Peter Diana, Post-Gazette A good, hard week of practice resulted in a good game. So why change a good thing? Special teams standouts Sean Morey, left, celebrates with Brett Keisel on a big stop against the Bears. Click photo for larger image.

It sounds more like punishment than reward, but the Steelers may have earned another tough practice drill today thanks to their 21-9 victory against Chicago Sunday.

Coach Bill Cowher said he was likely to continue the routine in practice this week that he had last week. That would mean donning the pads again today for what's best known as the "middle drill" a 9-on-7 running session.

This is the time of year when most coaches keep the full shoulder pads off their players, who wear lighter "shells" on their shoulders.

"We had a good week of work and we need another good week of work," Cowher said yesterday. "Not all the time, but I think most of the time, you can say our Sunday play is a reflection of how we prepare. We'll pretty much take the same approach this week."

One aspect of it has changed, however. After losing to the Bengals Dec. 4, Cowher made his players report to work the next day. After beating the Bears Sunday, he gave them Monday off to go with their normal Tuesday off.

"It's a feel thing," Cowher said.

Fumblin', bumblin', stumblin'

The Steelers went through Sunday's game without losing a turnover, but that does not mean they did not fumble. They fumbled four times, but recovered all four.

They have now fumbled eight times in the past two games and lost just one. They've lost just one of their past nine fumbles and two of their past 12.

"We talk about it," Cowher said. "We don't want to have fumbles, we don't want to have turnovers.

"I know the ball the other day was wet; it was one of those days, particularly as we got in the second half. I told those guys to cover up, particularly when they're fighting for extra yardage.

"We've been fortunate to get some of these back. We'll continue to talk about it and recognize that good fortune won't continue if we continue to put the ball on the ground."

Cowher said when a runner, receiver or returner has the ball: "Ball security is No. 1. It's going to happen. To say you're going to go through a year with no turnovers is not realistic. But you have to protect that as much as possible."

Problems of his own

With a chance to become the first AFC team to win 15 games last season, Cowher rested many of his starters, including Ben Roethlisberger, in what was a meaningless finale at Buffalo.

Asked what he might do if he were coach of the 13-0 Colts, who can become the first 16-0 team in the NFL and have already clinched the conference's top seed, Cowher said: "I'm just worried about the Minnesota Vikings. I have enough to worry about here."

Injury report

Cowher said a CT scan and an MRI on cornerback Deshea Townsend showed no discernable injuries and that he had a neck strain but no concussion from a hit he made in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Bears.

He said if Townsend could not play, either rookie Bryant McFadden or Ricardo Colclough would replace him.

Also, offensive tackle Marvel Smith, who missed three of the past four games with a sprained ankle, is listed as doubtful this week, the first time in three weeks he has not been listed as out for the game. Cowher said Smith was "getting better."

The Steelers complete injury report as issued by Cowher today:

Doubtful -- OT Smith (ankle), LB Andre Frazier (hamstring).

Questionable -- DE Travis Kirschke (back), CB Deshea Townsend (neck).

Probable -- CB Chidi Iwuoma (glute), RB Jerome Bettis (quad), WR Hines Ward (ankle), QB Roethlisberger (thumb), DE Brett Keisel (shoulder), OT Max Starks (shoulder), LB Joey Porter (elbow).

Short snaps

Jerome Bettis' 101 yards rushing Sunday was his team-high 50th 100-yard rushing game, the 61st of his career, fifth-most in NFL history. His 39-yard run in the third quarter was his longest since 2002.

LB Clark Haggans, who missed three games after groin surgery, registered his eighth sack Sunday to lead the team. It ties the total that ends Aaron Smith and Kimo von Oelhoffen finished to lead the team the past two seasons.

RB Willie Parker needs to average 48 yards a game to become the first back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since Bettis did it in 2001. Parker has 856 yards rushing.

WR Hines Ward has 51 touchdown receptions, tying him with Lynn Swann for second among the Steelers in their career.

Bettis' 39-yard run in the third quarter Sunday was his longest since he had a 41-yard run against Cincinnati in 2002.