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Linebacker Larry Foote compared the Steelers' 2-6 record to an earthquake, and the tremors rumbled through their locker room after the most recent disaster, a 31-20 loss amid a flood of six turnovers to the Denver Broncos at Heinz Field.

Halfback Willie Parker, who scored his team's only two touchdowns, wondered whether the Steelers have had one big letdown after winning a Super Bowl.

"Last year, we were getting the job done, we just seemed hungrier," said Parker. "This year, it seems like we already got what we want, what's the use? What's the use of going out there and selling out?"

Parker said he also felt a lack of trust among teammates.

"Right now I don't think we're believing in everybody. I don't think we're looking at the guy next to us and being like, 'He has my back, I can trust this guy.' I don't think we trust the guy next to us right now."

Wide receiver Hines Ward, whose last of seven receptions ended when he lost a fumble at the goal line with 1:50 left, was already talking about playing for next season.

"At 2-6, you have to audition for next year. For me, it just sucks because I put everything I had into this game. Then to let my team down with the fumble really hurts a lot."

The Steelers never had a lead after falling behind 14-0 in the first four minutes, but they made a game of it and still had a shot until Ward's fumble. He caught a pass from the 11 and leaped into the air and tried to stretch the ball across the goal line as two Broncos converged on him. Linebacker Al Wilson knocked the ball loose, and that was that.

For the fourth time this season, the Steelers outgained an opponent and lost because of turnovers. They rang up 499 yards to Denver's 336, but the Broncos committed no turnovers.

"This will reveal a lot," coach Bill Cowher said. "There are high-character guys there. It's very disappointing. It's very frustrating. It's funny how life works. Sometimes you're at the pinnacle, and sometimes you're at the bottom."

Already, the Steelers have 24 turnovers, one more than all of last season, and they were at a loss to explain that difference as much as they were their stunningly poor first half of the season.

"I don't know," said Foote. "Why do earthquakes happen? Nobody knows."

Ben Roethlisberger threw three more interceptions, although one came on a desperation pass at the end. He completed a team-record 38 passes in 54 attempts for 433 yards, second most in team history, and had one 15-yard touchdown pass to Parker. The Steelers ran only 19 times, for 96 yards with Parker gaining 70 of them.

"That was the game plan, get out and throw the ball, and I think we did a good job of it," Roethlisberger said.

But turnovers put the Steelers in a hole early and they kept digging it deeper as the game went on.

Denver's Jake Plummer (16 of 27 for 227 yards and no interceptions) threw two of his three touchdown passes in the first four minutes of the game. Rod Smith caught the first from 16 yards to end Denver's first drive of 63 yards in four plays.

Santonio Holmes then kicked off the flurry of turnovers when he fumbled away the kickoff and the Broncos had the ball right back at the Steelers' 10. Plummer threw a fade pass to Javon Walker two consecutive times in the right corner of the end zone and Ike Taylor never saw either. Walker caught the second one for a 10-yard touchdown.

It was the first of two fade patterns for touchdowns Walker caught over Taylor in a tremendous individual display by the Broncos' receiver. He also scored a third touchdown on a 72-yard run around end.

"Until we show an ability to stop those plays we will see them week-in and week-out," Cowher said of the fade passes, which basically are jump balls in the end zone that have plagued the Steelers often this season.

Roethlisberger put the Steelers in position to cut that lead in half on the next series after he completed a 35-yard pass to Cedrick Wilson. But Wilson, carrying the ball as if it were a baton to be passed, fumbled at Denver's 5.

The Steelers came back in the second quarter to score 10 points and whittle Denver's lead to 14-10 by halftime.

	Listen In Postgame commentary from the Steelers' 31-20 loss at home yesterday to the Denver Broncos: Bill Cowher "I'm looking for fighters ..." Turnovers: "I'm at a loss ..." "We're out of sync ..." Cowher's entire press conference Ben Roethlisberger "It's one of those seasons" Big Ben's complete press conference Deshea Townsend On how the Steelers just can't catch a break

Roethlisberger threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Parker early in the second quarter after scrambling around in the backfield.

"Ben made a great play," Parker said of the improvisation by both him and his quarterback.

Roethlisberger, though, threw away a chance to make it tighter later in the period. With a third down at Denver's 14, he came under quick pressure when he dropped back to pass. He heaved the ball toward Wilson on the right but cornerback Champ Bailey was there to field the badly thrown pass for an interception.

Again, the Steelers moved back down on their next series and had a fourth-and-1 at the Broncos' 22. Jeff Reed came out to try a 40-yard field goal but missed it wide to the right.

Reed, though, made one from 46 yards as the first half expired after Roethlisberger sparked yet another series.

But Walker struck again. On the second play of the third quarter, he took a handoff around end, several Steelers missed him at the line and he ran 72 yards for a touchdown and a 21-10 Denver lead.

"That reverse, that was just uncalled for," Foote said. "I don't know what happened on that. Like I said, earthquakes happen."

Roethlisberger threw another interception that cost the Steelers possible points when Bailey picked it off again, this time at the 3.

Parker, though, scored from the 3 to bring them back to 21-17.

Field position helped the Broncos build a 28-17 lead on Walker's second touchdown reception from Plummer with 11:16 left in the game. From the 1, Chris Gardocki's punt was returned 10 yards, and another 15 was tacked on when Anthony Smith was penalized for a personal foul. That gave Denver the ball on the 17.

A 63-yard run with a short pass by Ward set up Reed's 29-yard field goal with 8:13 left to cut the Broncos' lead to 28-20.

But Taylor's bad day continued when, on a play-action, Walker sped past him and caught Plummer's pass for a 61-yard gain. It led to a 32-yard field goal by Jason Elam and a 31-20 Denver lead with 4:48 left.

The end came, perhaps for good in this mess of a season for them, when Ward fumbled at the goal line.

"We have to fight our way out of this," Cowher said. "No one's going to pretend that it's easy to be in this position. I'm not concerned about that. I'm looking for fighters, guys that are going to compete. I'd be surprised if they don't respond to that."