The Steelers finished 2008 with the AFC's No. 1 special teams in both kick- and punt-return defense. They finished as the NFL's No. 1 in kickoff defense and No. 4 in punt defense, a hefty hike from Nos. 16 and 14 in those respective categories a year ago. "You have to credit the coaches to a certain degree, because they've allowed us to play," Madison said. "It's also continuity. And I think guys have really embraced their roles. We have a lot of different guys stepping in and contributing and making some plays for us. It's just a blessing, man, to have guys that really embrace their role, guys that say, 'This is my job. This is what I get paid to do.' That's why we've been doing so well this year. "We all know how key special teams are. You look across the league, in these last few playoff games, you see where special teams have played a big role in teams winning and losing games." It's Keyaron Fox, with a second-high 21 tackles -- despite missing three games. Pittsburgh Post Gazette
