The Steelers are boring again.

And that's a good thing for them.

They are as boring as they were in the Bill Cowher era when the team rode a dominating, opportunistic defense to double-digit wins, division titles and playoff runs.

Offense? Just don't mess up, put a few points on the board, get a lead and let the defense do its thing.

It was a formula that worked.

And it's working again, even in today's NFL.

The Steelers had strayed from that formula recently.

It was less Steel Curtain and more Killer Bs.

With Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, the offense was the show.

They put up points in bunches and were exciting to watch.

Steeler games had you on the edge of your seat. You had a feeling something spectacular could happen on every play.

Defense? Just don't mess up, just slow the opponent down a little and let the offense do its thing.

Now that the Killer Bs have broken up — Ben has a bum elbow, Bell has a bum team and Brown is just a bum — it's back to the grind-it-out days.

Boring football.

Nothing wrong with that.

Give the coaching staff credit for realizing the old way was the best way with the current talent of the team.

Mason Rudolph running around and throwing 40-plus passes a game like Roethlisberger isn't going to cut it.

Also give Kevin Colbert credit for making the bold move of trading for Minkah Fitzpatrick.

The defensive back has been a difference-maker for the defense and reminds of Troy Polamalu.

The question is will it be enough to dig the Steelers out of the 1-4 hole and get them into the playoffs.

It's going to be a slog.

And perhaps boring.

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.