The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night by the score of 23-20 in overtime.  The key divisional win for the Steelers was bitter sweet, because the Steelers lost their best offensive lineman in Kendall Simmons (Achilles); and their number one draft pick of this year in running back Rashard Mendenhall (with a shoulder fracture).  You kind of figured that Rashard Mendenhall was going to be a targeted player when reports about him sending a text message to Ray Rice about having a big game against the Baltimore Ravens, but I don’t think anyone expected him to have received a severe injury like a shoulder fracture.  That just sounds painful.

Both players Simmons and Mendenhall have been put on the IR and will be lost for the rest of the year.  With Willie Parker already on the sideline for an extended period of time, the Steelers might have the worst running back situation in the NFL with their top two backs on the shelf.  There are running back free agents out their like Shawn Alexander, but the pickings are very slim.  The Steelers will be starting running back Mewelde Moore- who the Steelers signed as a free agent during the summer.  This year Big Ben Roethlisberger’s arm will be counted on more than ever for a team that has been known forever as a running team.  Which why the the loss of Kendall Simmons will be even more devastating to an offensive line that has played mediocre to say the least.  Whoever Pittsburgh picks to replace Simmons won’t matter if the offensive line as a whole doesn’t step up and play better than they have.  Their franchise quarterback Big Ben already has 3 nagging injuries that he is going to have to play with for the rest of the season-including his throwing hand.  If this offensive line continues to struggle, then the Steelers will have to air it out a lot often then they have in the past or more than Coach Mike Tomlin would like to.   The teams wide receivers and tight ends will have to get ready to become a whole lot more integral to the overall offensive scheme.  Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians will earn his paycheck as he will be forced to make huge adjustments to the offensive play calling and might have to make numerous changes to the play book.

There will be tremendous pressure on the Pittsburgh Steelers defense because they are the current strength of the team, and will be asked to do more than the already outstanding performance that they have displayed during their first four games.  The biggest key for the defense is to stay healthy, especially to keep superstar safety Troy Polamalu.  Polamalu has had injury problems in the past and he is the one player the Steelers can least afford to lose on defense.  The defensive line has been hit hard already by a couple of injuries including run stopper Casy Hampton.

Every team in the NFL has to deal with injuries, so you won’t hear anyone crying for the Steelers-especially the New England Patriots.