NFL: Pittsburgh 27, Minnesota 17

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- LaMarr Woodley and Keyaron Fox scored long-distance defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter Sunday, lifting Pittsburgh to a 27-17 victory over Minnesota.

The previously unbeaten Vikings twice put themselves in good position to pull out a win, but a pair of miscues were converted into touchdowns of 77 yards by Woodley and 82 yards by Fox.

Woodley picked up a fumble by Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre on the 15th play of a drive that had reached the Pittsburgh 8-yard line. Woodley then rumbled the distance to give the Steelers a 20-10 lead with 6:23 to play.

Minnesota immediately got back in the contest on an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by rookie Percy Harvin.

The Vikings regained the ball, moved all the way to the Pittsburgh 19 and were seemingly set to at least kick a field goal that could have sent the game into overtime.

Chester Taylor, however, had a short pass from Favre go through his hands and Fox grabbed it before it hit the ground. Fox, protected by a convoy of blockers, ran the length of the field for the clinching touchdown.

Minnesota suffered its first loss of the year after opening with six victories. Pittsburgh, last season's Super Bowl champions who began the day tied with Cincinnati for the lead in the AFC North, improved to 5-2.

Favre completed 34-of-51 passes for 335 yards, but did not throw for a touchdown. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger was 14-of-26 for 175 yards and a score.

The touchdown pass by Roethlisberger was a 40-yarder to Mike Wallace with 24 seconds left in the second quarter, giving the Steelers a 10-7 halftime lead.