed break.

“It’s coming at the right time,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s time for people that have bumps and bruises to really get healed up, and we’ll come back next week really feeling good about ourselves and where we’re at.”

Wide receiver Hines Ward is thankful for the time off, saying, “It comes at the perfect time.”

The Steelers may need the layoff, given they still must play the Titans (5-0), Giants (4-0), Redskins (4-1), Cowboys (4-1), Patriots (3-1), Colts (2-2), Ravens (2-2) and Chargers (2-3) during their final 11 games — arguably the NFL’s toughest closing stretch.

They play the Patriots, Cowboys, Ravens and Titans in succession beginning Nov. 30, with only the Dallas game in Pittsburgh.

“When we come back, it’s nonstop,” Ward said. “We’ve got a bunch of big games together so we have to continue to go out there and get it done.”

The Steelers managed to put aside problems that might wreck a less resilient club’s season to win the kind of close games that good teams must win in September and October to assure themselves of playing in January.

They’ve already beaten Cleveland 10-6 and Jacksonville 26-21 on the road, and Baltimore 23-20 in overtime at home, three important wins by a combined margin of 12 points.

How they’ve reached this 4-1 record is a surprise, given their many injuries — first-round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall (shoulder) and right guard Kendall Simmons (Achilles) are out for the season — and many sacks. Roethlisberger has been dumped 18 times, the second most sacks in the league, yet has been one of the NFL’s most efficient quarterbacks.

And who could have guessed the Steelers, down to one healthy back after an injury-filled Monday night win over Baltimore, would end a four-game losing streak against Jacksonville six days later partly because situational back Mewelde Moore ran for 99 yards?

Or that Moore would do so running behind a line that included Darnell Stapleton at guard for the entire game and Trai Essex at tackle for part of it?