Steelers notebook: Defense comes through again
Steal is what the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense does best.
So, when the Steelers found themselves with a battered offense and locked in a tight game with the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh’s ballhawking defense made a couple of game-turning heists that proved to be the difference in their 20-10 victory Sunday.
The Steelers turned three Packer turnovers into 17 points. Pittsburgh entered the game ranked sixth in the NFL in takeaways (16) and have always fielded aggressive, attacking defenses under longtime head coach Bill Cowher.
“We always strive to make turnovers and make things happen,” said Steelers safety Tyrone Carter. “Those three turnovers were big toward the outcome of the game. Brett Favre is a hall of famer, and we knew we had to just stay within our defense and stay within our system.”
The Steelers opened the scoring on Jeff Reed’s 32-yard field goal, following ReShard Lee’s costly fumble on Green Bay’s first offensive series, which Troy Polamalu recovered at the Packers’ 45.
Next, Pittsburgh scored a sensational second-quarter defensive touchdown on Polamalu’s 77-yard fumble return that swung the contest. Pittsburgh finally sealed the win with Carter’s fourth-quarter interception that led to Duce Staley’s game-clinching 3-yard touchdown run.
“Whenever your defense can put up points, it’s a big plus,” Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden said. “Scoring a touchdown is a huge momentum changer. We knew we had a lot of guys out and wanted to help the offense out.”
Parker’s OK
Running back Willie Parker, the team’s leading rusher, sat out most of the second half with an injured left ankle, but said it wasn’t a serious injury.
“I’m OK,” Parker said. “It (sitting out) was more of a precaution than anything else.”
Going way back
Cowher, the Steelers’ head coach for the past 13 years, had a pleasant pregame chat with Favre, who became Green Bay’s starting quarterback early in the 1992 season.
“I told him that I’ve got three games on him in terms of his longest consecutive starting streak, because he started the fourth game of that season,” Cowher said. “Brett Favre is what is right about this game. He brings a passion to the game and competitiveness.”
— Tim Froberg, PackersNews.com
So, when the Steelers found themselves with a battered offense and locked in a tight game with the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh’s ballhawking defense made a couple of game-turning heists that proved to be the difference in their 20-10 victory Sunday.
The Steelers turned three Packer turnovers into 17 points. Pittsburgh entered the game ranked sixth in the NFL in takeaways (16) and have always fielded aggressive, attacking defenses under longtime head coach Bill Cowher.
“We always strive to make turnovers and make things happen,” said Steelers safety Tyrone Carter. “Those three turnovers were big toward the outcome of the game. Brett Favre is a hall of famer, and we knew we had to just stay within our defense and stay within our system.”
The Steelers opened the scoring on Jeff Reed’s 32-yard field goal, following ReShard Lee’s costly fumble on Green Bay’s first offensive series, which Troy Polamalu recovered at the Packers’ 45.
Next, Pittsburgh scored a sensational second-quarter defensive touchdown on Polamalu’s 77-yard fumble return that swung the contest. Pittsburgh finally sealed the win with Carter’s fourth-quarter interception that led to Duce Staley’s game-clinching 3-yard touchdown run.
“Whenever your defense can put up points, it’s a big plus,” Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden said. “Scoring a touchdown is a huge momentum changer. We knew we had a lot of guys out and wanted to help the offense out.”
Parker’s OK
Running back Willie Parker, the team’s leading rusher, sat out most of the second half with an injured left ankle, but said it wasn’t a serious injury.
“I’m OK,” Parker said. “It (sitting out) was more of a precaution than anything else.”
Going way back
Cowher, the Steelers’ head coach for the past 13 years, had a pleasant pregame chat with Favre, who became Green Bay’s starting quarterback early in the 1992 season.
“I told him that I’ve got three games on him in terms of his longest consecutive starting streak, because he started the fourth game of that season,” Cowher said. “Brett Favre is what is right about this game. He brings a passion to the game and competitiveness.”
— Tim Froberg, PackersNews.com
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