PRO FOOTBALL ’95 : Steelers Win Game, Lose Woodson, O’Donnell

The Steelers lost Rod Woodson, then Neil O’Donnell, and, shortly after that, the lead. But they didn’t lose the game.

Norm Johnson, grabbed off the waiver wire two weeks ago, kicked a 31-yard field goal as time ran out and the Mike Tomczak-led Steelers withstood interceptions and injuries to beat the Detroit Lions, 23-20, Sunday.

But the Steelers’ first opening-day victory since 1992 was costly. Woodson, a six-time Pro Bowl cornerback, was likely lost for the season because of an injured right knee, and O’Donnell will be sidelined at least two weeks because of a broken finger on his right hand.

“The great teams in this league always lose great players,” All-Pro linebacker Greg Lloyd said. “Rod’s a great player, but the great teams overcome that. We’ll find out where we stand.”

The Lions forced four turnovers, yet still couldn’t win. Bam Morris ran for two second-half touchdowns and Tomczak came off the bench to direct a victory for the fourth time in less than a year.

“Their morale was down. You could see it,” said Detroit’s Herman Moore, who had a career-high 10 receptions. “They weren’t the same aggressive defense [without Woodson]. We didn’t put together a good drive that would have put them down.”

Tomczak also left briefly because of a bruised sternum resulting from a midfield body slam by the Lions’ Tracy Scroggins. Third-team quarterback Jim Miller promptly was intercepted on his first NFL pass, and the Steelers’ 20-17 lead looked very precarious.

Especially so after Tomczak returned to throw his third interception--he wasn’t intercepted in 94 attempts last season--and the Lions tied the score at 20-20 on Jason Hanson’s 36-yard field goal with 3:01 left.

But in a game of shifting momentum created by the turnovers and injury substitutions, Tomczak was a perfect six of six for 54 yards on a game-ending 64-yard drive finished by Johnson’s third field goal.

The Steeler defense wasn’t as impressive as it was last season, when it led the NFL with 55 sacks. The Steelers had only two sacks Sunday, and allowed Lion quarterback Scott Mitchell to complete 18 of 32 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns.