STEELERS NOTEBOOK | From Heinz Field

Razzle, dazzle: Tommy Maddox's 53-yard completion to Chris Doering in the first quarter was the Steelers' longest pass play of the season. Maddox handed off to Hines Ward, who flipped it back to the quarterback, before making the toss. The Steelers drove to Arizona's 5-yard line, but Jeff Reed missed a 23-yard field goal. "We had that in the game plan for several weeks," Doering said of the flea-flicker. "It's one of those things that makes you nervous the night before because you know you're going to be wide open."
"Bus" ride: Running back Jerome Bettis was able to find some running room against the Cardinals. He had 18 carries for 54 yards, and his 16-yard run in the second quarter was his longest of the season. The Steelers rushed for 87 yards.
Contributor from the corner: Deshea Townsend started his first game of the season at right cornerback, finishing with seven solo tackles, one sack, two defensed passes and a forced fumble. Townsend's strip of Arizona quarterback Jeff Blake in the third quarter -- which was recovered by defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen -- helped set up Ward's second touchdown reception from Maddox. Townsend replaced Dewayne Washington in the starting lineup.
Reaction: Steelers fans showed their disapproval of receiver Plaxico Burress after a couple of dropped balls. On third-and-2 from Arizona's 5-yard line in the first quarter, Maddox fired a ball to Burress, but it bounced in and out of his hands. Burress also drew boos in the third quarter when he dropped another ball on third-and-13.
Bad break: Arizona was getting ready to celebrate what it believed was a fourth-quarter touchdown by rookie receiver Bryant Johnson. But after coach Dave McGinnis challenged the play, in which Johnson appeared to catch the ball in the end zone before being driven back, officials penalized the Cardinals for illegal touching. They ruled Johnson was the first to touch the ball after being knocked out of bounds legally earlier on the play, a 5-yard penalty. The key part of the ruling, referee Jeff Triplette explained after the game, was Blake rolling out of the pocket. That allowed Steeler defenders to make legal contact with Cardinal receivers.
Making amends: Johnson, a former Penn State standout, later scored on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Blake, but by that time the game was well out of reach. Johnson had three catches for 76 yards, second to rookie Anquan Boldin's eight catches for 118 yards and a touchdown.
The series: Pittsburgh leads the all-time series against Arizona, 32-22-3. Sunday's meeting was the first between the teams since 1997, when the Steelers won 26-20 in overtime. Before Sunday, the Cardinals hadn't played in Pittsburgh since 1985, losing 23-10 in the Steel City.
Sidelined: Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time rushing leader, was the Cardinals' starting running back entering the season, but he's been sidelined indefinitely with a fractured left shoulder blade. Smith has 65 carries for 192 yards (3-yard average) and one touchdown this season. His absence has made Marcel Shipp the starter.
Sitting it out: Listed on Sunday's inactive list for the Steelers were Dante Brown (RB), Matt Cushing (TE), Barrett Brooks (OT), Chris Hoke (DL), Marvel Smith (OT), Freddie Milons (WR), Alonzo Jackson (LB) and Brian St. Pierre (QB).
-- Brian Richesson