Steelers Hand Saints Their First Loss : Interconference: The Pittsburgh defense forces five turnovers in 37-14 rout of New Orleans.

Maybe it was the intimidating image of Mean Joe Greene on the scoreboard’s pregame highlights, or Jack Ham’s presence in the press box. Whatever their motivation, the Pittsburgh Steelers returned to the 1970s and the days when the Steel Curtain defense ruled pro football.

The New Orleans Saints couldn’t run, couldn’t pass and couldn’t hide Sunday as the Steelers turned five turnovers into a 37-14 rout of what had been the league’s only unbeaten team.

Rod Woodson returned one of Pittsburgh’s three interceptions for 63 yards and a touchdown only 1:30 into the game, then made another later in the quarter to set up Barry Foster’s 20-yard touchdown catch as the Steelers surged into a 24-0 halftime lead.

“Our defense is 11 guys flying to the ball, going 100 miles per hour,” Pro Bowl linebacker Greg Lloyd said. “We were mad at ourselves if we let them gain even three yards on a play. A lot of us were disappointed because we expected a tougher matchup.”

New Orleans was so ineffective that the Steelers had as many interceptions--three--as quarterback Wade Wilson had completions until late in the third quarter. The NFL’s top rushing offense was limited to 49 yards, 110 below its average, by a defense that still hasn’t seen an opponent rush for 100 yards this season.

“If we’re not the NFL’s best defense, we’re right there,” Woodson said. “The NFC is supposed to be the black-and-blue conference, and the AFC is supposed to be a finesse conference, but I dare you to play the Steelers and say we’re not a physical team.”

Foster ran for 75 yards and scored twice before leaving because of a bruised shoulder. Leroy Thompson replaced him and rushed for 101 yards as the Steelers (4-2) won their fourth in a row.

The Saints (5-1), trying for their second 6-0 start in three seasons, instead suffered through their worst game since a 32-3 loss to Minnesota on Sept. 16, 1990.

“It’s pretty obvious what happened, we got our butts kicked big time by a good football team,” Saint Coach Jim Mora said. “No alibis, no excuses, we just got whipped.”

Wilson, who hadn’t thrown an interception in his last 107 attempts entering the game, ended up completing six of 23 passes for 85 yards. He gave way in the fourth quarter to Mike Buck, who had touchdown pass plays of three yards to Torrance Small and 63 to Quinn Early in the final 4:15.

The Steelers’ defense has scored more touchdowns than it has given up--two--in its last three games.

“It’s almost a disappointment now when the defense doesn’t score a touchdown,” Woodson said.

Foster also scored on a one-yard run and Gary Anderson, perfect on all 11 field-goal attempts this season, was successful from 40, 22 and 29 yards.