The 7-3 Saints traveled to Pittsburgh to meet the 6-4 Steelers with realistic hopes of making the playoffs for the first time in the team's 21-year history.

Jim Mora's second Saints team was on a four-game winning streak that included road victo­ries over each opponent from the NFL West plus the New York Giants at home.

Late in the first quarter, Saints DB Johnnie Poe deflected a Harry Newsome punt, which RB Buford Jordan recovered and returned 13y to the Pitt 10. But the Saints had to settle for a 25y Morten Andersen field goal. Saints 3 Steelers 0

Pitt took the lead early in the second quarter when DB Dwayne Woodruff returned an inter­ception of a Bobby Hebert pass 33y to paydirt. Steelers 7 Saints 3

The Steelers added to their lead in the last minute of the first half when a 10-play, 75y drive ended with a 5y TD run by Walter Abercrombie. Steelers 14 Saints 3

The Saints closed the gap midway through the third period on a 5y touchdown run by RB Rue­ben Mayes that climaxed a 13-play, 86y drive. Steelers 14 Saints 10

The visitors took the lead midway through the final quarter after LB Joe Kohlbrand forced a fumble on Woodson's punt return that DB Dave Waymer recovered at the Pitt 21. Two plays later, Hebert hit WR Eric Martin for a 19y touchdown. Saints 17 Steelers 14

The Saints doubled their lead with 6:10 remaining on Andersen's 32y field goal. The added points, which forced the Steelers to score a touchdown to take the lead, was set up by DB Mil­ton Mack's interception at the Pitt 12.

Pittsburgh drove into Saints territory five times in the second half only to be stopped. Their sixth invasion of enemy terrain went further than the others. Let's pick up the action with the Steelers facing first-and-goal at the NO four.

The Steelers were without their top two rushers. FB Earnest Jackson missed the game with bruised ribs, and Walter Abercrombie had left five plays earlier after being knocked woozy. So Frank Pollard went up the middle for 2y. On second down, rookie Merril Hoge came in and gained just a yard. Then QB Mark Malone rolled right and spotted Pollard open in the end zone. But Malone hesitated when LB Rickey Jackson moved in front of the receiver. When Malone finally threw, Jackson leaped over G Terry Long and knocked down the pass.

Malone said Pollard "was coming open. I lost (sight of) Frankie for just a second, and then I saw him in the end zone. I'm not going to throw it blindly at that point because I don't know where his coverage is. Then when I saw him open, I tried to loft it because he had a step on him. But he (Jackson) got his hand up and batted the ball."

Down four with time running out, the Steelers eschewed a field goal and gave the ball to Pol­lard, who was 5-10, 230 pounds but not especially fast. He took a pitchout around left end and was met by several Saints and stopped by LB Sam Mills at the one.

The Saints took three snaps to run the clock and make the Steelers use their timeouts. Then they lined up in punt formation and took a safety rather than risk a blocked punt.

CB Rod Woodson ran the free kick back at the Pitt 44 with 53 seconds on the clock and no timeouts left. Malone completed passes of 19y to John Stallworth, 18y to Weegie Thompson, and 10y to Calvin Sweeney to give the Steelers a first down at the NO 14 with 25 seconds left.

Malone connected with WR Calvin Sweeney over the middle for 10y to the four. Malone tried to throw the ball away to stop the clock, but LB Pat Swilling whisked past T Buddy Aydelette to sack Malone for a 7y loss and nearly take the ball away. Six seconds remained.

On second down, Malone threw a quick slant-in to Sweeney, who had position on CB Dave Waymer until he fell. Waymer intercepted to end the game.

FINAL SCORE: SAINTS 20 STEELERS 16

The Saints could finally celebrate their first winning season.

For the third straight week, the Saints' opponent won the statistical battle but lost the game.

Total yards: Pitt 284; NO 258

Net passing yards: Pitt 172; NO 144

First downs: Pitt 19; NO 15

However, the Steelers, who led the NFL in takeaway ratio coming into the game (+12), had six turnovers to the Saints' two.

When Coach Mira finished his postgame interviews and entered the dressing room, he announced: "This isn't the end."