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Hines Ward on Patriots: 'we felt we could exploit their secondary'

Print | Comments () Posted by Monique Walker, Globe Staff November 2, 2011 01:59 PM

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FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots secondary isn't drawing much respect from opponents.

Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said he didn't feel the need to push himself to play with an ankle injury against the Patriots Sunday. In looking at the matchups, the Steelers believed they held an advantage. The following quote was provided by Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"I probably could have forced it and played but we have some great wideouts," Ward said. "I wasn't really concerned. And against the Patriots, we felt we could exploit their secondary. That wasn't the same secondary that we played against a year ago without having [James Sanders], [Brandon Meriweather] wasn't back there, and they let Leigh Bodden go. We kind of liked our matchups. So there was no need for me to try to force it and go."

The Steelers didn't have much trouble as Ben Roethlisberger completed 36 of 50 passes for 365 yards, connecting with nine different players in the 25-17 win.