PITTSBURGH — Willie Parker has cracked the top 10.

There's no telling how high up the Steelers' all-time rushing list he'll go before he calls it a career.

Only 26, Parker had 23 carries for 126 yards Sunday in Pittsburgh's 26-3 victory over Buffalo at Heinz Field. That total sends him past Merril Hoge and into 10th place among Steeler running backs with 3,132 career rushing yards.

This is only Parker's third season as the team's featured back. He already has 15 career 100-yard rushing games, including eight at Heinz Field.

"The way we play the game, the (opposing) defensive line is going to wear out,"Parker said. "From there, it gets pretty easy out there."

Witness Parker's 11-yard touchdown run right up the middle that sealed the win with 7:13 left on the clock.

"That was a draw play that just opened up,"Parker said. "Our line did a great job all day. Nobody touched me on that play."

All is well with Parker's world these days. He has the respect of his offensive line because he respects that unit.

And he respects the fullback leading the way on running plays, whether it's Dan Kreider, Carey Davis, or even tight end Matt Spaeth lining up in that position.

"I love the fullback. I'm always going to be married to my fullback,"Parker said, grinning. "Davis is just like a running back playing the fullback position.

"He runs to the hole and gets ready to block the next guy, just as if he was running the football to that hole. With our line, that's effective."

The Steelers possessed the football for 21 minutes, 35 seconds in the first half, generating 14 first downs to Buffalo's one.

"Much of our focus coming into this game was on our perimeter running game,"Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "Their defense was boxing in the ball and took that away. Our guys adjusted and Willie ran hard inside.

"He challenged himself to bounce back today. He wasn't pleased with his performance last week."

Not pleased with a 109-yard rushing effort at Cleveland?

"You don't always judge your performance by yardage,"left tackle Marvel Smith said. "A player knows how he's performing on the field.

"Willie felt like he should have had 200 yards against theBrowns. He wasn't satisfied. I admire him for that."

Right tackle Willie Colon agreed.

"That guy is one tenacious runner,"Colon said. "He respects the job we do and we respect him. We're all just out there having fun, doing what we do."

Parker needs only 858 more rushing yards to surpass Frank Pollard for fourth place on the Steelers' all-time list. If he stays healthy, he'll get past John Henry Johnson for third place next season.

That would leave only Steeler legends Jerome Bettis and Franco Harris in front of him. And having seen limited action in college at North Carolina, Parker has little wear and tear as a running back at this stage of his career.

Add to that the constant threat of him breaking off a long touchdown run at any time.

"Ooh, yeah, that can come at any time, on any play,"Smith said. "That's why it's so much fun blocking for somebody like that.

"Alittle crease, a little sliver, he could be gone. That's why it's critical that we hold our blocks for as long as possible, because you never know with that guy."