Turnovers turned
PITTSBURGH — The New Orleans Saints marched into Heinz Field Sunday as the darlings of the NFL.
They had a 6-2 record and looked to take advantage of a Steelers team that had lost three straight games and plenty of turnovers during that stretch.
Instead, it was the Steelers for a change who exploited three fumbles and didn't have any themselves to capture a 38-31 victory.
"We've been on the other side of that," said coach Bill Cowher. "It's good to know that we were on the plus side of the turnover-takeaways. … That's a very telling stat."
After the Steelers took a quick 14-0 lead, including a touchdown that was set up by a fumble recovery by Brett Keisel, quarterback Drew Brees, receiver Marques Colston and running backs Reggie Bush and Deuce McCallister ripped through the Pittsburgh defense, scoring points on four consecutive drives to take a 24-17 lead into halftime.
That's where the score stood halfway through the third quarter after Steelers kicker Jeff Reed missed a 35-yard field goal attempt that gave the Saints the ball at their own 25-yard line.
Three plays later, the Steelers defense refused to be pushed around any longer and created a game-changing play. With a first-and-10 at the 37, Bush, the No. 2 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, ran for 6 yards before being hit from the front by safety Tyrone Carter and from behind by linebacker Larry Foote, forcing the former Southern Cal star to fumble. Safety Ryan Clark scooped up the ball and ran five yards before being stopped by Colston.
On the Steelers' next offensive play, the Saints' secondary bit on a pump fake by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, leaving receiver Cedrick Wilson wide open in the end zone for a 38-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 24.
The Pittsburgh defense stiffened and the offense, led by two long runs and two more touchdowns by running back Willie Parker, gave the Steelers a 38-24 advantage.
However, the big play was the one that forced the fumble, which was credited to Foote although it appeared the credit should have gone to Carter.
But Carter wasn't going to quibble about that because he said he sees a bigger picture.
"My job is when you're afforded an opportunity to make a play, make it," he said. "I just tried to do what I could to make things happen.
"I had a good break on the ball where I could plant my foot and drive. I saw him and I just tried to make a tackle. It so happened that I put my head up in there and the ball came out," he added.
Clark was more than happy to take advantage of what Carter and Foote created, but he also was aware of how vital the play was.
"Anytime you get a turnover it's big, especially a fumble recovery because they really flip the field (position)," he said. "I was just blessed to be in a position to pick it up."
Clark did express slight disappointment in how short his return was, however.
"I thought I had some action, but I guess I've got to work on my Willie Parker running skills," he said, laughing.
