Deshea Townsend News

Rarely has playing it safe paid off so well for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tyrone Carter started in place of safety Ryan Clark as a precaution Monday night and made the big play that sparked the Steelers to their fifth straight win, taking the first of his two interceptions 48 yards for a touchdown in Pittsburgh's 28-10 win over the Denver Broncos.

THURSDAY: Steelers hope Carter capable of filling in for Clark Submitted by SHNS on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 15:57 Somehow, the Steelers survived to an extent with Carter playing four games at strong safety for Troy Polamalu, so this assignment should not be quite as demanding.

Clark became almost deathly ill after playing in Denver's mile-high altitude two years ago, losing his spleen and gall bladder plus 30 pounds due to medical complications that ended his season.

The Chiefs have suspended running back Larry Johnson. It's easy to say Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson is a jerk, has been a jerk since he left Penn State and always will be a jerk.

If the NFL is a quarterback-driven league, there won't be many matchups this season that will top the one at Heinz Field today.

Some wore his No. 4 jersey. Some are so young they can't remember him breaking into the NFL in 1991, when linebacker LaMarr Woodley was 6. Only one member of the Steelers defense was on the team the last time Favre played in Pittsburgh 11 years ago.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison flushes Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson out of the pocket during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct.

Every fourth quarter is an adventure for the Pittsburgh Steelers, every game is a struggle.

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith has a right shoulder injury that coach Mike Tomlin says "potentially could be significant." Smith was injured Sunday in Detroit.

Troy Polamalu has played less than two quarters this season, but the abbreviated action hasn't stopped the Steelers' strong safety from compiling his own must-see TV moments for the 2009 season.

The Steelers commitment to breast cancer awareness month was on display when players took part in a healthy cooking demonstration for breast cancer survivors at Magee Women's Hospital.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin are looking to improve after an upset 23-20 loss Sunday in Cincinnati.

Some of the Pittsburgh Steelers visited Magee-Womens Hospital for a healthy cooking demonstration on Friday, raising awareness for breast cancer.

The Steelers will be taking part in an array of activities for breast cancer awareness month in October, including honoring survivors and raising awareness during their game against the San Diego Chargers at Heinz Field on Sunday.

It's beginning to look a lot like 2006 for the Steelers, who "defended" their Super Bowl championship that season by starting 1-3, finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs.

A maligned offensive line is coming off arguably its best game of the season. Willie Parker rushed for a 93 yards in a 23-20 loss to the Bengals on Sunday, although he averaged less than 2 yards a carry in the second half.

It seemed impossible for any defense to play worse than the Pitt defense did Saturday in a loss at North Carolina State when it gave up 38 points and 530 yards.

Jeff Reed kicks the winning field goal in overtime to beat the Titans in the season opener -- the third consecutive nail-biter if you're counting.

Steelers safety Troy Polamalu thinks his team's defense will be better with him out of the lineup.

When Nate Washington signed with the Tennessee Titans during the offseason, he expected to be one of Kerry Collins main threats in the passing game.