The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH - Tommy Maddox hasn't just turned around the Pittsburgh Steelers' season since replacing Kordell Stewart at quarterback. He has given the team a dramatically different personality.

For the first time since coach Bill Cowher's hiring in 1992 - and since Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw's last few seasons in the early 1980s - the Steelers (4-3) appear to be a team that prefers to pass rather than run.

The transition is evident in the growing statistics of receivers Plaxico Burress and Hines Ward and the diminishing numbers of their running backs, especially the injured Jerome Bettis.

Bettis' chances for a seventh consecutive 1,000-yard season took a hit when a sprained knee sidelined him last Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. He also isn't expected to play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns (4-4).

Even if he returns Nov.10 against the Atlanta Falcons, Bettis must average 85 yards over the final eight games to reach 1,000 again. That's a demanding pace for a running back who has been healthy for only five games since injuring his groin 11 months ago.

Bettis' falloff is a result not only of the Steelers' poor start, when they fell behind the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders early and spent most of those games throwing, but a greater emphasis on getting the ball downfield.

Burress made only two catches in two games with Stewart at quarterback but has 30 catches in four-plus games since Maddox took over. Ward has 46 catches and could break his own team single-season record of 91.

In their last four games, the Steelers have thrown the ball 119 times and run it 119 times. That's a big change from last season, when they ran an average of 10 plays more than they threw it.

"Obviously, they are throwing the ball more with Tommy Maddox," Browns coach Butch Davis said. "He has an outstanding supporting cast."

Pittsburgh ran 29 times in winning 31-18 Sunday in Baltimore, with Amos Zereoue gaining 53 yards, but a 28-3 lead gave the Steelers the luxury of not having to be creative offensively late.

The fast start resulted mostly from Maddox hitting his first 11 passes and Burress making two touchdown catches before being ejected for his role in a second-quarter skirmish.

"Mike (Mularkey, Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator) calls an unbelievable game and does such a good job of keeping defenses guessing that it makes it easy for me," Maddox said.

The Steelers' defensive starters said the improved quarterback play is making it easier on them because they're no longer hustling back onto the field after three-and-outs.

"That is the thing I like right now," Cowher said. "We are throwing the ball efficiently, we are running the ball efficiently, and we aren't turning it over and taking foolish penalties."

COLTS: Running back Edgerrin James will miss Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans because of a partially torn right hamstring.

Ricky Williams, an undrafted rookie from Texas Tech, could replace James in a game Indianapolis must win to keep the AFC South lead. On Sunday against the Washington Redskins, Williams ran three times for 21 yards and caught a 20-yard touchdown pass.

EAGLES: Philadelphia placed safety Rashard Cook (knee) on injured reserve and promoted Julian Jones from the practice squad.

GIANTS: Punter Tom Rouen signed with New York after being released by the Denver Broncos. Giants coach Jim Fassel said he would make a game-time decision on whether to use Rouen or rookie Matt Allen on Sunday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

REDSKINS: Washington running back Stephen Davis (knee sprain) missed practice again and remains doubtful for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Redskins listed Davis as questionable.

If Davis can't play, first-year running back Kenny Watson will make his first NFL start.

VIKINGS: First-round draft pick Bryant McKinnie ended his 98-day holdout, agreeing to a five-year, $13.3 million contract with Minnesota that includes a $9.35 million signing bonus.

The All-American offensive tackle out of Miami was the seventh pick of the first round in June. He became the only first-round pick not to agree to terms when defensive tackle Wendell Bryant, the 12th overall pick, signed with the Arizona Cardinals on Sept.12.

The Vikings had until Nov.12 to sign McKinnie or he would have been ineligible to play this season.

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