The Pittsburgh Steelers had their worst victory of the season Thursday - they beat the St. Louis Rams, 41-24, but lost running back Willie Parker for the season.
The Steelers (10-5) were desperate to win after dropping two in a row, and they did - but at a potentially terrible cost.
The NFL's leading rusher with 1,316 yards, Parker broke his right fibula while trying to cut on St. Louis's artificial turf on his first carry and won't carry the ball again until offseason workouts.
By winning, the Steelers are all but certain of being in the postseason; a loss by either Tennessee or Cleveland the next two weekends would ensure that, as would a Steelers victory in Baltimore Dec. 30.
Parker's absence, however, may force the Steelers to greatly alter their offensive approach during the postseason, even though Najeh Davenport ran for 123 yards and scored two touchdowns against St. Louis.
Coach Mike Tomlin had said the Steelers would run Parker until the wheels came off.
Earlier in the game, Rams Pro Bowl wide receiver Torry Holt was caught by TV cameras, yelling at coach Scott Linehan after Ike Taylor's 51-yard interception for a touchdown on a fourth-and-10 play put the game out of reach. Linehan downplayed the exchange, saying it was not a "big deal" and was said in the "heat of the battle." Holt declined comment.
Falcons' Hall vents
Frustrated by the team's 3-11 record and the coaching - and eventual defection - of Bobby Petrino - Atlanta cornerback DeAngelo Hall voiced his frustration: "I can't do this no more. I won't do this no more, let me say that. I will not be a part of a losing team another year, no matter what I got to do, no matter who hates me, whatever." . . . Josh McCown will start at quarterback for Oakland tomorrow in Jacksonville, with rookie JaMarcus Russell slated to come off the bench . . . Baltimore, mired in a record eight-game losing streak, will limp into tomorrow's game against Seattle without several key players. Coach Brian Billick said middle linebacker Ray Lewis was unlikely to play because of a dislocated finger on his left hand. Tight end Todd Heap is also expected to miss the game, and cornerback Samari Rolle was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, ending his season . . . Green Bay might have to face Chicago without Ryan Pickett. The defensive tackle hurt his groin in the Packers' 33-14 victory over the Rams last week and only took part in a limited portion of practice yesterday. He was listed as questionable . . . Buffalo receiver Roscoe Parrish is questionable for tomorrow with a shoulder injury.Reid stands by sons
Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid and his wife, Tammy, have dealt with their sons Garrett and Britt's drug addictions for five years, through "Super Bowls and championships," and the coach plans to remain with the team as long as he can do the job and the owner will have him. The Reids broke their silence about their sons' problems and vowed their support in an exclusive interview with Philadelphia Magazine for its January edition.
