‘Humble’ vs. ‘Electrifying’? It’s No Contest

So, whatever happened to the great Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback controversy?

Well, when you demolish your opponent, 42-14, as the Steelers did to the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday’s AFC first-round playoff game at Three Rivers Stadium, there is no controversy.

Instead, there was plenty of glory for both starter Mike Tomczak and starter-in-waiting Kordell Stewart.

Or as Tomczak put it, “Mr. Electrifying and Mr. Humble.”

In case you couldn’t figure it out, he was referring to Stewart as electrifying and himself as humble.

Tomczak started the game and threw all but one of Pittsburgh’s passes, completing 13 of 21 for 176 yards.

Stewart took over behind the center once the Steelers got close to the Colt end zone. He took advantage of the opportunity to score twice on the ground, part of the 48 yards Stewart gained rushing. He also completed a two-point conversion pass to John Farquhar and ran the team in the fourth quarter.

Stewart, who is starting to get more time at the position he played in high school and in college at Colorado, is also starting to get more comfortable.

“I felt more relaxed [prior to Sunday’s game],” he said. “Last week, before the game started, I was kind of on the nervous side. That was my first week having an opportunity to get back into the swing of being a quarterback.

“This week I knew my situation. I knew I didn’t have to try to be a hero. I didn’t have to use my arm today that much. I used my legs.”

So, how exactly is this going to work, this two-headed quarterback experiment? Bill Cowher admits he’s not sure.

“It’s probably more of a feel thing that you have to go on based on where you’re at,” said the Steeler coach, “and how things are going. They are both going to play in the upcoming weeks. How much? I can’t answer that.”

As long as things are running smoothly, he won’t have to. But should the Steelers hit some holes in the road to the Super Bowl, be assured the controversy will return.

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The 42 points are the most scored by a Pittsburgh team in the postseason. . . . The five rushing touchdowns are also a club playoff record. . . . This was only third time in Steeler postseason history, spanning 34 games, that they have won a game without throwing a touchdown pass.

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Pittsburgh receiver Charles Johnson, who hadn’t caught a pass in his only two previous postseason games, caught five on Sunday for 109 yards. . . . Norm Johnson’s 50-yard field goal was his longest of the season, the longest he has ever kicked in the postseason and it tied a Steeler playoff record, set by Gary Anderson on New Year’s Eve of 1989 against the Houston Oilers.