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10/26/2009 3:31 AM

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PITTSBURGH - Needing to make a statement against a very good offense, the Steelers defense proved that not only is it capable of slamming the door at the end of a game, it's adept at putting points on the board.

Even more impressive than Pittsburgh's two fourth-quarter defensive touchdowns in Sunday's 27-17 victory over Minnesota was the goal-line stand that preceded it.

Midway through the third quarter with the Steelers clinging to a 13-7 lead, Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre connected with Sidney Rice for a 34-yard gain before he was tripped up by safety Troy Polamalu inside the one-yard line.

Nose tackle Casey Hampton was then penalized for lining up offsides - his helmet was in the neutral zone - for the third time in the game. That moved the ball within a couple of inches of the goal line.

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With running back Adrian Peterson - a player Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin this week called the best football player in the world - in the backfield, it seemed almost certain the Vikings would take the lead.

The Vikings gave the ball to Peterson on first down. He was dropped for a loss by linebackers Keyaron Fox and James Farrior.

Apparently, that was sufficient enough evidence for the Minnesota coaching staff that Peterson, who had 12 carries for 33 yards at that point, was not going to pound his way into the end zone.

Favre attempted a pair of play-action passes on second and third downs, the first to Rice, then one to tight end Jim Kleinsasser. Neither was completed and the Vikings kicked an 18-yard field goal.

Instead of taking a 14-13 lead, the Vikings trailed 13-10.

"I think it's a testament to our defense that you have the best running back in the world and you throw two passes on second and third down from about the half-yard line," said Steelers safety Ryan Clark.

It also helped set the stage for LaMarr Woodley's 77-yard fumble return for a touchdown after a Brett Keisel sack and strip of Favre, and Fox's 82-yard interception return for a score in the fourth quarter.

Because Minnesota was sure it couldn't run consistently against the Steelers, even with Peterson, Favre threw 51 passes in a game that was a one-score contest until Fox's touchdown with 1:15 remaining.

As often happens to road teams in the NFL when they try to throw the ball a lot, mistakes happen.

The Steelers had been struggling to finish opponents off in the fourth quarters this season. A defense that was No. 1 in the NFL in just about every statistic last year had shown an inability to hold second-half leads.

With Minnesota's potent running attack limited, the Steelers knew they could start teeing off on Favre.

"It was like everybody forgot that this defense can play," said safety Ryan Clark. "We've got pride. It's not ego; it's pride. We didn't like that coming into this game, everybody was saying it was going to be a shootout. As much as you're saying something good about our offense, you're saying something negative about our defense."

There haven't been many negatives over the past two weeks as the defense finished off Cleveland and Minnesota in back-to-back games.

"We're getting to the point that we're playing to the level that we're capable of making plays when they're needed," said linebacker James Harrison.

On Sunday, they put the league on notice.

F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com

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