• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Surprising Saints visit disappointing Steelers

Nov 8, 2006 - 12:53 AM New Orleans (6-2) at Pittsburgh (2-6) Sunday 4:15 pm EST

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - The New Orleans Saints are sitting in a position many people thought the Pittsburgh Steelers would be in.

Trying to match their best start after nine games in 14 years, the Saints visit the Steelers on Sunday in an interconference matchup.

After winning just three games last season, the Saints already have doubled that total under first-year coach Sean Payton, and lead the NFC South by one game over Atlanta.

The Saints are seeking their first 7-2 start since 1992, when they went 12-4.

New Orleans' impressive season has been sparked by the play of quarterback Drew Brees and seventh-round pick Marques Colston, who has emerged as the NFL's best offensive rookie.

Brees has enjoyed four 300-yard games and thrown for 2,206 yards and 14 touchdowns with seven interceptions on the season. He has thrown for three TDs in each of the last three games.

Last week, Brees threw for 314 yards and three scores in a 31-14 victory at Tampa Bay.

Brees' favorite target has been Colston, the 252nd overall pick out of Hofstra in April's draft. The unheralded Colston has caught 44 passes for 700 yards and is tied with perennial Pro Bowler Torry Holt for the league lead with seven touchdown receptions.

Colston had 11 receptions for 123 yards in the win over Tampa Bay.

While the Saints appear to have legitimate playoff hopes, the Super Bowl champion Steelers appear to be already playing for next season.

The Steelers have lost six of their first eight games for just the second time in Bill Cowher's 15 seasons as coach. In 2003, they were 2-6 en route to a 6-10 finish.

Pittsburgh's start matches the worst for a defending Super Bowl champion since Denver in 1999. Those Broncos won their ninth game en route to a 6-10 season.

The Steelers are tied with Cleveland for last place in the AFC North, four games behind first-place Baltimore.

Last Sunday, Cowher abandoned the running game as Ben Roethlisberger threw for a career-high 433 yards and one touchdown with three interceptions in a 31-20 loss to Denver. The Steelers committed six turnovers, four of which came inside the Denver 10.

After becoming the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl last February at age 23, Roethlisberger is just 1-6 as a starter this season. He compiled a 27-4 mark in his first two campaigns.

Cornerback Ike Taylor, who was victimized by Javon Walker for six catches and 134 yards, including a pair of touchdowns last week, has been benched by Cowher.

Bryant McFadden, a second-round pick in 2005, will replace Taylor at left cornerback on Sunday.

Taylor signed a five-year contract extension worth $22.5 million before the start of the season.