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Tuesday, November 27, 2001

Compiled by Ed Bouchette

Steelers (8-2) vs. Minnesota Vikings (4-6), 1 p.m. Sunday, Heinz Field. TV, radio: WPGH; WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970).

Jerome Bettis, who never has led a conference in rushing, leads the NFL in rushing with 991 yards in 10 games. Bettis moved ahead of Curtis Martin, whose New York Jets did not play the past weekend. Martin has 983 yards in 10 games. Bettis' average per carry and per game has slipped the past five games while the Steelers have cranked up their passing game. Bettis has one 100-yard rushing game in his past five after getting four in his first five games. He's still averaging a healthy 4.8-yards per rush and 99.1 yards per game.

The Steelers have been resodding the middle of Heinz Field with grass that will be ready for Pitt's game Saturday against UAB. The new sod was put in between the hash marks. Most pro grass fields are resodded during the season by teams in the North.

WR Troy Edwards has only 10 pass receptions, but he has been making big contributions in other ways. Edwards had two big kickoff returns, one for 81 yards, in Tennessee and has moved into sixth place in the AFC with a kickoff return average of 24.9 yards. He also caught a 12-yard pass on third down that kept a field goal drive moving. Against Jacksonville the previous week, he caught three passes and threw a key block on a Hines Ward touchdown catch.

"It finally feels good for teammates to come shake my hand," Edwards said. "It feels good to be wanted on this team. The last two weeks have been real nice for me. I just have to continue that."

Ward is tied for fourth in the AFC with 66 catches. He ranks second in the NFL with 19 third-down catches, tops among wide receivers. Only Buffalo FB Larry Centers has more, 21. ... Chad Scott is tied for fifth in the AFC with four interceptions. ... Hank Poteat has dropped out of the AFC leaders in punt returns; he averages 8.3 yards. ... QB Kordell Stewart is at his best throwing on third down. He has a passer rating of 91.1 on third downs, third-best in the AFC. ... As a team, the Steelers rank No. 1 in the NFL in time of possession (32:52), total defense (245.7), rushing defense (74.8), points allowed (12.1), rushing offense (176.6) and sacks on defense (41). They are No. 2 in passing defense (170.9).

OT Marvel Smith, who left Sunday's game in Tennessee on the 10th play with a left knee injury, had an MRI that showed no structural damage in the knee, which means he should be able to return to play soon.

While the Steelers are off to their best start since they also were 8-2 in 1983, they hope not to follow in the footsteps of the team of 18 years ago. That team of fading Super Bowl stars and newcomers ran their record to 9-2 before collapsing. They lost four of their final five, including a Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit, 45-3. Cliff Stoudt, in his one and only season as their starting QB, set the stage for the collapse when his right hand was broken on a punching bag in a Seattle bar when fog forced a layover after an Oct. 23 victory. Terry Bradshaw, who had not played all season because of a sore right elbow, finally clinched a playoff berth in the second-to-last game of the season when he started, threw the final two touchdown passes of his career and left grabbing his elbow as the Steelers beat the New York Jets, 34-7, in the final football game played at Shea Stadium. The Raiders rudely ran them out of the playoffs in the first round, 38-10, on New Year's Day in Los Angeles.