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Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger leads the NFL in yards passing, something no Steelers quarterback has done for a full season since the 1970 merger, and has three 300-yard games this season.

Productive enough that, while Roethlisberger was throwing for 417 yards during a 27-13 victory over Cleveland last week, Favre was passing for 278 yards and three touchdowns to help the Vikings beat the Ravens 33-31. Sidney Rice made six catches for 176 yards.

Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley, 24, finds it remarkable Favre is playing much like he did when Woodley was starting grade school.

"He's still making plays today like he was then," Woodley said. "That's helping this team win."

Winning in Pittsburgh might be the toughest assignment the Vikings have given Favre so far. The Steelers have won their last nine there and, after a brief letdown in which they lost to the Bears and Bengals following Polamalu's knee injury in the season opener, they've won their last three overall.

Rashard Mendenhall gained 304 yards and scored four touchdowns during those three victories, while Roethlisberger threw for 1,027 yards and seven touchdowns, easily the best such stretch of his career.

Mendenhall, who has made only four career starts, will be running directly at 317-pound Pat Williams and 311-pound Kevin Williams, the Pro Bowl tackles who helped the Vikings lead the NFL in rushing defense the last three seasons.

"They've been No. 1 at stopping the run for a long time, and the one thing we wanted to pride ourselves on this year is getting the run going," Steelers right tackle Willie Colon said. "I think we've been pretty good at it so far and if we can run on these guys, it will be kind of a warning shot to the NFL that we can."

Favre doesn't know where this 6-0 start will take the Vikings. He might have a better idea after going against a Pittsburgh defense that led the league the last two seasons and is capable of making any quarterback feel like he's 40, much less one who is that old.

"This (Steelers) scheme makes it so hard to prepare. It's pretty stressful. You're sitting there going, `A-h-h-h,' " Favre said, gripping a table and shaking it. "At times you play into their hands, and that's what they want you to do. It really comes down to making plays when they are there. You get limited opportunities against a team like this."

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