Kicking the game off with an interception in Foxboro, things didn't look very good for Big Ben and the Steelers. Sammy Morris took it two yards for the touchdown to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead early in the game. But it wouldn't take long before the Steelers would awake. They fired back when Jeff Reed kicked an easy 20-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3. The Patriots then returned with a field goal making it 10-3. Then the Steelers really woke up and played typical Pittsburgh football by scoring 30 unanswered points, including 13 in the third quarter to take a lead over the Patriots that they wouldn’t come close to losing.
Pittsburgh really started exploding in the second half dominating on Steel Defense. Coming into the game, second-string Patriots' Quarterback, Matt Cassel, had two consecutive games of over 400 passing yards. This was a franchise record set too-even above Tom Brady. So everyone probably expected another great game from Cassel right?WRONG. Not if they're familiar with the best defense in the NFL who ended up with two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and five sacks making the Patriots look like the Lions or something!
Mewelde Moore again showed how he is the most under-rated halfback in the NFL. He is considered a 2nd string on the depth charts but him and Willie Parker seem to be sharing the first string do to his exceptionally impressive play. Also, Willie's knee still isn't 100% so he's kind of holding back a little bit. I think this is also a prime reason that the Steelers picked up Najeh Davenport because they really have two 1st string players. Next week we face the Dallas Cowboys.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Steelers vs. Bengals
The Steelers moved their record to 8-3 at Heinz Field last week defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 27-10, while the Bengals drop to 1-9-1.
Cinci took an early lead on a Glenn Holt touchdown reception, but the Steelers pulled away and never looked back.
Ben Roethlisberger scored on an eight-yard run and connected with Heath Miller for a touchdown, while Gary Russell took one in from the two yards out. Jeff Reed also added two field goals.
The Steelers opened the game on offense with Parker managing just a one-yard gain on the first play. Roethlisberger then went to the air and hit Santonio Holmes on the slant pattern for a 10-yard gain. Roethlisberger looked for Matt Spaeth on the next pass, but David Jones almost came away with the interception while breaking up the pass. On third down Roethlisberger couldn’t connect with Nate Washington, forcing the punt.
Cedric Benson was met in the backfield by Troy Polamalu for no gain on the Bengals first offensive snap. Benson came right back and went off left guard for a four-yard gain, and Ryan Fitzpatrick hit T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but his four-yard gain came up short of the first down and the Bengals went three-and-out.
Parker got the call again, but was held to just a yard off left tackle. Washington got the hand off on the end around for four yards, setting up third-and-five. Roethlisberger went back to the air but Holmes wasn’t able to pull in the short pass.
A short 28-yard punt by Paul Ernster would have given the Bengals the ball at their 48-yard line, but they were hit with a holding call pushing them back to the 38-yard line.
Fitzpatrick hit Glenn Holt for six-yards and Benson added one-yard. On third down Fitzpatrick found Chris Henry for 14 yards to the Steelers 41-yard line. The Bengals quickly converted another third down when Fitzpatrick hit Houshmandzadeh for 11 yards. Benson went up the middle for four yards and after a five-yard defensive offside call got another first down with a one-yard run. Benson got the direct snap for a four-yard gain to the 10-yard line. On third down Fitzpatrick found Holt in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown and 7-0 first quarter lead.
Russell ignited the Steelers with a 43-yard return on the ensuing kickoff to their own 46-yard line. Roethlisberger hit Washington for 12 yards on the right sideline. Parker chipped in with a four-yard carry but was knocked for a two-yard loss on the next play. On third down they weren’t able to convert when Roethlisberger’s pass to Holmes was incomplete.
The defense stepped up big forcing the Bengals to go three-and-out on their next series and giving the Steelers good field position at their 46-yard line after a 30-yard punt by Kyle Larson. A holding penalty negated a two-yard run by Parker, but the Steelers got the yards right back on a 14-yard completion to Miller. Roethlisberger hit Ward on the run at the 30-yard line and he broke it for a 37-yard gain to the 13-yard line. An incompletion to Miller and a one-yard run by Parker set them up with a third-and-nine at the 12-yard line. Rookie Limas Sweed came up with a catch, but fell one yard short of the first down. On fourth down Russell came in and converted with a one-yard carry. Roethlisberger capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown pass to Miller to tie the game at 7-7.
LaMarr Woodley brought pressure on Fitzpatrick, forcing an errant pass to Daniel Coats. Fitzpatrick came right back with an 11-yard completion to Henry at the Bengals 39-yard line. Benson had a two-yard carry and followed it with a seven-yard run off left guard. On third and one the defense stopped Chris Perry for no gain to force another punt.
The snow started to fall on the next series but the offense wasn’t slowing down. Parker had carries of six and three yards and Carey Davis added six yards for a first down. Roethlisberger went deep to Holmes for 27 yards to the Bengals 49-yard line. Holmes kept the momentum going when he pulled in a 22-yard reception to the 26-yard line. Miller added an eight-yard reception on a screen pass. On third down David Jones broke-up another pass, brining on Reed for a 37-yard field goal to put the Steelers on top 10-7.
The defense made a strong stand, with Woodley sacking Fitzpatrick for a three-yard loss, to force a punt. On the punt the ball hit Sweed and the Bengals the ball at the Steelers 29-yard line with a minute to play in the half. Aaron Smith batted down a Fitzpatrick pass, but he came back with a five-yard completion to Houshmandzadeh. On third-and-five the Steelers pressured Fitzpatrick, who completed a pass to Houshmandzadeh for no gain. The Steelers held on fourth down, forcing the Bengals to turn the ball over on downs.
The Bengals got the ball to start the half and once again the defense stepped up and it was another three-and-out for Cincinnati.
After a five-yard run by Parker and one-yard carry by Mewelde Moore, Roethlisberger avoided the pressure and scrambled up the middle for a first down on a six-yard carry. Two incompletions gave the Steelers another third down and Roethlisberger was able to hit Holmes on a slant pattern for 19-yard gain to the Bengals 46-yard line. Parker added a 15-yard carry to the Bengals 28-yard line, where he ran out of bounds. Holmes pulled in a six-yard reception, but left the game after he was hit hard on the play by Chris Crocker. The Steelers weren’t able to convert on third down, but Reed extended the lead to 13-7 with a 38-yard field goal.
The Bengals were able to put together a long drive, but after getting to the eight-yard line they were kept out of the end zone and had to settle for a 26-yard Shane Graham field goal, keeping the Steelers on top 20-10.
The Steelers came right back though, with Roethlisberger moving the ball all the way down to the eight-yard line, where Roethlisberger took it in for a touchdown and a 27-10 lead.
The only downside of the game was Paul Ernster. Luckly the Steelers have now released him and gotten back 2nd string, Mitch Berger. Ernster was a temporary solution because our first two strings were out. He was a huge disappointment though averaging about a terrible 25 yards per punt. Even the Steelers fans in Pittsburgh were booing at him- and Steeler fans NEVER boo at real Steeler players. This just shows that Ernster wasn't an "Official Steeler". Other than Ernster's disappointing performance, the rest of the game was exceptional. We are now 8-3.
Cinci took an early lead on a Glenn Holt touchdown reception, but the Steelers pulled away and never looked back.
Ben Roethlisberger scored on an eight-yard run and connected with Heath Miller for a touchdown, while Gary Russell took one in from the two yards out. Jeff Reed also added two field goals.
The Steelers opened the game on offense with Parker managing just a one-yard gain on the first play. Roethlisberger then went to the air and hit Santonio Holmes on the slant pattern for a 10-yard gain. Roethlisberger looked for Matt Spaeth on the next pass, but David Jones almost came away with the interception while breaking up the pass. On third down Roethlisberger couldn’t connect with Nate Washington, forcing the punt.
Cedric Benson was met in the backfield by Troy Polamalu for no gain on the Bengals first offensive snap. Benson came right back and went off left guard for a four-yard gain, and Ryan Fitzpatrick hit T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but his four-yard gain came up short of the first down and the Bengals went three-and-out.
Parker got the call again, but was held to just a yard off left tackle. Washington got the hand off on the end around for four yards, setting up third-and-five. Roethlisberger went back to the air but Holmes wasn’t able to pull in the short pass.
A short 28-yard punt by Paul Ernster would have given the Bengals the ball at their 48-yard line, but they were hit with a holding call pushing them back to the 38-yard line.
Fitzpatrick hit Glenn Holt for six-yards and Benson added one-yard. On third down Fitzpatrick found Chris Henry for 14 yards to the Steelers 41-yard line. The Bengals quickly converted another third down when Fitzpatrick hit Houshmandzadeh for 11 yards. Benson went up the middle for four yards and after a five-yard defensive offside call got another first down with a one-yard run. Benson got the direct snap for a four-yard gain to the 10-yard line. On third down Fitzpatrick found Holt in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown and 7-0 first quarter lead.
Russell ignited the Steelers with a 43-yard return on the ensuing kickoff to their own 46-yard line. Roethlisberger hit Washington for 12 yards on the right sideline. Parker chipped in with a four-yard carry but was knocked for a two-yard loss on the next play. On third down they weren’t able to convert when Roethlisberger’s pass to Holmes was incomplete.
The defense stepped up big forcing the Bengals to go three-and-out on their next series and giving the Steelers good field position at their 46-yard line after a 30-yard punt by Kyle Larson. A holding penalty negated a two-yard run by Parker, but the Steelers got the yards right back on a 14-yard completion to Miller. Roethlisberger hit Ward on the run at the 30-yard line and he broke it for a 37-yard gain to the 13-yard line. An incompletion to Miller and a one-yard run by Parker set them up with a third-and-nine at the 12-yard line. Rookie Limas Sweed came up with a catch, but fell one yard short of the first down. On fourth down Russell came in and converted with a one-yard carry. Roethlisberger capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown pass to Miller to tie the game at 7-7.
LaMarr Woodley brought pressure on Fitzpatrick, forcing an errant pass to Daniel Coats. Fitzpatrick came right back with an 11-yard completion to Henry at the Bengals 39-yard line. Benson had a two-yard carry and followed it with a seven-yard run off left guard. On third and one the defense stopped Chris Perry for no gain to force another punt.
The snow started to fall on the next series but the offense wasn’t slowing down. Parker had carries of six and three yards and Carey Davis added six yards for a first down. Roethlisberger went deep to Holmes for 27 yards to the Bengals 49-yard line. Holmes kept the momentum going when he pulled in a 22-yard reception to the 26-yard line. Miller added an eight-yard reception on a screen pass. On third down David Jones broke-up another pass, brining on Reed for a 37-yard field goal to put the Steelers on top 10-7.
The defense made a strong stand, with Woodley sacking Fitzpatrick for a three-yard loss, to force a punt. On the punt the ball hit Sweed and the Bengals the ball at the Steelers 29-yard line with a minute to play in the half. Aaron Smith batted down a Fitzpatrick pass, but he came back with a five-yard completion to Houshmandzadeh. On third-and-five the Steelers pressured Fitzpatrick, who completed a pass to Houshmandzadeh for no gain. The Steelers held on fourth down, forcing the Bengals to turn the ball over on downs.
The Bengals got the ball to start the half and once again the defense stepped up and it was another three-and-out for Cincinnati.
After a five-yard run by Parker and one-yard carry by Mewelde Moore, Roethlisberger avoided the pressure and scrambled up the middle for a first down on a six-yard carry. Two incompletions gave the Steelers another third down and Roethlisberger was able to hit Holmes on a slant pattern for 19-yard gain to the Bengals 46-yard line. Parker added a 15-yard carry to the Bengals 28-yard line, where he ran out of bounds. Holmes pulled in a six-yard reception, but left the game after he was hit hard on the play by Chris Crocker. The Steelers weren’t able to convert on third down, but Reed extended the lead to 13-7 with a 38-yard field goal.
The Bengals were able to put together a long drive, but after getting to the eight-yard line they were kept out of the end zone and had to settle for a 26-yard Shane Graham field goal, keeping the Steelers on top 20-10.
The Steelers came right back though, with Roethlisberger moving the ball all the way down to the eight-yard line, where Roethlisberger took it in for a touchdown and a 27-10 lead.
The only downside of the game was Paul Ernster. Luckly the Steelers have now released him and gotten back 2nd string, Mitch Berger. Ernster was a temporary solution because our first two strings were out. He was a huge disappointment though averaging about a terrible 25 yards per punt. Even the Steelers fans in Pittsburgh were booing at him- and Steeler fans NEVER boo at real Steeler players. This just shows that Ernster wasn't an "Official Steeler". Other than Ernster's disappointing performance, the rest of the game was exceptional. We are now 8-3.
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