Steelers like underdog role again

By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDIcaTOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- As the AFC's sixth seed, the Steelers have been wearing their underdog badges with pride.
But after upsetting the top-seeded Colts 21-18 in Indianapolis to earn a berth in Sunday's AFC Championship Game in Denver, not everyone is convinced that the Steelers still deserve to be given little hope against the second-seeded Broncos (14-3).
"We feel good -- we like our chances," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "We're heading to the right direction as far as peaking at the right time. Winning six games straight, we're playing with a lot of confidence."
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, however, is not ready to shed their underdog role.
Like underdog role
"This year, we're the underdog, the last team in," Roethlisberger said Wednesday. "We like the underdog role; we like that it's just us.
"We believe in each other when no one else does," the second-year quarterback said. "We have each others' backs -- hopefully all you guys are picking against us."
Ward and Roethlisberger agree that playing at Denver's Invesco Field in a mile-high altitude, the Steelers (13-5) can't afford mistakes against the Broncos' opportunistic defense.
"They always seem to be around the ball," Roethlisberger said. "The ball seems to bounce their way so it's going to be important for us that we take care of the ball."
Turnovers decide games
Ward said, "If you look at all the teams in the playoffs, the teams that turned the ball over the most, consequently lost games. We understand that and we can't afford to do that."
Neither could the Patriots, who fumbled the ball away three times while quarterback Tom Brady was intercepted twice in the Broncos' 27-13 Division Round victory last Saturday.
The biggest turnover came late in the third quarter with the Patriots trailing 10-6 and facing third-and-5 at the Denver 5.
In the end zone, Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey intercepted Brady's pass intended for Troy Brown and raced hard for 90 yards, But then Bailey slowed down just enough to allow tight end Ben Watson to smack him and knock the ball out of bounds at the 1.
Mike Anderson's touchdown run on the next play helped end the Pats' 10-game postseason winning streak.
Steelers got lucky
Sunday at the RCA Dome, the Steelers were poised to clinch with 1:20 to go when linebacker Gary Brackett slammed the ball from tailback Jerome Bettis' grasp and cornerback Nick Harper picked up the ball and began to run.
Fortunately for the Steelers, Harper ran right into Roethlisberger who pulled him down to save a touchdown.
Roethlisberger said the Broncos linebacking trio of Ian Gold (weakside), Al Wilson (middle) and D.J. Williams (strongside) are the key to how well they defend.
"Their whole team is fast but those three are so incredibly athletic, so it's going to be a challenge for us," Roethlisberger said. "I don't know how they are going to prepare for us [but] we have to prepare for a very talented defense."
Crossed up Colts
The Steelers, who favor a power running attack, crossed up the Colts by coming out throwing. Using silent counts, Roethlisberger hit five different targets in the first quarter as the Steelers jumped out to a 14-0 lead.
Roethlisberger said that the scheme worked so well is "a credit to our running game.
"If we can keep a defense on their heels and really not sure what's coming, we can have more success."
Playing on the road for their third straight postseason game, are the Steelers likely to emphasize throwing early? No one is saying.
"We're going to have a challenge to get [our running game] going," left guard Alan Faneca said. "Their front seven as good tacklers and great speed."
Not giving up run game
Bettis disagrees that the Steelers are abandoning their running tradition.
"I don't know if you can call it a new philosophy," Bettis said. "It was a gameplan and for one game it worked. You have to adjust to playing your opponent so I don't agree with it being a philosophy change.
"It's going to be important to get into the end zone. We've got to score touchdowns -- I don't think field goals are going to beat this team."
williams@vindy.com