Stewart Takes Advantage of Bledsoe’s Late Mistake

For the second consecutive game, Pittsburgh quarterback Kordell Stewart brought the Steelers back from a 14-point deficit as they virtually clinched the AFC Central title Saturday.

“I don’t know if I could say anything that would do justification to that football game,” Pittsburgh Coach Bill Cowher said after a stunning 24-21 overtime win over New England.

Norm Johnson’s third field goal, a 31-yarder at 4:43 of overtime, won it for the Steelers. The loss kept the Patriots, who led, 21-13, in the final minute of the fourth quarter, from clinching a playoff berth, although they’re still in good shape.

“Do your best to flush it down the drain when you take a shower,” Patriot linebacker Todd Collins said. “We let one slip out of our hands.”

The Pittsburgh victory was made possible by a Kevin Henry interception of a Drew Bledsoe pass. That led to Stewart’s one-yard touchdown pass to Mark Bruener with 38 seconds left in the fourth quarter and Stewart’s two-point conversion pass to wide receiver Yancey Thigpen.

All the Steelers (11-4) need to clinch their fifth AFC Central title in six years is a loss or tie by Jacksonville. They can earn a first-round bye if Miami also loses or ties Indianapolis today.

The Patriots (9-6) still have a good shot at the playoffs, needing either a victory at Miami on Dec. 22 or a loss by the New York Jets in either of their last two games.

It was the Steelers’ sixth come-from-behind win of the season and ended the Patriots’ three-game winning streak.