Bettis Keeps Pittsburgh Rolling

PITTSBURGH -- Jerome Bettis could have sulked when the Pittsburgh Steelers handed their starting tailback job to free-agent addition Duce Staley before the season. Bettis, after all, was the sixth-leading rusher in league history and had been his club's workhorse throughout his NFL career.

He didn't.

He could have taken issue when the Steelers put Staley back into the starting lineup two games ago, after Bettis had re-established himself as a highly effective centerpiece of the running game while Staley was sidelined by a hamstring injury for more than a month.

He never even considered it.

He has taken an approach as professional as it gets, graciously accepting what has come his way and readying himself for whatever the Steelers have needed him to do. And what they needed him to do Sunday was win the game. Bettis obliged, producing two fourth-quarter touchdowns -- throwing for one on a trick play and running for another -- as the Steelers clinched the AFC North title and extended their winning streak to 11 games by beating the New York Jets, 17-6.

"I would be lying if I said I love this role,'' Bettis said after the game. "My whole career, I have been the feature back. This is something I have grown to work within, in terms of understanding what my role is and really, really trying to excel in that role. It is one of those situations where I am finding a way to flourish in the role that has been given to me. I understand, and I think this is the best situation for this football team.''

No one is respected more than Bettis in the Steelers' locker room. "He's done so much for this organization,'' wide receiver Hines Ward said. "It couldn't happen to a better guy.''

The NFL has three 12-1 clubs -- the Steelers, New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles -- for the first time in its history. But the Steelers are on top of the heap by virtue of beating the Patriots and Eagles at Heinz Field on consecutive weekends in late October and early November, and they've gotten there because Coach Bill Cowher is getting contributions from every nook and cranny of his roster and has gotten everyone in his locker room to accept a team-first mentality.

"It's been a collective effort,'' Cowher said. "We are a football team. We talked about it [Sunday] morning: 'People keep waiting to say that you guys can't keep doing this and you have to have a letdown. But when you have a football team, you won't have a letdown because you can draw energy from your next teammate. You can exude confidence because you can do so much together, and so it doesn't need to be any one guy. It just takes a guy to pick another guy up.'

" . . . These guys understand that. They believe that, and they trust that no one player is bigger than this football team. And this has been proven time and time again, when other players have had to step up and certain elements of your team have to be there. We have been in a lot of close games, and no one has flinched. We're not that much better than any other team that we play. . . . We cannot overlook anybody or anything, and we still have to get better.''

While Staley was sidelined, Bettis ran for 481 yards on 122 carries in a wearying four-game stretch. But when Staley returned to the lineup eight days ago, Bettis got only three carries in a one-point win at Jacksonville. Cowher resolved to find a way to keep Bettis more involved in the offense this weekend, but that really didn't happen against the Jets until Staley aggravated his hamstring injury. Bettis carried the ball on the first three plays of the fourth quarter, plowing his way to 19 yards to set up a third-and-three play at the Jets 10-yard line in a struggle of a game that was tied at 3.

The Steelers lined up in a formation that the Jets had seen often on tape -- one that indicated that a power running play was coming. That's exactly what the Steelers wanted the Jets to think when rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger handed the ball to Bettis, who charged forward -- and then stopped, backed up just a bit and flipped a pass to wide-open tight end Jerame Tuman for his third touchdown in six career passing attempts. The play -- called "438 Counter Pass,'' according to Bettis -- worked far better than it had during the week in practice, when Bettis's feeble throw landed far short of the tight end and led the coaching staff to have Staley run the play in Saturday's light practice.

"They were ready for that [running] play,'' Tuman said. "We sucked them right up, and I was able to get behind them.''

The Steelers lined up in the same formation later in the game but went with the expected running play, and Bettis rushed for a 12-yard touchdown with three minutes to play that applied the finishing touches to the victory. He finished with 57 rushing yards on 10 carries, pushing his career rushing total to 13,037 yards. Jets tailback Curtis Martin ran for 72 yards on 24 carries, passing Bettis for fifth place on the all-time list (both passed Tony Dorsett earlier in the season) with 13,046 yards. It was the first time in NFL history that two runners passed the 13,000-yard mark in the same game.

But Bettis, not Martin, was the difference-maker on this chilly day, just as he has been so often in his 12 seasons, three with the Los Angeles and St. Louis Rams and nine with the Steelers. The Steelers won their eighth division title in 13 seasons under Cowher and could be headed to the fifth AFC title game and perhaps the second Super Bowl of his tenure. And Bettis again will be a big part of it, having finally found a way -- at 32 -- to keep from being worn down at this point in a season.

"You can look at it as you were demoted and everything is negative and . . . this is what I'm relegated to and they are trying to get me out of here,'' the 255-pound battering ram of a running back said. "Or you can look at it as this gives me an opportunity to stay fresh and when I do get the opportunity, take advantage of it. So be ready. Go to practice excited about what you are doing, and just be ready. That is the attitude I have taken with the situation. I have always been ready. When I get in practice, I'm practicing as if I am going to get 30 carries. If it doesn't happen, then it doesn't happen. But if it does, I am ready for it, and it has been paying off for me.

" . . . Usually at this point in the season, I am pretty banged up. But my body feels like it's Week 7 or 8 because I have not taken a big beating. I went through a stretch there where my tongue was hanging out. But for the most part, I've been healthy. I think it has been paying dividends for the team.''

Roethlisberger Struggles

Roethlisberger is undefeated in his 11 NFL starts, but completed only nine of 19 passes for 144 yards. He threw two interceptions for the first time since his first appearance of the season in relief of injured veteran Tommy Maddox in Week 2, although one came on a desperation heave toward the end zone as time expired in the first half, and finished the day with a passer rating of 33.6.

Roethlisberger has spent the past six weeks alternating one poor game statistically with a good one. But no one is complaining because he keeps winning, and he set up Bettis's late touchdown run Sunday with a 46-yard completion to wide receiver Lee Mays on a third-and-four play with about five minutes left and the Steelers ahead by only 10-6.

"The one thing I liked about Ben was when the game was right there in the fourth quarter, he never really fretted,'' Cowher said. "He hung in there and threw a great pass to Lee Mays on the third down, which I thought was the biggest play of the game.'' . . .

Cowher wasn't gloating over the division title, even though it has come in a season that began with plenty of speculation about his job security. The Steelers had missed the playoffs in four of the previous six seasons after reaching the playoffs in each of Cowher's first six seasons as their coach. They'd gone 6-10 last season, and the organization had waited longer than usual to extend his contract.

"You don't reflect when you're in the middle of something,'' Cowher said, "and we're not going to do that.''

Earlier, though, Cowher let his emotions show. He greeted Bettis excitedly on the sideline near the end of the game. And, while most of his players walked calmly off the field and into the locker room immediately after the game, Cowher ran in and yelled: "Yesiree, baby!'' . . .

Warning to the Indianapolis Colts if they must travel here for a playoff game: There was light snow during the day, and the wind-chill factor at game time was 25 degrees and dropping. And it will be far worse a month from now. "This is Pittsburgh weather,'' Roethlisberger said. "It got colder as the night went.'' . . .

The Steelers' 11-game winning streak matches the club record set in 1975, when the team went 12-2 and went on to win Super Bowl X. . . . Bettis's touchdown run was his 12th of the season, a career high. . . . Pittsburgh wide receiver Plaxico Burress missed his third straight game because of a hamstring injury. The Steelers need him back: His replacement in the starting lineup, Antwaan Randle El, had one catch. Steelers wideouts totaled only four receptions on the day. . . . Steelers linebacker Clark Haggans, who suffered a groin injury and missed most of the game, is to be sidelined at least two weeks. . .

Safety Troy Polamalu had one of Pittsburgh's three interceptions of Jets quarterback Chad Pennington, and Cowher called him "the best safety in the game today.'' Polamalu, a first-round draft pick out of USC in 2003, shrugged off the high praise, saying: "I think that's ridiculous. We have a great defense. I definitely believe that. But saying it and going out and proving it are two different things.'' . . .

Pennington completed 17 of 31 passes for 189 yards and had a passer rating of 33.6 in his second game back since missing three games because of a rotator-cuff injury. The Jets, who dropped to 9-4, outgained the Steelers by 34 yards but were undone by their season-high 12 penalties -- all in the first half -- and Pennington's interceptions.

"We're only going to go as far as I take us,'' Pennington said. "That's how it works in the NFL. When the quarterback plays well, you have a chance to win. When the quarterback plays bad, you've got a chance to lose. I'm better than what I played [Sunday].'' . . .

The Jets were beaten Sunday by a halfback pass. Last month, they lost a game to Baltimore in large part because reserve tailback LaMont Jordan had a trick-play pass intercepted by Ravens safety Ed Reed at a key moment. "They ran a halfback pass,'' Jets Coach Herman Edwards said Sunday. "Sometimes they work.''

Tice Seals Fate?

One trick-play pass that certainly didn't work Sunday was the Minnesota Vikings' attempt to have wide receiver Randy Moss throw for a touchdown on a first-down play from the Seattle 20-yard line with just more than two minutes remaining. Moss's pass was intercepted by Seahawks rookie safety Michael Boulware in the end zone, and Seattle held on for a 27-23 victory.

Knowledgeable NFL observers were scratching their heads Sunday about the call. It not only took the ball out of the hands of the Vikings' best passer, quarterback Daunte Culpepper, but it took their best receiver, Moss, out of the pass-catching equation. Moss threw into double coverage just before being forced out of bounds, and the Vikings suddenly were well on their way to another late-season collapse that could cost Coach Mike Tice his job.

The Vikings missed the playoffs last season after a 6-0 start, going 3-7 thereafter. This season, they've gone 2-5 since a 5-1 beginning. They remain in solid playoff contention, thanks to the almost-laughable state of the NFC, but Tice might not be able to keep his job if the Vikings fall apart again. The team holds an option for next season in his contract, and owner Red McCombs has alternated between declaring publicly that he definitely would exercise the option and saying that no decision will be made until after this season.

Last week, Tice campaigned publicly to be considered for the University of Washington head-coaching vacancy, but the school has hired Tyrone Willingham and plans to make that move official with an announcement today. Vikings offensive coordinator Scott Linehan made Sunday's ill-fated play call, but Tice failed to step in and overrule it. . . .

The Vikings had one final chance, but Culpepper's pass fell incomplete at the feet of tight end Jermaine Wiggins in the end zone as time expired. Minnesota had gotten the ball back at its 11-yard line with 44 seconds to go and moved to the Seattle 23, getting its last-ditch opportunity after Culpepper spiked the ball to stop the clock with four seconds left and the Seahawks were called for being offside. Culpepper actually was sacked by Antonio Cochran on the play, but the officials allowed him to get up and attempt the final pass because they thought he'd fallen on top of Cochran and hadn't actually hit the ground. Replays indicated, though, that Culpepper's knee touched the turf, and a review probably would have reversed the outcome if Wiggins had made the catch. . . .

Boulware continues to be a season-saver for the Seahawks, who upped their record to 7-6 and moved a game ahead of the Rams for first place in the dreadful NFC West. Boulware, who played linebacker in college at Florida State, is tied for the team lead with five interceptions, and his big play Sunday came in his first NFL start. He returned an interception for a touchdown in the final minute to beat the Miami Dolphins last month.

Weis In South Bend

Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis traveled to South Bend, Ind., after Sunday's win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Foxboro, Mass., to meet with his Notre Dame players. He is to be formally introduced as the school's new head coach today after agreeing Saturday night to a six-year contract worth about $2 million per season. One Notre Dame alum said Sunday he was pleased about the hiring of Weis.

"I think it's a good move because he's a proven coach,'' Bettis said. "At this stage, they need a proven guy to come in and re-establish the confidence that we are Notre Dame.''

Weis faces a difficult situation in the coming weeks, however. He is a Notre Dame graduate but didn't play or coach for the school, and he never has been a head coach above the high school level. He will have to begin his retooling of the program from afar, as he is slated to finish the season with the Patriots -- which could take as long as the Super Bowl on Feb. 6, four days after national signing day for high school recruits headed to colleges.

He also has set himself up as a potential scapegoat if the Patriots don't win their third Super Bowl title in four years. Coach Bill Belichick spoke on Friday about Nick Saban continuing to serve as his defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in 1994 after accepting the head-coaching job at Michigan State, and beginning to run the program in his spare moments from his Browns' office. But those Browns lost in the second round of the AFC playoffs after going 11-5 in the regular season, and Weis's suddenly more-than-full plate perhaps could be problematic. Weis apparently plans to hire University of Virginia defensive coordinator Al Golden to help him, both coaching and recruiting.

Belichick, meantime, faces the prospect of potentially having to replace both of his top coaching lieutenants in the offseason, if defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel lands a head-coaching job. Patriots front-office chief Scott Pioli will be vigorously pursued by teams looking for a general manager, including Cleveland and Miami, but has said he intends to remain with the Patriots. . . .

Belichick's assistant coaches are not permitted to speak to reporters. One question: Does that ban now apply to Notre Dame's head coach?. . . .

Former Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt is regarded as the front-runner to replace Walt Harris at the University of Pittsburgh, his alma mater. The school perhaps will also consider another alum, Steelers assistant head coach Russ Grimm. Harris, as expected, was hired by Stanford.

Lewis Says Palmer's Season Not Over

Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis said during his news conference today that he expects quarterback Carson Palmer to play again this season but he doesn't know if it will be this week. Palmer underwent an MRI exam on the injury to his left knee that knocked him out of the loss to the Patriots, and Lewis indicated that no damage to the quarterback's anterior cruciate ligament was found. Palmer's status is to be reevaluated Wednesday.

Palmer, the top overall choice in last year's draft, has shown steady improvement this season after Lewis handed him the starting job, ahead of veteran Jon Kitna, in the offseason. He has thrown for 2,897 yards in 13 games, with 18 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. In his last four games, Palmer has 11 touchdown passes and six interceptions.

Kitna could return to the starting role this week. Last season, he threw for 3,591 yards, with 26 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, while leading the Bengals to a record of 8-8 and keeping Palmer on the bench as a rookie. . . .

Patriots veteran wide receiver Troy Brown is tied for the club lead with three interceptions since being pressed into emergency duties at cornerback. Brown intercepted a Kitna pass deep in New England territory in the fourth quarter Sunday. . . .

The Arizona Cardinals are winless in their four games, dropping to 4-9, since Coach Dennis Green first benched Josh McCown as his starting quarterback. McCown returned to the starting lineup and threw for 307 yards Sunday but the Cardinals lost in overtime to the San Francisco 49ers, 31-28. . . .

All four teams in position to clinch division titles -- Pittsburgh, New England, Indianapolis and Atlanta -- did so Sunday. . . .

Of the six NFC teams that entered Sunday's play with 5-7 records, five -- Dallas, Detroit, Chicago, Tampa Bay and the New York Giants -- lost. The only club among that group that won was Carolina, which is in the lead for the second NFC wild-card spot at 6-7. The Panthers have five straight wins after a 1-7 start to the season and hold the tiebreaker edge over the 6-7 Rams by virtue of beating them Sunday. . . .

Cleveland placed quarterback Jeff Garcia on the injured reserve list because of the knee injury that he suffered during his brief appearance in Sunday's loss to Buffalo. Garcia previously had been sidelined by a rotator-cuff injury and, with Kelly Holcomb on the shelf because of cracked ribs, the Browns have been going with rookie Luke McCown at quarterback.