Parker runs for 3 TDs, Steelers beat Houston 38-17

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Houston Texans lost a gamble, a challenge

and, likely, their opener in the first five minutes of the season.

Willie Parker and the Pittsburgh Steelers made certain the Texans

didn't get a second chance in a 38-17 win that was effectively over

early in the second quarter.

Parker ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns and a near-perfect

Ben Roethlisberger threw two scoring passes to Hines Ward in a

Steelers rout Sunday that began with Houston's fourth-down failure

on its opening possession.

The Steelers retain most of the top players from the team that

won the Super Bowl three seasons ago - during an era when free

agency often dramatically reshapes teams from one season to the

next - and many played a role in Pittsburgh's sixth consecutive

season-opening win. The streak is the NFL's longest since Miami won

11 in a row from 1992-2002.

Parker showed no loss of speed or cutback ability from the

broken right leg that ended his 2007 season in the Steelers'

next-to-last game, when he was leading the NFL in rushing.

Roethlisberger missed on only one of 14 passing attempts until

being lifted after three quarters.

Ward made six catches for 76 yards and Pro Bowl safety Troy

Polamalu, coming off an injury-filled season, made his first

interception in nearly two years.

For the Texans, the first game of a season full of hope - the

2002 expansion franchise went 8-8 for the first time last year and

won three of its final four - quickly fell apart after coach Gary

Kubiak decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Steelers' 48

on the game's opening drive.

Quarterback Matt Schaub leaned into the line and appeared to

have gained the needed yard, and one official signaled a first

down. But the ball was inches short when measured and, despite

Kubiak's protests to referee Terry McAulay that a first down had

been called, the ruling was upheld upon replay after Houston

challenged.

The Steelers, getting the ball at nearly midfield, needed eight

plays to score on Parker's 7-yard run. Roethlisberger scrambled

down an abandoned Houston sideline for 17 yards on third-and-4 from

the Houston 46.

On Pittsburgh's next possession, an apparent 75-yard

Roethlisberger-to-Ward scoring pass was waved off when Ward was

called for pass interference. But Roethlisberger came back four

plays later to hit Ward for 29 yards to the Texans' 34, and Parker

later scored from the 13.

Parker's three TD runs were a career high and are one more than

he had last season, when he ran for 1,316 yards.

Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley's interception led to

Roethlisberger's 13-yard scoring pass to Ward for a 21-0 lead with

nine minutes remaining in the second quarter. Parker added a 4-yard

TD run on a toss play in the third quarter. Woodley also recovered

a fumble and had a sack in his first career start.

Houston didn't get into the end zone until a 14-yard

Schaub-to-Kevin Walter pass with nine minutes to go. Schaub was

25-of-33 for 202 yards and a TD run with 1:14 left, and Andre

Johnson made 10 catches for 112 yards. But Houston was held to 75

yards rushing.

By ALAN ROBINSON-AP Sports Writer

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)