Steelers edge Vikes

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mike Tomlin has moved on, but Minnesota’s defense hasn’t lost its edge.

The Vikings kept the pressure on Ben Roethlisberger, surrounded Willie Parker and held Pittsburgh’s starting offense to three points Saturday before the Steelers rallied after halftime for a 12-10 victory.

Jeff Reed kicked four field goals, the last a 37-yarder with 4 seconds left.

Minnesota held out quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (knee) and receivers Bernard Berrian (toe) and Sidney Rice (illness), giving Gus Frerotte more than 21‚Ñ2 quarters to run the show in the third preseason game — viewed by coaches as the most important .

One impressive season as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, plus some slick interviewing skills, was enough to get Tomlin hired last year as Pittsburgh’s third head coach since 1969. From the visiting team’s sideline, Tomlin watched his old players put some punishing hits on Roethlisberger and limit Parker to 18 yards on 10 carries.

Missing mainstay guard Alan Faneca after 10 standout seasons, the Steelers’ offensive line didn’t protect very well. Justin Hartwig, fighting Sean Mahan for the job at center, started in the middle.

Ray Edwards and Kevin Williams had consecutive sacks in the second quarter, the series before Williams ran down rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall and forced a fumble that Tyrell Johnson recovered near midfield.

Williams and Jared Allen charged at Roethlisberger so hard on one pass late in the first half that they smashed into each other and rolled around in pain for a few seconds before walking off equally relieved and amused.

Roethlisberger, who signed an eight-year contract extension in March worth up to $102 million, completed 10 of 17 passes for 65 yards, mostly to tight end Heath Miller. Byron Leftwich played the entire second half and drove Pittsburgh into position for Reed’s winning kick.

The Steelers slyly threw a trick formation into the video library of future opponents, when Roethlisberger lined up as a wide receiver and twice Parker took a direct snap.

On a drive late in the fourth quarter, with Pittsburgh trailing by one point, Mendenhall — who totaled 79 yards on 15 carries — fumbled again. Erin Henderson recovered at the Minnesota 25.

Steelers Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu wanted to play, but he didn’t. A hamstring injury kept him out of practice until this week. Another starter, linebacker Larry Foote, hurt his left knee in the first quarter and didn’t return.

Adrian Peterson leaped for a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter for the Vikings.

With Berrian and Rice in shorts and T-shirts on the sideline, Aundrae Allison caught five passes for 56 yards for Minnesota. Wide receiver Robert Ferguson injured his right leg playing special teams, though, and hobbled off the field.

Pittsburgh’s defense was pretty good, too, limiting Peterson to 21 yards on 12 carries. The Vikings rushed 12 times for a mere 17 yards in the first half; the offensive line was called for three false start penalties on the first series.

Frerotte finished 13-for-19 for 133 yards and one interception.