• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Cardinals give Whisenhunt a measure of revenge

Oct 1, 2007 - 2:15 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Ken Whisenhunt didn't get a shot to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers but he took the opportunity to hand them their first loss of the season Sunday.

Steve Breaston and Edgerrin James scored touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Arizona Cardinals posted a 21-14 victory over the Steelers.

Whisenhunt had served as the Steelers' offensive coordinator the past three seasons. When he took over in 2004, the Steelers drafted quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who led the team to a Super Bowl title in his second season.

When Bill Cowher retired after 15 seasons in Pittsburgh, it was thought that either Whisenhunt or former Steelers offensive line coach Russ Grimm would take over.

But after the Steelers took their time finding Cowher's replacement, Whisenhunt took the Arizona job, becoming the club's seventh coach since the franchise moved to the desert in 1988.

"It is obviously a special win for me to beat the Steelers but I don't have any animosity towards that football team," Whisenhunt said. "There are a lot of people on that team and that staff that I have great deal of affection for. The thing I am the proudest of is our team but a good football team a team that no one gave us a chance to beat."

The Steelers entered the game having outscored their opposition by a lopsided 97-26 margin en route to their first 3-0 start since 1992. Whisenhunt and Arizona kept Pittsburgh from its first 4-0 start since winning its first five games in 1979.

"I think coach Whiz (Whisenhunt) knew some of our weak points of our offense," Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes said. "He was sending guys left and right, bringing pressure as much as he could to try and disrupt our offense."

Pittsburgh (3-1) took an early lead on a 43-yard TD pass from Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes in the first quarter.

The Steelers held that lead until the third, when Kurt Warner came on in place of starter Matt Leinart. It was the second consecutive game that Warner has replaced Lienart.

Warner threw a 6-yard TD pass to Jerheme Urban midway through the third quarter to tie the game at 7-7. It stayed that way until a costly penalty opened the door for Breaston.

"I understand the situation and you just handle it," Warner said. "I go into this knowing my role and my position. as a competitor do I want to be in every snap, you know that, but it is a unique situation and I will handle it the best way I know how and whatever is best for the team."

Pittsburgh had a chance to tie the late in the third quarter with less then a minute left when they marched down to the Arizona two-yard line but safety Adrian Wilson intercepted a Roethlisberger pass in the end zone.

"That was big play right there," Wilson said. "When they get that far down there you just want to hold them to three but we were able to make a play and that play was one of the turning points in the game."

The Steelers punted in the opening minute of the fourth quarter and wrapped Breaston up after a three-yard return. But Pittsburgh was flagged for an ineligible player downfield and had to punt again. This time, Breaston returned the punt 73 yards for a touchdown.

"Once I got another shot at it after the penalty, the first return, I wanted to go out there and make a play the second time," Breaston said. "Once you start breaking tackles there comes a point you see the open field and hope that you don't get caught from behind."

Lienart did return in the fourth quarter and engineered a drive that was capped off by a James 2-yard TD plunge to make it 21-7 with 4:14 to play.

"I have to be mentally prepared when my number is called to come back in," Lienart said. "I sat out the whole third quarter and came back in the fourth in the most important part of the game and we responded in a key drive.

"I'd be lying if I said it is easy to handle it. I know what I am capable of doing. I know I can go out there and lead this team but this is going to make me a better football player and will help me throughout my career."

Pittsburgh responded on its next drive, taking nine plays and 2:42 to cover 92 yards. Roethlisberger capped the march with a 7-yard TD pass to Holmes with 1:49 left.

Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald recovered the onside kick and the Cardinals ran the clock down to 46 seconds, pinning the Steelers at the 9 with a 24-yard punt by Mike Barr.

Pittsburgh picked up one first down before Roethlisberger was intercepted by Ralph Brown to end the game.

"I don't know maybe Wiz, was video-taping us at practice," Roethlisberger said. "Really, give their defense credit and we made a lot of mistakes. We killed ourselves. We shot ourselves in the foot a few times but a lot of that falls on me."

The Steelers All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu sat out most of the second half with an abdomen injury. The Steelers also were without wide receiver Hines Ward who missed the game with a knee injury.

"The injuries are not why we lost the game," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "Arizona out-performed us. The 11 guys that we have on the field represent the Pittsburgh Steelers. We will never use injuries as an excuse whether it happens before the game or during the game."