Steelers’ Stewart Hopes He Can Put Disaster Behind Him

0-for-10.

Some way to end the season, huh? It certainly wasn’t what Kordell Stewart expected in his first extensive action at quarterback in an NFL playoff game.

Ten passes, no completions.

It was a forgettable way for a quarterback to go into the offseason, which is why Stewart did exactly that after the Steelers’ 28-3 playoff loss to New England last January. He forgot about it.

Now, with the Steelers and Patriots readying for an AFC divisional playoff rematch Saturday in Three Rivers Stadium, Stewart said his debut as a postseason quarterback is only a distant memory.

“A year ago when I was 0 for 10, I played wide receiver 11 games in a row before that last game,” said Stewart, who replaced Mike Tomczak with the Steelers trailing 21-0. “It wasn’t possible for me to go out and have the type of day I wanted to have. This season, it’s like a night and day difference.”

Stewart’s rapid development into a playmaker capable of winning games with his passing or his running is a major reason why the Steelers, supposedly devastated by free-agent defections, are two victories away from a second Super Bowl in three seasons.

Stewart’s 75.2 passer efficiency rating was the sixth-worst among AFC quarterbacks and he led the conference with 17 interceptions. But he passed for 3,020 yards and ran for 476.

Obviously, this isn’t the Stewart the Patriots saw on that foggy January afternoon, as they realized when Stewart threw for 266 yards and a touchdown and ran for a TD in a come-from-behind 28-23 overtime victory on Dec. 13.

“We don’t give up, and No. 10 (Stewart) is the reason for that,” running back Jerome Bettis said. “We know he’s special and, with him, anything is possible. He’s shown us time and time again he can make things happen.”

Because of Stewart, Bettis no longer is the solitary force driving the Steelers’ offense. Teams that go deep into the playoffs traditionally can run and pass, and that’s where the Steelers (11-5) seem to have a significant advantage.

Curtis Martin gained 166 yards against Pittsburgh last January, but has missed four games with a separated shoulder and groin injury and almost definitely won’t play. Without him, the Patriots (11-6) have averaged fewer than 60 rushing yards.

Drew Bledsoe was 21 of 36 for 211 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in that game. Without Martin, Bledsoe will largely be responsible for whatever offense New England can generate Saturday.

On the opposing sideline, Stewart faces no such burden, not with a healthy Bettis to give the ball to. Bettis sat out the final regular-season game with back and knee injuries, but has discarded the knee brace he tried out in practice earlier this week, deeming it unnecessary.

“It’s an important game, but realistically, it’s just another game,” Bettis said. “I think he (Stewart) understands that. Maybe the first couple of series he may be a little jittery, but he’ll settle down and he’ll play well.”

According to receiver Charles Johnson, a teammate of Stewart at Colorado and in Pittsburgh, that is the biggest difference in the man once known as Slash.

“He doesn’t get glassy-eyed the way he did in college,” Johnson said. “His eyes would get real big … you could see it when the TV cameras zoomed in on him. It doesn’t happen now. He’s winning big games now. In college, he’d lose them. He doesn’t get rattled anymore.”