The Steelers, like old quarterback Terry Bradshaw, are back.
It took Bradshaw 19 years and the Steelers six games, but the road back seemed just as long for each of them.
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Hines Ward celebrates after his 17-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter last night. Ward added a 14-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. (Matt Freed, Post-Gazette) |
The preseason favorites in the AFC, the Steelers overcame a 1-3 start to pull even after they clobbered the Indianapolis Colts, 28-10, last night at Heinz Field.
The victory sets up an early showdown Sunday in Baltimore for first place in the AFC North division. The two teams are tied at the top at 3-3.
"Teams are like 'Wow, here come the Steelers!'" said receiver Hines Ward, who caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Tommy Maddox.
With Bradshaw, the Steelers' Hall of Fame quarterback and self-described prodigal son, serving as honorary co-captain, the Steelers won for the third time in four games and dropped the Colts to 4-2.
Ward's touchdown passes from Maddox came from 7 and 14 yards and Jerome Bettis scored on runs of 3 and 5 yards.
The Steelers scored touchdowns on their first three series for a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter and cruised to their 10th win without a loss on Monday night under Bill Cowher, who also improved his record to 6-0 against the Colts.
Mike Vanderjagt kicked a 41-yard field goal and Peyton Manning threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to tight end Marcus Pollard for the Colts' scoring.
"Wins are a lot of fun," said Maddox, who completed 15 of 23 passes for 188 yards and had a passer rating of 101.4. "We have to keep doing that."
The Steelers paid a price with their victory. Bettis left the game on the first play of the third quarter with what appeared to be a bruised knee, and center Jeff Hartings hobbled off near the end of the third quarter with a left knee injury. Hartings, who previously had a sprained medial collateral ligament this year, will miss at least the next game. Bettis will have to go through a short week before team doctors can determine if he can play. He could have returned to the game last night, but the coaches opted not to send him back in.
Safety Brent Alexander intercepted two passes and Mike Logan one as the Steelers' defense played well for the second consecutive game.
"Our offense was very sharp, particularly in the first half," Cowher said, "and our defense did a good job of containing a potent offense."
Manning completed 32 of 48 passes for 304 yards but had three interceptions and the Steelers held halfback Edgerrin James to 62 yards.
Amos Zereoue, replacing the injured Bettis, had a career high of 87 yards rushing on 15 carries.
Maddox continued to display the hot hand he has shown since he came off the bench late in the third game. He zipped the Steelers 41 yards on their first series that ended when he threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Ward with 10:19 left in the first quarter.
Linebacker Joey Porter set up the drive when he burst through the right side and blocked Hunter Smith's punt. It was the second punt blocked by the Steelers this season.
"Joey kind of set the tempo with the blocked punt," Cowher said.
On the first touchdown, Burress cut inside on a slant, and Ward ran outside, attracting one-on-one coverage from defensive end Chad Bratzke. Ward got behind Bratzke at the 5 and Maddox laid the ball in perfectly, hitting him in stride for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
The Steelers' defense stopped the Colts on the next series and the suddenly unstoppable offense went back to work.
With the Colts playing one safety up close to the line of scrimmage to stop the run, Maddox threw on first down to Burress for 18 yards. On a third-down play, defensive end Raheem Brock leaped through and sacked Maddox, but caught Maddox on the facemask. The 15-yard penalty gave the Steelers a first down at the 24.
From there, Ward caught a 9-yard pass and then Bettis ran three times for 7 yards, 5 yards and then a 3-yard touchdown run behind fullback Dan Kreider and guard Alan Faneca.
That 80-yard, 11-play drive gave the Steelers a 14-0 lead with 45 seconds left in the first quarter and that virtually locked up the game.
The Steelers entered the game with a 69-1 record under Coach Bill Cowher when they've had at least a 10-point lead in a game. It's the best percentage in NFL history. Their only loss came when they blew a 10-point lead at Cincinnati and lost in overtime last season.
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Before the Steelers got the ball back, the kicker's graveyard that is Heinz Field struck again.
The Colts' Mike Vanderjagt, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, lined up for a 48-yard field goal. He slipped as he kicked and the ball dropped short.
Like the two before it, the Steelers' third drive wound up in the end zone when Bettis ran through a gaping hole created by Faneca and tackle Wayne Gandy. He was not touched as he covered the final 5 yards to put the Steelers in front, 21-0, with 7:35 left in the first half.
Antwaan Randle El kept that 62-yard drive going when, on third down, he took a pitch to the left and ran 16 yards. It was the 13th time the Steelers had reached the red zone with Maddox at quarterback and the 10th time they scored a touchdown.
With 1:50 to go in the half, the Colts finally scored when Vanderjagt connected on a 41-yard field goal to make it 21-3.
The Steelers were back in business when Maddox threw a short sideline pass to Ward and he weaved to the other sideline, picking up 31 yards to the Colts' 39. The next play, a pass to Randle El, gained 9 yards. But when Maddox tried to go to Randle El again, linebacker Mike Peterson leaped at the line and snapped the ball up for an interception.
The Colts reached the Steelers' 23 but safety Brent Alexander intercepted a Manning pass at the 1 to end the half.
Maddox completed 12 of the 16 passes he threw in the first half for 151 yards with no sacks.
But things got off to a rocky start for the Steelers early in the second half.
First Bettis' left knee was bruised on the first play when it hit the turf squarely as he was tackled after a 3-yard gain.
Then, Manning threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Pollard, who was wide open at the 22. Safety Lee Flowers blitzed on the play and nobody covered Pollard. Linebacker James Farrior chased from behind and Alexander was late coming over from safety.
Safety Mike Logan turned the momentum the other way midway through the third quarter when he intercepted Manning's pass over the middle and returned it 46 yards to the Colts' 19.
On third down, Ward got behind cornerback Nick Harper, turned and caught Maddox' pass for a 14-yard score and a 28-10 lead with 5:48 to go in the third quarter.
The Steelers came right back after that when Amos Zereoue bounced around right end, beat safety David Gibson to the corner and ran 42 yards before he was pushed out of bounds.
Maddox came back with a pass to Burress for 18 yards and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala gained 9 yards to the Colts' 38.
With 1:36 left in the game, Steelers kicker Todd Peterson sent a 46-yard field-goal try short.
Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3878.
Resurgent Steelers corral Colts to even record in 28-10 win 
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