Parker, Steelers good bet to run Jets out of game

It takes a tough running back to make it through an NFL season. It also takes a lot of luck. Kansas City’s Larry Johnson and Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson are plenty tough, but they have been unlucky with injuries this season.

Willie Parker, if he can stay healthy, will help make the Pittsburgh Steelers a hard team to knock out of the playoffs.

Parker is proving to be one of the league’s most durable runners. He leads the league in carries with 212 — an average of 23.6 per game — and is second to Peterson with 873 yards rushing.

For several reasons, the Steelers figure to stick around in the playoffs long enough to scare New England or Indianapolis. Parker is one of the reasons Pittsburgh needs to be considered an AFC heavyweight.

With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Hines Ward, the Steelers have two of the league’s toughest players at their positions.

Hard-hitting strong safety Troy Polamalu leads a Pittsburgh defense that ranks No. 1 in the NFL.

By comparison, the New York Jets are as mean as house cats. The Jets rank 29th in offense and 30th in defense, and that explains why they are 1-8 straight up and 2-6-1 against the spread.

The only positive move New York coach Eric Mangini made this season was benching noodle-armed quarterback Chad Pennington and promoting unproven Kellen Clemens. Pennington was incapable of making plays, and Clemens at least gives the Jets a little hope.

But there are far more reasons to back the Steelers as 91/2-point road favorites over the Jets on Sunday. Pittsburgh, 7-2 straight up and 6-3 against the spread, will cover unless it sleepwalks through the game.

Parker should pound away at the New York defense when Roethlisberger is not picking it apart.

Parker is a prime example of how NFL general managers can fall asleep on draft day. Parker somehow went undrafted. He rushed for 1,494 yards last season, and this season he leads the league with 10 carries that produced 20 yards or more.

Chicago Bears plodding back Cedric Benson, a former first-round pick, has no 20-yard runs after 177 carries this season.

Four more prayers for Week 11 (home team in CAPS):

• COLTS (-141/2) over Chiefs: Injuries are taking a toll on the Colts, but they still have quarterback Peyton Manning, running back Joseph Addai, wide receiver Reggie Wayne and the third-ranked defense. Kansas City has no chance with Brodie Croyle at quarterback. Indianapolis is 4-0 against the spread at home and angry enough to pound the punchless Chiefs.

• Saints (+1) over TEXANS: Houston will get a lift if quarterback Matt Schaub and star receiver Andre Johnson return as expected. But the Texans’ defensive secondary has lost six players to injuries, and New Orleans can expose those holes. Saints quarterback Drew Brees is better than Schaub and is surrounded by more big-play threats.

• SEAHAWKS (-5) over Bears: The absence of running back Shaun Alexander might help the Seattle offense. Alexander was ineffective, and the Seahawks wasted too much time trying to get him going. Chicago is traveling to the West Coast for the second consecutive week and has no idea what it will get from erratic quarterback Rex Grossman.

• Titans (+2) over BRONCOS: Critics are firing shots at Tennessee quarterback Vince Young, which means he’s due to answer with a big game. Denver’s defense can’t stop the run, and the Titans have the league’s fourth-best rushing offense. Tennessee is 9-1-1 in its past 11 on the road and 12-2-1 as an underdog with Young as the starter.

Last week: 2-3 against the spread

Season: 22-24-4

Review-Journal sportswriter Matt Youmans can be reached at 387-2907 or myoumans@reviewjournal.com.