The Steelers lost two more starters on a defense already reeling due
to injury as they beat the Vikings 27-17 Sunday.
Defensive end Travis Kirschke left with what looked like a severe
left calf injury, and inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons departed with a
right ankle sprain. Kirschke moved up to start on the left side when
Aaron Smith was knocked out for the season with a torn rotator cuff.
Ironically, Timmons' replacement may have won the game for
Pittsburgh. Keyaron Fox intercepted a Brett Favre pass and returned it
82 yards for a touchdown with one minute to go, putting the game away.
"Thankfully we've got a little time to get those things addressed
here not having to play a game next week," coach Mike Tomlin said of the
injury situation.
The Steelers next play in Denver on Nov. 9, and they might have to
deal with yet another missing starter. Free safety Ryan Clark has sickle
cell trait, and his blood reacted so poorly in the high altitude during
the Steelers' last game there in 2007 that he lost his spleen and gall
bladder.
Clark has been discussing his medical issue with doctors and will
decide this week whether to play in Denver.
"I don't know yet," Clark said Sunday. "I've been checking, we've
been doing our due diligence on it through the offseason and up until
now. I don't think it's a decision you can make in a week or two. It
something you have to feel confident you can do."
The Steelers' only two losses, at Chicago and Cincinnati, came
without Pro Bowl strong safety Troy Polamalu, with the defense losing
fourth-quarter leads in each. Polamalu missed four games, but he has
returned to start in the past two.
NOTES, QUOTES
* Coach Mike Tomlin has been considering not practicing his players
this week, which would be a first for the team during its annual off
week during the season.
* Pittsburgh has won eight straight at Heinz Field and seven straight
everywhere against NFC North teams. The Steelers last lost to an NFC
North team in 1995, in their finale at Green Bay.
* A record crowd of 65,597 jammed Heinz Field on Sunday, surpassing
the 65,350 in the AFC title game in January. Heinz has an official
capacity of 65,050.
* Before Sunday, the last time the Steelers scored two defensive
touchdowns in a game was Nov. 22, 1988.
"It's one of those slow-motion moments that's a joy in this business,
depending on what end of it you're on," coach Mike Tomlin said. "I think
we've had a few balls run back on us this year. It's good to be on the
good side of it."
* Ben Roethlisberger has seen two of his interceptions returned for
touchdowns in 2009.
* The Steelers have had two kickoffs returned for touchdowns against
them in the past two games. Minnesota's Percy Harvin ran one back 88
yards Sunday, and Cleveland's Joshua Cribbs took one back 98 yards. They
did not allow a kickoff or punt return for a touchdown in 2008.