Steelers 20

Game 9

Jaguars 7

The Pittsburgh offense finally clicked, but the defense saved the day against Jacksonville in Heinz Field.  WR Hines Ward got the Steelers out of some third-down jams and ended up scoring the deciding touchdown for the Steelers on a 28-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter with 19 seconds left.  Ward had nine catches for 112 yards and a touchdown.  

The Steelers pulled away to an early 13-0 lead after scoring late in each of the three quarters.  With six seconds left in the half, Kris Brown kicked a 28-yard field goal to give the Steelers a 6-0 halftime lead after kicking a 48-yarder with 47 seconds left in the first quarter.  The Jaguars came back with a 95-yard kickoff return by Elvis Joseph to end the third quarter.  Kordell Stewart later ran in from seven yards out in the fourth quarter to end the scoring.

The Steeler defense was dominant again against the run, allowing only 48 net yards rushing.  Jacksonville only converted 3 of its 11 third downs.  They only accounted for 234 total yards of offense while the Steelers had 402.  Kordell Stewart 21 of 33 for 266 yards.  He also rushed five times for 50 yards.  Jerome Betis gained 58 yards, and Amos Zeroue added 39. 

Jaguars QB Jonathan Quinn was a game-day replacement for the injured Mark Brunell.  The Jaguars were also without star running back Fred Taylor.  Quinn completed 17 of his 31 passes while throwing for 225 yards.  He was also sacked five times in the second half.

Steelers 34

Game 10

Titans 24

Both Steeler QB Kordell Stewart and Titans QB Steve McNair had big days for their respective teams.  But, as it often happens, turnovers decided the game.  Stewart completed 19 of 31 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns.  Hines Ward caught seven passes for 99 yards, and Plaxico Burress added eight catches for 114 yards.  McNair was 23-for-37 for 334 yards and two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown.

On the Steeler's opening drive, they converted two third down plays and they took an early 3-0 lead on a Kris Brown field goal.  The Titans started off fast with a 68-yard touchdown pass from McNair to WR Kevin Dyson on Tennessee's first play from scrimmage.  McNair threw another touchdown on a four yard pass to TE Frank Wycheck in the second quarter.  Late in the second quarter, Kordell Stewart hit Plaxico Burress with a four-yard touchdown pass.  Stewart then ran for a 48-yard touchdown in the third quarter. 

Tennessee's star running back, Eddie George, was held to 58 rushing yards on 15 carries.  Jerome Betis was also held in check as he rushed for only 73 yards on 21 carries.  

After Stewart's run, the Titans tied the score with a 49-yard field goal by K Joe Nedney.  Troy Edwards ran the ensuing kickoff back 81 yards to set up a 25-yard screen pass from Stewart to RB Amos Zeroue that put the Steelers ahead again.  Kris Brown added a field goal to start the fourth quarter, but McNair engineered an 11-play drive that covered 82 yards.  He capped it off with a one-yard touchdown run.  The Titans almost scored again, but McNair threw the ball right into the hands of CB Chad Scott, who returned it for a 45-yardtouchdown.  FS Mike Logan added a late interception to seal it for the Steelers.

Steelers 21

Game 11

Vikings 16

Seldom-used RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala stepped in for an injured Jerome Betis, rushing for 74 yards on 12 carries.  He also rushed for the game's biggest play-a 46-yard run on a 3rd-and-10 in the fourth quarter with 90 seconds left.  

Vikings K Gary Anderson converted a 25-yard field goal late in the first quarter to give the Vikings an early 3-0 lead.  Pittsburgh then took the kickoff and moved 68 yards in 10 plays, capping it off with a one-yard touchdown by Betis.  WR Troy Edwards capped off the Steelers' opening possession of the second half with a twelve yard run on a reverse.  RB Amos Zeroue then took it in from four yards out late in the third quarter to make it 21-3. 

Midway through the third quarter, Betis went down with a strained hip and never returned.  He finished with 81 yards on 19 attempts.  Vikings QB Dante Culpepper was lifted when it was 21-3.  He was 12-of-17 for 140 yards.  Kordell Stewart was 13-of-19 for 157 yards and no touchdowns.

SS Brent Alexander picked off Culpepper's first pass of the fourth quarter.  The next drive for the Vikings was started by backup QB Todd Bouman.  He drove into Steeler territory before Alexander picked off another pass.  After the Steelers burned some time, Bouman threw a 80-yard touchdown pass to RB Michael Bennett.  On the next drive, Bouman threw a 12-yard touchdown to WR Randy Moss.  After the Vikings used their timeouts, Fuamatu-Ma'afala bruised for a 46-yard gain on 3rd-and-10 to ice it for the Steelers.

Steelers 18

Game 12

Jets 7

The game that might have been a showdown between the NFL's top running backs turned into a Hines Ward highlight reel as the Steelers used four Kris Brown field goals as the difference in a defeat of the New York Jets.  Ward caught 10 passes for 124 yards, providing a major spark for the Pittsburgh offense.  

Kris Brown connected on kicks of 20, 26, 33, and 38 yards on the day.  He provided some tense moments for fans when he missed kicks of 40 and 44 yards.  He also missed the kick after Fuamatu-Ma'afala plowed into the end zone from a yard out to give the Steelers a 9-0 lead.  The Steelers racked up 134 yards from five players, with 14 from Ward, 50 from RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, and 36 yards from Kordell Stewart. 

The Jets took a page from the Steeler's book when RB Curtis Martin threw a rocket between two defenders for an 18-yard touchdown to WR Wayne Chrebet that cut the Steeler lead to 9-7.  Chrebet had five catches for 63 yards and the touchdown pass from Martin.  Jets QB Vinny Testaverde completed 15 of his 26 passes for 141 yards.  Stewart completed 20 of 36 passes for 214 yards for the Steelers.