Grading the Steelers:

Ron Wabby is in his 21st season as the head coach at Brashear High School. His teams have won five City League championships.

Grading the Saints:

Jack McCurry is in his 25th season as the head coach of the North Hills High School Indians. He has won four WPIAL titles.

Offense: B

Despite losing a fumble in the first quarter and the interception in the fourth period, Tommy Maddox did a great job of mixing up his plays. The screen pass to Amos Zereoue and the running of Jerome Bettis gave a resurgence to the Steelers' offense. Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress tried to keep the Steelers in the game, but it's hard to win when you can't stop the other team.

Offense: B +

The Saints used a well-balanced attack that adeptly used Deuce McAllister on the ground and Aaron Brooks through the air. The Saints didn't need a spread offense to win the game, which makes you wonder if the Saints are that good, or is the Steelers' defense not what it used to be? Hey folks, it isn't.

Defense: D

Bill Cowher better find a way to get linebacker Kendrell Bell healthy and back on the field. In the first two games of the season, the Steelers couldn't stop the spread offense. Now, they can't stop the pass or the run. The spark to make the big plays seems to have gone out. At times the Steelers appear more worried about their contacts.

Defense: C +

New Orleans had the lead for the entire game, but it did get interesting in the last two minutes. The Saints were successful so why go to a prevent defense? More times than not the prevent doesn't stop anything. It certainly didn't stop the Steelers, but the Saints did come up with big plays on defense when they had to, and that's the mark of a good team.

Special Teams: C

The punt team gave the Saints excellent field position the entire game. Meanwhile, the Steelers' special teams did nothing to give the Steelers good field position. The only bright spot was that the Steelers did not have any kicks blocked.

Special Teams: A

The game of field position was dominated by the Saints' special teams. John Carney connected on two long field goals, and Mike Lewis was outstanding returning kicks and punts But the no-name coverage units were the difference makers. Are the Saints' special teams that good of the Steelers' that bad? You make the call.

Coaching: C

Bill Cowher should sit down the entire defense for non-performance just as he did to quarterback Kordell Stewart. On the plus side, offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey did an excellent job of mixing plays and going back to basic Steelers football, which was refreshing to watch.

Coaching: B +

The Saints didn't use any gimmicks on offense and ran right at the vaunted Steelers defense. It was Deuce's wild in the Big Easy. Hats off to Saints Coach Jim Haslett and his staff for a job well done.

Team Score: 70

Team Score: 89

Key

100-95

Super Bowl performance

94-90

Division title contenders

89-80

Wild Card possibility

79-70

Shooting for high draft picks in 2003

69-less

Check waiver wire