Foster, Steelers Overcome Mistakes, Jets : AFC: He has three fumbles, but runs for 190 yards and two long touchdowns as Cowher gets off to 2-0 start, 27-10.

PITTSBURGH — Barry Foster kept losing linemen and gaining yards.

Foster shook off three fumbles to run for 190 yards and two touchdowns--the most yards by a Pittsburgh runner in 22 years--and the Steelers overcame five turnovers by forcing seven to beat the New York Jets, 27-10, Sunday.

Bill Cowher became the first man other than Chuck Noll to coach the Steelers in Three Rivers Stadium since it opened in 1970. He’s also the first Steeler coach to win the first two games of his career since Walt Kiesling in 1954.

“Maybe after last week (a 29-24 upset in Houston), they said, ‘Maybe this man’s for real, maybe this team’s for real,’ ” Cowher said. “Let’s hope we can take it from here.”

Running behind a line that lost three players to injury in the first half, Foster had the biggest game by a Pittsburgh back since Frenchy Fuqua gained 218 yards against Philadelphia on Dec. 20, 1970.

The only other Steeler to gain more yards was John Henry Johnson, who had 200 yards against Cleveland on Oct. 10, 1964.

Foster said he wouldn’t have gotten so many yards or so many chances last season under Noll and offensive coordinator Joe Walton.

“In Joe’s offense, if I had fumbled that many times, they’d have taken me out,” he said. “Under (new offensive coordinator Ron Erhardt), I’m the main guy and I’m in there.”

Foster had scoring runs of 54 and 23 yards even though the Steelers lost offensive line regulars Tunch Ilkin (hyper-extended elbow) and John Jackson (bruised ankle), and backup Ariel Solomon (sprained knee).

Until Jackson returned in the second half, long snapper Kendall Gammon was forced to fill in for a series.

“The only time (Gammon) plays tackle is the scout team on Mondays,” Cowher said. “We had guys showing him plays on the side and in-between plays.”

Said quarterback Neil O’Donnell, “I looked around in the huddle and I saw some faces I’m not used to seeing. I saw that guy (Gammon) from where is it, Pittsburg State, and I said, ‘Uh, oh.’ But everybody took it up a notch and got it done.”

O’Donnell completed 11 of 22 passes for 185 yards with two interceptions.

The Jets (0-2) lost three fumbles and threw four interceptions, including Larry Griffin’s 65-yard touchdown return of Ken O’Brien’s pass late in the game.

“We kept giving them chances to keep (Foster) on the field,” Jet quarterback Browning Nagle said. “If you let a team establish a running game like that, you’re not going to beat them.”

Gary Anderson kicked a 28-yard field goal on the final play of the first half following Jeff Graham’s 51-yard reception to force a 10-10 tie. The defense spent the second half perplexing Nagle, who threw for 366 yards in his first NFL start last week.

Nagle completed nine of 29 passes for 117 yards and one interception before leaving with a bruised index finger on his right hand, an injury that isn’t believed serious.

Foster, who fumbled twice in the first half, broke a near-tackle by Scott Mersereau in the backfield, then accelerated around right end on his 54-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to give the Steelers a 17-10 lead.