Bye Breakdown: The Good and Bad for the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are resting, healing, and enjoying a well-deserved break after going 5-2 before the bye week. The Steelers enter this respite with a four-game winning streak and a defense that's beginning to play like the one we've come to know and love. But not everything is picture-perfect. Like any team, even good ones, there are some weaknesses, chinks in the armor if you will, to go along with their strengths. Here's an analysis of the good and bad Pittsburgh has displayed so far in 2009.   The Good 1. The Defense Even with all-everything Troy Polamalu missing four games and DE Aaron Smith out for the season, the Steelers defense is playing at a high level. Pittsburgh is No. 8 in total defense giving up 291 yards per game, down from last season's 237.2 yards and the No. 1 ranking. The run defense has been excellent, allowing only 76.6 yards a game, second in the league. The passing defense is rated 15th in the NFL, which dropped the overall rating down, due in no ... (link)