Winning is the only thing left to salvage season

Pittsburgh goes to Minnesota needing to win out to make the playoffs.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers couldn't have figured a few weeks ago they would be scrambling to make the playoffs now. They're going against a quarterback who is in much the same position, only for a much different reason.
The Steelers took advantage of Chicago Bears rookie Kyle Orton's inexperience and inability to lead a team from behind to end their three-game losing streak with a 21-9 victory Sunday. This week's opposing quarterback, Brad Johnson of the Minnesota Vikings, is the polar opposite of Orton, and that's a worry to a Steelers defense that thrives on its ability to disrupt.
Vikings on win streak
There has been little disrupting of Johnson as he has won six consecutive starts since replacing the injured Daunte Culpepper. The change has transformed a Vikings team that was in considerable disarray on and off the field when it was 2-5 into one that is 8-5 and trails the Bears by one game in the NFC North.
"They're kind of a resurgent team, probably at the first of the year everybody was counting them out but they've turned it on of late and won a bunch of games in a row and they're playing like a new team," Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Wednesday. "Brad brings 14 years of experience and more of a throwing mentality, and he's doing a great job of leading that team."
The Steelers, conversely, looked to be in prime position to defend their AFC North title when they were 7-2, but have since lost three of four. Cincinnati (10-3) will clinch the division with its next victory or the Steelers' next loss, which means the Steelers can get into the playoffs for the fourth time in five years only as a wild card.
To linebacker Joey Porter, that's the key question to be answered Sunday at the Metrodome: Was winning once enough to refocus the Steelers, who, despite their recent slump, have won 23 of 29 the last two seasons?
Put themselves in this position
"Where we are right now, we put ourselves in that situation, and it's up to us to get ourselves out of this situation," he said. "Winning is the only thing that can make things better, and that's what we're trying to do this week."
The Steelers got Orton out of rhythm by taking leads of 7-0, 14-3 and 21-3 and making him play from behind. But Porter knows it will be harder to unsettle the 37-year-old Johnson, who has completed 116 of 188 passes for 1,247 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions since replacing Culpepper.
"He's making good decisions with the football. He's trying to place the ball in position for his receivers to go up and make plays for him," Porter said. "He's been managing the game well and doing a good job of not having a whole lot of turnovers."
While the Bears (9-4) came into Pittsburgh confident after winning eight in a row, much of that confidence was generated by a defense that has allowed the fewest points and yards in the league. Much of the Vikings' winning mind-set is coming from Johnson, which, to Porter, will make the Steelers defense's job more difficult -- especially on the road.
"The situation they were in, it looks like the season is over, but you have a vet like him come in and got the guys to rally behind him," Porter said. "You win one and you want to get another one. You string a couple of them together and you start to think you're pretty good. That's all it takes to get your confidence going and he did that for that team. He lifted them up and now they feel like they're back in it."
Big Ben still wearing glove
Meanwhile, Roethlisberger will keep wearing a glove over the protective splint on the right thumb he injured Nov. 28 against the Colts, even though Sunday's game is indoors. Neither he nor the Steelers have revealed what the injury is, though it didn't appear to affect him as he threw for 173 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions against Chicago.
"We're going to throw in practice and see how it feels inside," Roethlisberger said. "It will be warm and my hand will probably sweat a little bit, but we'll make it work."
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