It was all good. The Pittsburgh Steelers had just produced a crushing 33-10 victory, with Harrison's fingerprints all over the harassment of New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel. Two sacks. Two forced fumbles. A team-high nine tackles.

One pivotal third-quarter play in particular had Woodley buzzing.

"Once I saw that hand ready to swing, I knew the ball was coming out," Woodley said. "So I just froze and waited for it."

Harrison responded to his bookend linebacker with a quick nod and matter-of-fact reply. "That's your job," he said. "Pick up the fumbles."

Woodley indeed recovered the first of two fumbles that Harrison forced with tomahawk-chop sacks in the third quarter -- in the midst of turnovers on five consecutive Patriots possessions -- that helped turn a close game into a rout.

Harrison's first forced fumble set up a Jeff Reed field goal. On the next defensive series, he beat left tackle Matt Light with the same type of outside speed rush and chop, forcing a fumble recovered by James Farrior. "Not to take it for granted, but that's what we've come to expect from him," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of Harrison, "because that's what he's capable of."

Sunday's performance was the latest chapter in a big-play season for Harrison, a fifth-year pro from Kent State who entered the league as an undrafted free agent and took the long route to stardom. Harrison was cut four times and played in NFL Europa before sticking with the Steelers, promoted to the starting lineup last season to succeed Joey Porter.

Now with 14 sacks on the season, Harrison is in the conversation for NFL defensive player of the year honors.

"I come in every year like I'm still that same undrafted free agent," Harrison said. "That's what drives me. Always hungry."

Harrison's determination also provides a glimpse of what Cassel was up against in facing the league's No.1 defense. The quarterback entered the game after posting back-to-back 400-yard performances. He left with his resume stained by four turnovers (two interceptions, two fumbles), five sacks, zero touchdowns and a 39.4 efficiency rating for the game. The Pats converted one of 13 third downs.

"The main thing for us was the turnovers," Cassel said. "Anytime you go out there against a good defense and turn over the ball, that takes away opportunities. We need to go back to the drawing board."

With the Steelers using turnovers to set up three scores within six minutes late in the third quarter (two Reed field goals and an 11-yard TD pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Hines Ward), the Patriots were forced to play catch-up in the cold and rain.

But Pittsburgh's offense, which controlled the clock for more than 35 minutes and tallied 333 yards, had the complement of its outstanding defense. After struggling early, the Steelers used balance to wear down the Patriots (7-5). Roethlisberger threw 33 times, but, unlike many games, the offense didn't ride solely on his arm. Pittsburgh rushed for 161 yards, its highest total since the season opener.

But there's little time to bask. The Steelers (9-3) host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, then play back-to-back road games against the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans.

"Up until now, we had the hardest schedule in the league, and right now we're 9-3," said Ward, who caught five passes for 37 yards. "We still haven't gotten into our identity yet, but we're getting better each week."