Martin’s Heroics Help Ice Steelers

A few hours before kickoff, New York Jet running back Curtis Martin went onto the field to practice running on the snow.

Whatever he did worked. Martin had 30 carries for 174 yards, finished with 228 all-purpose yards and etched his name in the NFL record books, helping the New York Jets beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 6-0. It was the first time in more than three years the Steelers (5-9) were shut out, dating to a 16-0 loss to Baltimore on Sept. 3, 2000.

“I went out there early to get used to it and try to use it to my advantage,” Martin said.

Doug Brien kicked two field goals to provide all the scoring, and the inconsistent defense made three defensive stands in the fourth quarter to clinch it.

Pittsburgh had its chances, but Jeff Reed missed his field-goal attempts of 42 and 20 yards wide left. With the loss, the Steelers were eliminated from playoff contention.

Martin became only the second player in NFL history to top 1,000 yards in nine consecutive seasons to start a career, joining Barry Sanders as the only players in NFL history to accomplish the feat.

Sanders had 1,000 yards in each of his first 10 seasons.

“I’m not big on statistics and individual goals, but this one is special to me,” Martin said. “I’m only the second person in the world to do this.”

Martin also passed John Riggins for 11th place on the all-time rushing list with 11,488 yards.

Pittsburgh’s Jerome Bettis passed Franco Harris for eighth place on the career rushing list (12,184 yards), though Bettis was limited by a knee injury to 16 carries for 68 yards.