NFL: Steelers are safe but not soft in win

DENVER — Rarely has playing it safe paid off so well for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tyrone Carter started in place of safety Ryan Clark as a precaution Monday night and made the big play that sparked the Steelers to their fifth straight win, taking the first of his two interceptions 48 yards for a touchdown in Pittsburgh's 28-10 win over the Denver Broncos.

Clark nearly died following a game in Denver two years ago because of a rare blood disorder that is aggravated by playing in high altitude, so Steelers coach Mike Tomlin decided to hold him out.

He said he didn't want to risk Clark's health or burden his teammates and family members with worry.

"Ryan likes to play. He's probably hacked off at me that I didn't play him," Tomlin said. "But he will get over it."

He already is, apparently.

"My goal for this trip was to go back with the team on the plane," Clark said. "Last time I came out, I didn't make it back with them."

Carter capped his night with his second interception with 15 seconds left, and Clark, dressed in sweats and a smile on the sideline, jumped up and down in celebration.

Hines Ward caught two short TD passes from Ben Roethlisberger, including one in which he hauled in a pass in the flat and hurdled cornerback Champ Bailey on his way into the end zone, a final indignity for Denver that capped the scoring with 1:22 left and emptied the stadium.

Rashard Mendenhall rumbled for 155 yards on 22 carries as the Steelers (6-2) handed Denver its second straight loss after the Broncos opened the season 6-0 under rookie coach Josh McDaniels.

Carter's first interception return gave Pittsburgh a 7-3 halftime lead even though the Steelers had generated just three first downs and were outgained 183-54 in the first half.

An ecstatic Clark was among the first players to swarm Carter, the first defender to pick off a Kyle Orton pass all season. His only interception before throwing three Monday night was a Hail Mary that Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss pulled down in a game last month.

"I'll tell you, Ryan is like a brother to me. We've been in this thing together for a long time," Carter said. "The bond is so tight between all of us. But to know that he can't play today and knowing that he wanted to be out there, I just wanted to make sure that I went out there and played for him, and let him know I'm there for him, that we were still going to be all right."