Steelers notebook
Pittsburgh clinches tie for AFC North title JACKSONVILLE – The Steelers beat the Jacksonville Jaguars last night at Alltel Stadium to clinch a tie for the AFC North Division title.
Baltimore’s loss to Cincinnati Sunday leaves the Ravens at 7-5. With the win last night, the Steelers are 11-1, four games ahead of the Ravens with four to play. In that scenario, a four-game Steelers losing streak and a four-game Ravens winning streak would hand the division title to the Ravens. In that case, the Ravens would have swept the Steelers.
Conversely, any Steelers win or any Ravens loss would make the Steelers division champs. Playoff berths will start being won next weekend, when the Steelers host the New York Jets in a 4:15 p.m. kickoff.
Plenty of Steelers fans
Alltel Stadium had a distinct Pittsburgh flavor for Sunday night’s game. A Jaguars spokesman estimated that 20,000 Pittsburgh fans were in attendance, but the number looked more like 30,000 to 40,000.
The team also was greeted by a throng of fans at its Jacksonville hotel, but that is a regular occurrence. The difference this time was that the fans stuck around all night and were there Sunday morning, too.
Burress out again
Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress missed his second game with a hamstring injury.
Also deactivated for Pittsburgh were cornerback Chad Scott, running back Verron Haynes, offensive linemen Barrett Brooks and Jim Jones, tight end Matt Kranchick, linebacker Kendrell Bell and defensive end Brett Keisel.
Jacksonville deactivations included running back LaBrandon Toefield, cornerbacks David Richardson and Chris Thompson, fullback Marc Edwards, center Brett Romberg, tight end George Wrightster and defensive tackle Eddie Freeman.
Quinn Grey was the third quarterback for Jacksonville.
Jackson sighting
Linebacker Alonzo Jackson was in on the game-opening tackle on Jacksonville’s kickoff return. He has been deactivated for eight games before dressing last week against Washington.
He didn’t get credit for that tackle, but he did on a tackle on a punt return just under the two-minute warning.
Quick start
The Steelers defense jumped offside on the Jaguars first offensive play, then gave up only another yard on the next three snaps to force a punt.
On offense, the Steelers marched downfield without any problems. Ben Roethlisberger picked apart Jacksonville’s secondary with three passes to Hines Ward for 65 yards.
On his 37-yard scoring strike to Ward, Roethlisberger was bailed out when Duce Staley picked up a Jaguars blitz, allowing the play to develop.
Ward hadn’t caught that many passes in a game since grabbing six against New England back on Halloween.
Former Steelers
On back-to-back plays, the Jaguars passed to former Steeler Troy Edwards and handed off to former Steeler Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala.
On Pittsburgh’s first scoring drive, Dewayne Washington broke up a pass to Antwaan Randle El.
Edwards capped the drive with a 22-yard touchdown reception to tie the score, 7-7. It was his first touchdown with the Jaguars.
Later, Edwards converted a third-and-8 play with an 18-yard catch.
Martin-Bettis battle
Curtis Martin passed Jerome Bettis in career rushing yards during the day with 134 in New York win over Houston, but Bettis regained the No. 5 spot on the all-time list with 17 yards on just three carries during last night’s game.
Del Rio challenge
Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio challenged Roethlisberger’s 26-yard TD pass to Jay Riemersma, but the ruling was upheld upon review. Riemersma suffered a sprained ankle on the play.
Porter again
Joey Porter kept the Steelers defense on the field after a third-down stop by drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty before Jacksonville could line up for a punt.
Porter missed the game at Cleveland when he was ejected before kickoff for fighting with Cleveland running back William Green.
Instead of punting, the Jaguars moved into position for a field goal, but Josh Scobee’s 32-yard field goal attempt was off the mark.
Interception nullified
Chris Hope had an interception nullified when Willie Williams was called for illegal contact.