PITTSBURGH, Pa. (KRT) — The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t ask Kordell Stewart to be a Pro Bowl quarterback. They just ask him to be the best quarterback on the field on game day.
Quietly and surprisingly this season, Stewart has done just that. And the Steelers are riding a five-game winning streak as a result. Stewart outdueled Pro Bowler Steve McNair on Monday night in Pittsburgh’s 34-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
It’s not the plays that Stewart is making that are separating him from his competition. It’s the plays he isn’t making — the fumbles, interceptions and sacks, the plays that lose football games. The plays that have plagued Stewart throughout his career.
In the five-game winning streak that has thrust the Steelers to the top of the AFC Central, Stewart has thrown only two touchdown passes. But he also has thrown only two interceptions and taken 12 sacks.
Opposing quarterbacks have thrown five interceptions and taken 23 sacks in that same stretch. They also have combined for only three TD passes against the Steelers.
Pittsburgh is sound enough on defense and in the running game that it doesn’t need Stewart to win gamest. All the Steelers ask is that he doesn’t lose games. He’s been executing that game plan with few flaws.
Stewart posted his first 200-yard passing game of the season with no turnovers against the Titans. He passed for one touchdown and ran for another to give the Steelers their ninth consecutive Monday night victory in Pittsburgh, but the first at Heinz Field. McNair passed for 175 yards and threw two interceptions.
Stewart completed two passes for 30 yards to tight end Mark Bruener and one for 11 to Plaxico Burress to lead a game-opening 78-yard drive that produced a short Jerome Bettis touchdown run.