Pittsburgh Steelers Hold Off San Diego as Pink Signals Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Mendenhall ran determined behind excellent blocking and pounded away against San Diego's defenders as only the fifth Steelers player to reach those totals in a single game since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

The Steelers scored early and generated almost 500 yards of offense. As San Diego fell behind and trailed by 21 points into the fourth quarter, the game looked like it was going to be over and the Steelers would climb to 2-2.

But a takeaway by San Diego's special teams and then a fumble by Pittsburgh on the kickoff helped the Chargers close the gap and create tense moments for Steeler fans who saw leads and victories slip away during the past two weeks to Chicago and Cincinnati.

However, a Jeff Reed field goal inside the final minute iced the victory.

The Steelers and Chargers met in Week 11 last year which the Steelers won as the only NFL game in history to end 11-10.

The last time the Chargers beat the Steelers was on Oct. 8, 2006 by a score of 23-13.

Clearly visible on the NBC telecast was the color pink as a symbol of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Cleats, wrist bands and even the referee jerseys carried the symbol. Football purists may cringe at the color scheme but the message during America's number one spectator sport will encourage women to take early detection measures.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the NFL's participation is demonstrating that the issue may affect women physically but it also impacts whole families and communities.

Games during October will be designated as NFL Breast Cancer Awareness games.

Each NFL team has its own way of participating.

According to the league website, The Steelers are selling a special Reebok pink Steelers t-shirt during October, with net proceeds going to Komen. ZTA volunteers will be handing out pink ribbon cards at the Oct. 26 game and the team will be making a $10,000 check presentation at that game.

The Chargers are distributing educational materials at team stores and selling a pink Chargers hat, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

The Steelers play the Detroit Lions on October 11 while the Chargers have a Bye week and then play Miami October 19.