National Football League

Steelers win, but still need lots of help

Published Jan. 3, 2010 5:55 p.m. ET

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On the brink of elimination from the playoff race, the Pittsburgh Steelers averted a fourth-quarter collapse to extend their season by at least a few hours.

The reigning Super Bowl champions sent two Miami quarterbacks to the sideline, including Pat White with a scary head injury, and beat the Dolphins 30-24 Sunday.

The Dolphins (7-9), who won the AFC East last season, were eliminated with 2 minutes left in the game when Houston beat New England.

Houston's win hurt the Steelers' chances. To make the postseason, Pittsburgh (9-7) needed losses or ties by the Ravens, Broncos and Jets in late games Sunday.

"If this was the last one, I'd rather we go out with a win than a loss,'' said Ben Roethlisberger, who threw three touchdown passes.

There were plenty of Steelers fans in the crowd, and the visiting team gave them lots to cheer about. LaMarr Woodley led the defensive charge with two sacks, two tackles for a loss and three quarterback hurries. Rashard Mendenhall ran for 94 yards and Willie Parker added 91.

But the stadium grew silent when White was carted off the field with a head injury following a helmet-to-helmet collision with cornerback Ike Taylor. White moved his arms and legs before leaving the field after an eight-minute delay, and he was taken to a hospital for examination.

"I told him, 'I hope you feel better, man,''' said Taylor, who was unhurt. "You never want to see a guy down like that. He kept repeating, 'Thanks,' and I just kept telling him to get better.''

Miami starter Chad Henne sat out the second half with an eye injury that blurred his vision, and when the rookie White departed with 2 minutes left in the third quarter, Tyler Thigpen made his first appearance for the Dolphins. They trailed 27-10 before Thigpen led touchdown drives on his first two series.

"It irritates the heck out of you,'' Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "But I didn't sense a great deal of panic. The guys made the necessary plays to keep us in it.''

With 6 minutes left and the score 27-24, Joey Porter recovered Roethlisberger's fumble on a sack at the Steelers 13 to give Miami a chance to take the lead. But Thigpen was intercepted by Ryan Clark at the 2.

Roethlisberger appeared to favor his throwing arm during the next possession, but he led Pittsburgh on a 14-play, 83-yard drive. It ended with Jeff Reed's third field goal for a 30-24 lead with 40 seconds left.

Taylor intercepted Thigpen on Miami's next play to seal the outcome.

"Unlucky there at the end throwing two interceptions,'' Thigpen said. "Both I would like to get back.''

The Steelers never had to turn to their backup quarterback, but Roethlisberger said he needed to see a doctor after the game. He declined to discuss any injury.

The Steelers won their final three games after a five-game losing streak put their playoff hopes in jeopardy.

"We finished the season the way we were supposed to - with victories,'' receiver Santonio Holmes said.

The Dolphins spent much of the season trying to recover from an 0-3 start, climbed above .500 for the first time at 7-6, then lost their final three games. That extends their drought without a playoff win to nine seasons.

"I told the team 7-9 is mediocre, and mediocrity is not going to be accepted here,'' coach Tony Sparano said.

The Steelers started the game fast, scoring on their first three possessions. But Thigpen's heroics nearly doomed Pittsburgh.

On his first series, Thigpen directed a 61-yard drive that ended with a 16-yard touchdown run by Brian Hartline on a reverse. That cut Pittsburgh's lead to 27-17 with 11:24 left.

The Dolphins forced a punt, and Miami needed only three plays to score again. Thigpen hit Davone Bess in stride in the end zone for a 34-yard score.

Pittsburgh took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards, with Roethlisberger throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to Holmes.

Miami answered with a 66-yard drive and scored on Henne's 11-yard pass to Lex Hilliard. Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace then beat Nathan Jones deep for a 54-yard touchdown catch.

Notes: Miami CB Vontae Davis left the game in the first half with a left wrist injury. ... Steelers safety Troy Polamalu (knee) was again inactive. ... LB Jason Taylor became the fourth Dolphins player to start a game in three decades. ... Miami FB Lousaka Polite was successful in his only third-down carry to finish 16 for 16 on third- and fourth-down conversions.

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