Bledsoe, Pats Pound Steelers

Drew Bledsoe didn't need a questionable call, a debatable penalty or the full use of all the fingers on his passing hand. He didn't even need the fourth quarter.

Bledsoe ignored a non-stop blitz and a fractured right index finger that throbbed on every throw to lead the New England Patriots to a critical 23-9 victory Sunday over the Steelers -- their first win in Pittsburgh since 1986.

Bledsoe, the first NFL quarterback since 1960 to throw last-minute game-winning touchdown passes in consecutive games, didn't wait until the last minute to win this one.

Terry Glenn caught an 86-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter among his team-record 193 receiving yards as the Patriots (8-5) won their third in a row since Bledsoe was hurt leading the first of consecutive last-minute victories over Miami and Buffalo.

This time, the big plays came earlier and without argument, unlike the much-debated Hail Mary pass interference penalty that led to Bledsoe's game-winning 1-yard touchdown pass against Buffalo last week.

"They were blitzing some guys at different times and our guys were able to pick them up, and if I have that much time, generally I'm going to be effective," said Bledsoe, sacked only twice while going 21-of-34 for 327 yards. "We made some big pays that way, including the one to Terry."

Glenn's catch behind safety Darren Perry on second-and-nine with 1:56 left before halftime clearly surprised the Steelers defense. Bledsoe stood up to the blitz just long enough to allow Glenn to get 10 yards behind Perry as the Patriots led 13-6 at the half.

"We had a couple of miracles happen in the last two games and that tells you anything can happen," Patriots coach Pete Carroll said. "We know we're right in it and, hopefully, we can find a place in the playoffs."

The Steelers (7-6) might not. They have lost two in a row for the first time since December 1996 and are in danger of missing the postseason for the first time in Bill Cowher's seven seasons as coach. They trail Jacksonville (10-3) by three games with three to play in the AFC Central.

"I was not pleased with this performance," Cowher said. "I'm going to sit down, evaluate it and make some changes accordingly."

Carroll wasn't going to change quarterbacks unless absolutely necessary. But after throwing some wobbly passes, Bledsoe asked team trainers to adjust the wrap on his bandaged finger as backup Scott Zolak warmed up on the sidelines in the third quarter.

This Jerome Bettis fumble in the fourth quarter resulted in a Patriots touchdown to seal the victory. (AP)

"Drew had some problems with his finger," Carroll said. "The ball started flying on him and he had a hard time controlling it. They made an adjustment on the brace, which I think helped, and he came back and did a nice job."

The Steelers again didn't have enough offense. They have scored only two touchdowns in their last 14 quarters and, trailing only 13-9, turned the ball over on consecutive second-half possessions to set up 10 momentum-swinging Patriots points.

Ty Law's eighth interception of the season on the final play of the third quarter led to Adam Vinatieri's third field goal, a 35-yarder that make it 16-9.

Two plays later, Jerome Bettis' fumble was recovered by Lawyer Milloy at the 35. Bledsoe then led a five-play drive finished off by Robert Edwards' 4-yard touchdown run with 9:20 to play. Linebacker Levon Kirkland's pass interference penalty on first-and-20 gave New England a first down at the 4.

"I didn't agree with it, but I've seen worse pass interference penalties," Kirkland said.

Earlier in the game, the Patriots drove to the Steelers' 3 and 8 on their first two possessions, only to settle for field goals by Vinatieri of 21 and 29 yards.

The blown opportunities might have been costly if Kordell Stewart, under constant pressure, hadn't thrown erratically while going 21-of-45 for 206 yards and two inerceptions. Bettis was held to 48 yards on 12 carries, the fifth time in six games he has been held to less than 100 yards.

"We're in a situation where we're wondering what's wrong," Bettis said. "We see a leak and we know we have to fix it, but we don't know where it's coming from. And we can't fix it until we find it."

It might have come from the grandstands, where an unhappy fan showered Stewart with a beer as the quarterback walked off the field.

"It's agitating to walk off the thing and have people throw beer on me," Stewart said. "That's the first time that's happened to me in my life. ... But as far as the fans' reaction, I promise you that I don't care. They're not going to run me out of here like they did Neil O'Donnell."

The Steelers, held to only 86 second-half yards, had the ball inside the Patriots 20 twice in the final five minutes. But Pittsburgh turned it over on downs once and Stewart was intercepted on its final possession.

Notes