PITTSBURGH - When Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward looks at his numbers, even he wonders just how he does it.

Second in the NFL in receptions. Second in receiving yards. Second in franchise history in receptions, ahead of Hall of Famer Lynn Swann and trailing only Hall of Famer John Stallworth.

"Hey, I seem to amaze myself," Ward said. "Every year I seem to do something people don't expect too much."

Then there's this nettlesome item, one that irritates Ward whenever it is mentioned: Most weeks, he also is second on his own team in attention paid by opposing defenses.

For everything the 1998 third-round draft pick has accomplished as a three-time Pro Bowl receiver, Ward still finds himself covered by the defense's second-best cornerback most weeks.

That's because Plaxico Burress, while not the all-around receiver Ward is, remains a big-play threat that opponents cannot ignore. It is why Burress drew most of the double coverage during a rain-soaked, 13-3 Steelers victory in Miami on Sunday night, and partly why Ward often doesn't receive the attention elite receivers such Terrell Owens and Isaac Bruce get.

Ward realizes it would be difficult to be as productive as he is with a less-skilled receiver lining up on the opposite side of the field. Yet he still fights the perception his consistency is the result of the system he plays in, rather than the persistent intensity he brings to the field on every play.

"Why wouldn't they (defenses) give me attention?" Ward said. "I know we've got a great group of wide receivers, but I've been to Pro Bowl three years in a row so I don't think teams are not giving me attention. We're finding ways to give ourselves an opportunity to go out and make plays and everybody's capitalizing on that."

On Sunday, Ward scored the game's only touchdown on an excellent leaping catch of rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's 7-yard pass just inside the right front end-zone pylon. It was a play that evolved from Ward telling Roethlisberger exactly where to throw the ball on such plays.

"My goal this year was to be consistent week in and week out and for three weeks, I've done that," Ward said. "I've got to continue to do that and try to help this team win games."

Yet the pivotal play probably was the 42-yard reception Burress made while flat on his back in a driving rain during the first quarter. The catch set up the first of two Jeff Reed field goals and gave the Steelers a huge confidence lift on a night they knew there likely would be little scoring.

It's the same thing that occurs week after week: Ward does all the little things right, yet it is Burress' athletic ability that draws more attention.

"I think that it is how it has played out in the first three weeks," coach Bill Cowher said of the single coverage Ward is seeing. "I think we will wait and see what happens in the next three weeks. Then we might have a sense of what teams are trying to do to you."

Cowher has no problem with how Burress has played, even though he is averaging fewer than two catches per game.

"He is doing well. He is doing the things you want him to do," Cowher said. "He is drawing some attention."

What neither the Steelers nor the Burress-Ward duo knows is how much longer the effective combination will be together.

After enjoying a Pro Bowl-caliber season of his own in 2002, with 78 catches for 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns, Burress dropped off to 60 receptions for 860 yards and four scores last season. His statistics are down even more this season, to five receptions and no touchdowns in three games to Ward's 22 catches and two touchdowns, even though this is a contract year for Burress.

This is the final year of the five-year contract he signed after being a first-round draft pick in 2000. The Steelers have made no move to re-sign him, meaning he is likely to be available on the open market.

"You just have to be patient, because I feel like my time will come - here or someplace else," Burress said.