Ben Roethlisberger did exactly what he had to do -- throw no interceptions and convert third downs with key passes. He completed 17 of 26 for 181 yards and one TD, but he was 9 of 12 for 132 yards on back-to-back scoring drives at the end of the first half and the start of the second half. His ability to stay away from the turnover, even the big sack, was a big reason for the victory.

It looked like the old Willie Parker, especially in the second half, when he rushed for 94 of his season-high 146 yards and scored untouched off the right side on a 16-yard run. He also scored on a 3-yard run in the first half, and his success set up play-action for Roethlisberger. Give Carey Davis props for the block on Parker's 3-yard TD, but he got stopped on fourth down at the Chargers' 1.

Hines Ward had four catches for 70 yards, none bigger than the 41-yarder to the Chargers' 3 that set up Parker's TD run at the end of the first half. Heath Miller had an 8-yard touchdown catch and a few big third-down catches, including an 18-yarder to the Chargers' 12 on third-and-8 that set up his score. However, he had another holding penalty, this one wiping out a 13-yard run by Parker.

It wasn't the most prolific rushing game of the season -- 165 yards on 42 attempts -- but it might have been the most consistent and effective. Roethlisberger was sacked only once, and that on a safety blitz in which Mewelde Moore was late picking up Eric Weddle. The usual spate of false-start and illegal-formation penalties were overshadowed by the quality of the overall performance.

The Chargers had 15 yards rushing on 12 attempts, the fewest by a Steelers postseason opponent. And it was a monster game for Brett Keisel, who had a sack, a batted pass that was intercepted by Larry Foote and two tackles for losses and another for no gain on Darren Sproles, who finished with 15 yards rushing on 11 carries. Stifling him forced the Chargers to be one-dimensional.

Big plays by two who have been quiet lately proved to be the difference. LaMarr Woodley broke out of a four-game slump with two sacks and a hurry, including a big one back to the Chargers' 2 in the fourth quarter. And Foote quickly changed the momentum with a big interception on a batted pass, one play after Sproles' 63-yard kick return. And another sack for James Harrison.

Unusually, the secondary allowed its first 300-yard passer and as many passes of 40 yards or longer (2) as they did all season. Ike Taylor got beat for a 41-yard touchdown to Vincent Jackson and allowed a 25-yard catch to Chris Chambers that led to the second one. OK, it was a meaningless TD, but Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu just watched Sproles score on a 62-yard catch and run.

Finally, a return for touchdown -- a 67-yard punt return from Santonio Holmes -- the first since Holmes had a 65-yarder against Carolina in December 2006. But not a good time for a fake punt, not with the score tied in the second quarter, not when it led to a Chargers field goal. Nor a 63-yard kick return by Darren Sproles -- longest of the season -- after they took a 21-10 lead.

Didn't look like a good decision to defer the opening kickoff when the Chargers drove 75 yards in four plays to take a 7-0 lead. But getting the ball to start the second half and driving 77 yards for a TD made the idea look like brilliant foresight. Still, there's no excuse for going for the score from the 1 when a FG makes it a 14-point game. And you won't find the fake-punt call on his resume, either.