PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't need long to figure out that winning the Super Bowl doesn't buy any victories or sympathy a season later.

Three games into a season that certainly hasn't gone like they envisioned, the Steelers (1-2) are in the same position they were in December — trailing the Bengals (and the Ravens, too) by two games in the AFC North. Only there is no promise this time they are about to win every remaining game like they did last season after being 7-5.

"I think you'll see a new team come out of this bye week," Ben Roethlisberger said.

They hope to see a different quarterback, for sure.

Roethlisberger, his offseason an adventure at every turn, still looks like he is only a few weeks into training camp — understandable for someone who went through surgery twice in barely two months. His passer rating is the second lowest in the league — normally, he is close to the top — and he has five interceptions and no touchdown passes.

Is it rustiness? The appendicitis? The motorcycle crash? A preseason in which he played only four series? Or is he a young quarterback yet to find his game after one of the best starts — he won 27 of his first 31 games — by any in NFL history?

"It's hard to say," he said. "The last time you played a real game was in the Super Bowl and then ..." he didn't play again until a 9-0 Monday night loss in Jacksonville on Sept. 18 because of his appendectomy.

"But I'm not going to sit here and break down his whole game," head coach Bill Cowher said. "There's a lot more to this than one position."

That's because Roethlisberger is hardly the only Steelers player — or coach — who is slumping.

Hines Ward missed most of training camp with a sore hamstring and has yet to have a big game; he has one TD catch after having four at this point last season. All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu, bothered by a sore shoulder, hasn't been the disruptive force he was a year ago. The secondary gave up four touchdown catches, none by Chad Johnson, last weekend against Cincinnati. The receivers, except for Ward, seem to be dropping as many passes as they catch.

The coach hasn't been immune from a post-Super Bowl letdown, either.

Cowher fiddled and faddled with his kick returning during training camp, never found a workable punt returner, yet still didn't activate third-round draft pick Willie Reid for three games. The decision to sit him and go with No. 3 punt returner Ricardo Colclough against Cincinnati resulted in a fumbled punt inside the 10 that led to the Bengals' decisive TD.

"Put that one on me," Cowher said.

Prediction: Reid, skilled on special teams at Florida State, will be the punt returner Oct. 8 against San Diego. The problem is dressing Reid forces Cowher to effectively keep six receivers on his active roster, two who would play mostly on special teams in Reid and Sean Morey.

"You can easily sit there and say you want this and this, but it's not always easy to do," Cowher said. "I'm doing what I think is in the best interest of the team and I will make those decisions accordingly.