THE PITTSBURGH Steelers boast one of the best home records in the National Football League, winning their last 13 games at Three Rivers Stadium. But that winning streak was snapped like a dry twig when the San Francisco 49ers came to town, still smarting from last week's ill-tempered loss to their division rivals, the Carolina Panthers.
The Steelers, last year's Super Bowl finalists, slumped to a 16-point deficit in the first six minutes before a hushed home crowd and never recovered. It was reminiscent of how the Steelers conceded a big lead to the Dallas Cowboys early in last year's championship game. "I think it's obvious that you cannot put yourself in a 16-0 hole and fight your way out against a team of this calibre," said Bill Cowher, the Pittsburgh coach.
The defeat showed that the Steelers still have some way to go before they can consider themselves on a par with the cream from the National Football Conference, victorious in the last 12 Super Bowls against the American Conference. By beating one of the fancied AFC teams, the 49ers still have a chance of clinching their NFC West division, provided they win next week against the Detroit Lions while the Steelers do them the favour of beating the Panthers.
The 49ers got an early break when the Steelers fumbled a punt return and San Francisco's Daryl Price smothered the ball at Pittsburgh's 16. Three plays later Steve Young, the 49ers quarterback, found Jerry Rice for a four-yard touchdown. Rice, who made only one catch in the defeat against Carolina, returned to form against Pittsburgh, finishing with eight receptions for 63 yards and one touchdown. About a minute later, Mike Tomczak, the erratic Pittsburgh quarterback, was sacked in his own end zone by Bryant Young for a two-point safety. That made it 9-0 for the 49ers.
Moments later, Rod Wood son, Pittsburgh's Pro Bowl cornerback, was penalised for pulling at Rice's left shoulder on a long pass from Young. The 49ers were awarded a whopping 43 yards and made it look easy from Pittsburgh's four. Young rolled out of the pocket and tossed the ball to William Floyd, the fullback, for a touchdown. The 49ers were leading 15-0 with just under six minutes gone. Steve Young, who threw three touchdowns, thought it was the 49ers' best game of the season while Ken Norton, a 49ers line-backer said: "We came out like a machine. We got the safety, the fumble, the big penalty - things were bouncing our way today and we took it as far as we could."
The Steelers got on the board only late in the third quarter when Jerome Belt is broke through for a one-yard touchdown. The Steelers made some headway on the ground as Erric Pegram, standing in for an injured Bettis, rushed 103 yards. But Tomczak failed to provide any spark and did his team no favours by throwing two interceptions.
With just one week left, the play-off picture is taking shape. San Francisco, along with Carolina, Green Bay, Minnesota, Philadelphia and Dallas have made the play-offs from the NFC. Dallas, despite struggling on and off the field, won the NFC East for a record fifth time by beating the New England Patriots 12-6. The AFC teams in the play-offs so far are Pittsburgh, New England and Denver - looking by far the strongest team from the American Conference with a 13-2 record. With John Elway back at quarter-back, the Denver Broncos easily disposed of the Oakland Raiders, after being crushed by Green Bays last week.
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