Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press Jerome Bettis and Curtis Martin meet at midfield following the game. "I told him congratulations and he told me congratulations," Martin said. "You have to appreciate consistency, and that's what he's done." Click photo for larger image.

Curtis Martin passed Jerome Bettis for fifth place on the NFL's career rushing list, but it was anything but sweet for the New York Jets' star running back.

Martin was held to 72 yards on 24 carries, a 3-yard average. Both backs went over 13,000 yards rushing for their careers: Martin has 13,056 yards and Bettis, who ran for 57 yards yesterday, has 13,037. But Bettis' team won, in part because he ran for one touchdown and passed for another.

With three games left, the two are within striking distance of Eric Dickerson, fourth on the career list with 13,259 yards.

"I take my hat off to him," Martin said. "We got together after the game. I told him congratulations, he told me congratulations. He wanted to appreciate consistency, especially in this game. He's definitely one that's been able to accomplish that."

The secret to holding down Martin, who gouged the Steelers for 174 yards rushing in a game last December, was simple.

"We just did what we've been doing all year, playing gap sound and we got a lot of penetration," nose tackle Chris Hoke said. "That's what Coach Cowher been preaching, get penetration in the running game and make him dance around a little. Curtis likes to hit the hole now. So, get penetration and make him dance and he's less effective."

After the game, Steelers coach Bill Cowher said he thought his team might play the Jets again in the playoffs.

"I hope we do," said Martin, who played at Allderdice High School and Pitt. "I hope we come back here. This isn't just the Pittsburgh Steelers; it's my hometown team. I hate losing, period, but I really hate losing to them. I would love to have a second chance."

Bettis' 12 touchdowns are two short of Franco Harris' team record of 14 in 1976.

Big Ben's ratings dip

Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Ben Roethlisberger's passer rating was more than a hundred points less than Jerome Bettis' rating, but the rookie earned another win. Click photo for larger image.

Rookie Ben Roethlisberger and the Jets' Chad Pennington, both quarterbacks from the Mid-American Conference, each had a passer rating of 33.6.

That was, by far, Roethlisberger's lowest of the season. His previous low was a 63.0 at Cleveland Nov. 14.

Roethlisberger, who ran his record as a starter to an NFL-record 11-0 for a rookie, threw two interceptions for the first time since he replaced injured Tommy Maddox in the third quarter in Baltimore Sept. 19 and had two. One yesterday came on a Hail Mary pass on the final play of the first half.

"We did not play a good first half of football offensively," Roethlisberger said. "We made some mistakes, but the good thing is that we got out with the win and we will get to check our mistakes and, hopefully, won't make them again."

Roethlisberger's passer rating dipped slightly to 97.6 for the season. He was sacked twice by the Jets.

Pennington: My fault

Pennington took blame for the loss after throwing three interceptions. It was the second-worst game of Pennington's career. He threw five interceptions against the New England Patriots late last season.

"I'm better than what I played tonight," Pennington said. "There's no doubt that I'm disappointed in myself."

The interceptions were uncharacteristic of Pennington, who had only four all season. The Jets came into the game with the fewest giveaways in the NFL at 10.

Haggans hurt

Left outside linebacker Clark Haggans left the game late in the first quarter with what Cowher described as a groin injury without elaboration. Haggans did not return.

James Harrison, who started one game at right outside linebacker for Joey Porter, replaced Haggans on running downs, and Alonzo Jackson played on passing downs. Harrison had six tackles, Jackson two.

"Hopefully, next week, we'll get Clark back and keep going to the formula that's helped us win these games," Jackson said.

Yellow flags galore

The Jets were penalized 12 times for 84 yards -- all in the first half -- and had several big plays called back because of them. The Steelers were penalized only twice for 15 yards.

New York coach Herm Edwards said, "We cannot self-destruct like that."

"We can't look at penalties as the reason we lost," Jets wide receiver Justin McCareins said. "The referees didn't score a point for them. They played solid football. We could move the ball. We just couldn't put it in."

Polamalu tops in picks

	Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Troy Polamalu runs for a 22-yard return after swiping a Chad Penington pass. Click photo for larger image.

Safety Troy Polamalu made his fifth interception to take the team lead, one more than linebacker James Farrior and cornerback Deshea Townsend.

"Let me say this: Troy Polamalu is the best safety in the game today," Cowher said. "And I'll go on record in saying that. The things you ask him to do and the production he has and what he does week in and week out, I wouldn't want any other guy."

Quick slants

Chris Kirkpatrick, a member of the rock band 'N Sync, sang the National Anthem. Kirkpatrick, who grew up in Clarion, said he is a lifelong Steelers fan.

The division title was the Steelers' third in the past four years, the eighth under Cowher and the 17th in team history, dating to their first in 1972.

The 11 consecutive victories tied a team record set in 1975 when the Steelers finished 12-2, losing their final regular-season game.

The Steelers did not have a sack for the first time this season. Their 38 sacks led the AFC before games yesterday.

Inactive lists

Steelers: wide receiver Plaxico Burress, running back Verron Haynes, cornerback Chad Scott, linebacker Kendrell Bell, guard Jim Jones, tight end Matt Kranchick, defensive end Brett Keisel and offensive tackle Barrett Brooks.

Jets: defensive end John Abraham, quarterback Brooks Bollinger and Ricky Ray, offensive tackles Dave Yovanovits and Marko Cavka, cornerback Derrick Strait, linebacker Victor Hobson and wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery.