Home Team Finally Wins As Parker, Steelers Bounce Chargers

January 12, 2009 8:02 a.m. EST

Pittsburgh, PA (AHN) - Pittsburgh held San Diego to 15 yards rushing all night, Willie Parker ran for two scores and the Steelers routed the San Diego Chargers 35-24 Sunday in the AFC Divisional game at Heinz Field.

With its defense clicking as usual, the Steelers found the end zone once on Ben Roethlisberger's short touchdown in the third period.

But Pittsburgh was aided by two-end zone heroics from Parker, who missed five games and struggled down the stretch with an ailing shoulder.

He busted out with 146 yards on 27 carries, his second TD giving the Steelers a 35-17 lead with four minutes to play.

The Steelers, the AFC North titlist who went 12-4 in the regular season, got everything in order on Santonio Holmes' return touchdown off Mike Scrifes' punt late in the first period.

With the win, Pittsburgh became only the home team to win during this weekend's divisional game in the postseason.

Tennessee, Carolina and the New York Giants all lost, giving this year's playoffs a different look with advances by Arizona, Philadelphia and the Steelers' chief division rival, Baltimore.

The Ravens visit the familiar Heinz Field grounds next weekend with a Super Bowl berth at stake. Pittsburgh swept Baltimore during the regular season 23-20 in September and again last month 13-9.

Roethlisberger went 17-of-26 for 181 yards with no interceptions. Hines Ward caught four passes for 70 yards and tight end Heath Miller added 37 yards on three receptions.

The Chargers, who upset Indianapolis 23-17 in the wild-card game last weekend, played without star rusher LaDainian Tomlinson, out with a groin injury.

His presence wouldn't have made much of a difference, though, against the stingy Pittsburgh defense.

Darren Sproles rushed 11 times but managed a measly 15 yards.

He ran 164 yards from five kick returns and caught 91 yards with a TD for the Chargers, who finished 8-8 and caught the last playoff bus by defeating Denver on the final game of the regular season.

Philip Rivers passed for two touchdowns but both came in the fourth quarter, when the Chargers trailed 28-10. He finished with 308 yards on 21 of 25 passes.

Chris Chambers added another 72 yards from the air and Antonio Gates caught 59 yards on five receptions.