The pupil outshone the master as the versatile Kordell Stewart led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a rousing 3524 win over John Elway's Denver Broncos. When he came to Pittsburgh, Stewart's overabundant talent allowed him to double up as a receiver/quarterback, earning Stewart his nickname "Slash". But Stewart this year shed the slash for the role he really wanted.
Sunday's game, pitting two of the league's best teams against each other, lived up to the hype with a profusion of points and big plays. By the end, Stewart and his Steelers bested Elway's elite, even after yielding a 21-7 lead.
Denver, seeking to make amends for being shocked by the Jacksonville Jaguars in last year's play-offs, started confidently. Elway was at his most lethal. His first touchdown was a perfect projectile to Rod Smith, who caught a 37-yarder over the head of a Steeler defender. But Yancey Thigpen, Pittsburgh's best receiver, turned a short pass from Stewart into a 33-yard TD, breaking two tackles and turning a defender inside out to make it 7-7.
The Broncos went ahead, after Terrel Davis, their running back, shot through the middle for a 3-yard TD. The gap widened when Elway drilled the ball again to Smith for a 25-yard TD. Bill Cowher, the emotional Steelers coach, chewed out his defence. The Steelers then shut down the Broncos for the rest of the afternoon and Stewart went to work.
A notoriously late starter, Stewart this time clicked in the first half and he combined with Thigpen two more times to tie the game. First, Stewart lofted the ball to Thigpen, streaking down the left sideline. Darrien Gordon, thinking the ball was sailing out of bounds, eased up as Thigpen made the catch to cruise to a 69-yard TD. Stewart found Thigpen again just before half-time, this time on the right for a 21-yard TD.
Pittsburgh ruled in the second half after Jason Elam kicked a 35-yard field goal early on for Denver. The Steelers smothered Davis for only 75 yards, while Jerome Bettis wore down the Broncos defence, rushing for 125 yards. His 19-yard run was the key play in a 78-yard third quarter drive, culminating in Stewart's four-yard TD rush and a 28-24 lead for Pittsburgh. With 1:57 left, Stewart rushed for a nine-yard TD run, putting paid to any Elway comeback.
Stewart finished with 303 passing yards, hitting 14 of his last 18 passes, and rushing for 19 yards. His one blemish was an interception.
While the Steelers reined in the Broncos, the Kansas City Chiefs trounced the Oakland Raiders 30-0.
In the battle of the Bays, Green Bay overcame Tampa Bay 17-6 with Brett Favre improvising on two TDs that clinched the game and a third consecutive NFC Central title for the Packers.
The San Francisco 49ers lifted their spirits with a 28-17 win against the Minnesota Vikings after getting thrashed by the Chiefs last week.
NFL - Baltimore 31, Seattle 24; Chicago 20, Buffalo 3; New England 26, Jacksonville 20; Kansas City 30, Oakland 0; St Louis 34, New Orleans 27; NY Giants 31, Philadelphia 21; Pittsburgh 35, Denver 24; Green Bay 17, Tampa Bay 6; Washington 38, Arizona 28; Indianapolis 22, NY Jets 14; Atlanta 14, San Diego 3; San Francisco 28, Minnesota 17; MiamI 33, Detroit 30.
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