Text Size:
A|
A|
A
Email
Print
Slideshow: 
The Steelers put the brakes on a three-game losing streak and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger emerged from the haze that has enveloped him since the Super Bowl as they hammered Kansas City, 45-7, at Heinz Field yesterday.
Their victory carried a bonus as both teams above them in the AFC North Division lost, drawing the Steelers (2-3) back into the thick of things with Baltimore (4-2) and Cincinnati (3-2).
"We knew we needed this win," said halfback Willie Parker, who ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns. "We knew we needed to get back in the race. Everybody else lost, but we can't count on what they do, we can only count on what we do."
They did virtually anything they wanted to do against the Chiefs (2-3). They led, 14-0, after the first quarter and, 31-0, at halftime, using big plays to strike quickly.
Roethlisberger, riding his first three-game losing streak in the NFL and languishing next to the bottom of the league in passer rating, completed 16 of 19 passes for 238 yards and a near-perfect 153.8 passer rating. After throwing seven interceptions and no touchdowns in his first three games of the season, he had no interceptions and two touchdowns against the Chiefs before he gave way to backup Charlie Batch with 8:29 left in the game.
"It was good to see him have some success," coach Bill Cowher said. "He's worked through it. He's taken a lot of criticism in the last couple of weeks. I'm very proud of him being accountable; he stood up to it all."
Roethlisberger explained the difference in his play as, "being smart, throwing to the guys in the black jerseys, not the white jerseys. We did a good job of not turning the ball over. I found the guys that were open.
"The pocket today was big. I had lots of time to sit in there. I don't think I had to get out of the pocket at any time. The line did a phenomenal job.''
Parker ran for touchdowns of 3 and 8 yards, and Roethlisberger threw his first two touchdown passes of the season, of 47 yards to Nate Washington and 13 yards to Hines Ward. Najeh Davenport scored his first touchdown with the Steelers, from 1 yard in the fourth quarter. Backup linebacker Rian Wallace intercepted rookie Brodie Croyle, Kansas City's backup quarterback, and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown with 3:31 left.
Jeff Reed kicked a 32-yard field goal and missed one from 28.
Kansas City scored its only points in the third quarter on Larry Johnson's 3-yard run, capping an 80-yard drive.
Parker ran 21 times for his third 100-yard game this season, and Davenport added 78 yards rushing on 12 carries in his most prominent role since the Steelers signed him after their opener.
"We knew this season wasn't over," defensive end Brett Keisel said. "We just needed to win one game. Then we could focus on winning two games and then three games. To get this game and win it the way we did is huge for the confidence of this football team.
"It was good to get back to Steelers football."
Kansas City managed just 213 yards in total offense compared to the Steelers' 457 yards. They limited Croyle and starting quarterback Damon Huard to 19 completions in 39 pass attempts for 185 yards passing with three interceptions. The Steelers held Johnson to 26 yards on 15 carries, his lowest total in 14 games since he became a starter midway through last season.
"Any time they come in with a running game that's their strength, it's a challenge for us and a challenge we love," linebacker Larry Foote said.
The Steelers set the tone on the first series of the game when Parker scored from 3 yards. Santonio Holmes' biggest play of his young pro career made the touchdown possible. The Steelers had third-and-11 from their 26 when Roethlisberger completed a pass to Holmes in front of the sticks on the right side. Holmes put a move on cornerback Ty Law, who slipped and Holmes ran free until he himself slipped and fell at the Chiefs' 24 -- a 50-yard gain.
That was Roethlisberger's longest completion of the year, and he would follow with his second longest on his third series.
Holmes returned a punt 24 yards to the Steelers' 42, and Parker ran 11 yards on first down. Roethlisberger, on the second play, pumped right, faked a handoff to Parker and threw to Washington, who was open on the left. The second-year receiver caught the ball at the 15 and safety Jarrad Page, trying to make the tackle, bounced off him like a rubber ball as Washington sped into the end zone for a 47-yard touchdown.
"I knew when I let go of the ball he was probably going to get hit," Roethlisberger said. "I was just hoping that the ball was going to get there before the safety got there. Nate hung onto it, took the shot and scored."
Parker made the score, 21-0, in the second quarter when he ran 8 yards for a touchdown, breaking one tackle inside the 5. He also started that drive by running 25 yards around left end. Roethlisberger completed a third-and-15 pass to Ward over the middle for 28 yards to keep things moving.
Ward then caught his second touchdown pass of the season on a drive that lasted just three plays. Najeh Davenport, who ran 32 yards on a swing pass Monday in San Diego, ran 48 yards the first time he touched the ball against Kansas City on the first play of the quick series.
"It was important for us to come out and really get it going early," Roethlisberger said. "We did a good job of that."
Cowher told his team yesterday morning that by the time they were finished for the day, they had a chance to reverse the early trend in the AFC North. The Ravens and Bengals each lost for the second consecutive time just about the time the Steelers kicked off.
"I told them to go out there and play and win this game and you may end up one game out at the end of the night," Cowher said. "There's so much football left to be played."
