Shootout secured
PITTSBURGH — The scene, described by Willie Parker after one of the best days by a running back in Pittsburgh Steelers' history, was reminiscent of that following a season-ending loss.
A frustrated player stood up and singled out teammates by name for their underachieving play. Another player was in tears. Some words of consolation, but mostly words of frustration for a season that promised much but achieved little.
The difference: This was the Pittsburgh Steelers' locker room before Sunday's game against the New Orleans, not after it. On a day coach Bill Cowher yielded the floor and let his veteran players vent their emotions, the Steelers didn't exactly go out and play like Super Bowl champions in a 38-31 victory over the Saints.
They also didn't play like they had in losing six of seven games, with numerous turnovers, missed opportunities and Ben Roethlisberger misplays. It might have been one of the few days in their history when their defense played so poorly — 517 yards and 31 points allowed — yet they were very satisfied with the result after losing their previous three.
Parker ran for 213 yards, five yards short of the team record, and scored twice in the fourth quarter and Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes as the Steelers opened a 14-0 lead, fell behind 17-14 and 24-17 then rallied for only their second victory since Sept. 7.
"We gave up too many points and too many yards, but we competed hard," Porter said. "We got a win and that's all that counts."
Maybe it was too late to make a difference this season, given the Steelers (3-6) trail AFC North leader Baltimore (7-2) by four games with seven games to play following the Ravens' 27-26 victory at Tennessee. But it signaled they may not have given up on themselves, even if many outside the organization — including former team leader Jerome Bettis, now of NBC-TV — have written off their season.
"We had guys stand up and they spoke with their heart," Cowher said of the pregame meeting. "This is a very close group of players. The bond started in previous years but it's still strong, despite a lot of the adversity to this point. I think that was significant today."
According to Parker, linebacker Joey Porter named players he felt were underperforming and defensive end Aaron Smith was so emotional he was in tears. Other players talking were Alan Faneca, Hines Ward, Sean Morey and Deshea Townsend. Townsend and All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu later missed most of the game with concussions.
"He said stuff we normally wouldn't say," Parker said of Porter, who effectively guaranteed beforehand the Steelers would win. "I think we rallied around it when he said we've got to win this game, we're going to win this game."
Even with Roethlisberger not throwing an interception after having seven passes picked off in two games, the Steelers still needed Parker runs of 72 and 76 yards in the second half to set up his two short touchdown runs that made it 31-24 and 38-24. He had 187 yards in the second half after being limited to 26 yards on 10 carries in the first half.
"They played with a lot of emotion and heart in the second half. They played like last year's Super Bowl champions," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "They played gutsy and deserved to win."
Still, quarterback Drew Brees (31-of-47, 398 yards, 1 TD) was certain the Saints would have won if they hadn't fumbled three times. Two led to Steelers touchdowns and the third, by receiver Terrance Copper at the Steelers' 25 with 39 seconds remaining, ended any chance the Saints would tie and send it to overtime.
"We felt we had an advantage over them — our offense was clicking, we were making plays, but we turned it over," rookie Reggie Bush said.
Bush's 15-yard touchdown run on a double reverse, punctuated by a tumbling leap over Ryan Clark into the end zone, put the Saints up 17-14. The first of Deuce McAllister's twin 4-yard touchdown runs made it 24-17 at halftime, but the Steelers outscored New Orleans 21-7 in the second half.
"We had three turnovers, and that can't happen," Brees said. "The defense gave up a couple of big plays. That can't happen. Special teams gave them good field position. That can't happen. If we eliminate one of those, we should have been able to fight back."
The Saints aren't the team they were in going 3-13 last season, but defensive tackle Brian Young said winning on the road against the returning Super Bowl champions would have proven it.
"This was a game we needed to win," he said. "There are a lot of people who still think this is last year's team. We needed to make a statement."
Parker was 5 yards short of John "Frenchy" Fuqua's team record of 218 yards against the Eagles in 1970.
