Steelers pick up game in division
CINCINNATI — That draft both teams experienced prior to kickoff on Sunday night was the door to the AFC North Division swinging wide open.
The Houston Texans’ pummeling of the Baltimore Ravens Sunday afternoon had ensured that the Steelers-Bengals survivor would emerge just one game behind first-place Baltimore in the loss column in the North.
So there was that on the table.
The Steelers’ acknowledged sense urgency also added to the pregame intrigue and anticipation.
Linebacker Larry Foote had announced in the loser’s locker room back on Oct. 11 in Nashville that he was looking forward to this chance at redemption, and that he anticipated the Steelers showing a Football Night in America audience what it is they’re made of and how they respond.
Defensive end Brett Keisel hadn’t been as forceful when he observed days before the game that it was going to be “interesting to see how we respond knowing the level of importance this game has on our season.”
All of the above made for compelling television.
As did what transpired between the Steelers and the Bengals.
That desired response, eventually, was there from the Steelers, too.
They fell behind 14-3 early but stormed back late and changed the look, smell and feel of their season with a 24-17 triumph.
In the end they had just enough on third downs, just enough answers for game-breaking Cincinnati wide receiver A.J. Green and just enough grit and resourcefulness to deliver what Foote had vowed they would and Keisel had not-so-subtly hinted they needed to unleash.
The Bengals had arrived at Paul Brown Stadium having dropped two straight, but the Steelers took nothing for granted and instead offered up a few new wrinkles.
They periodically incorporated Curtis Brown into a package that included four cornerbacks on passing downs (the old “Dime” making a comeback with Foote departing for Brown).
They asked wide receiver Antonio Brown not just to catch the ball and run with it but also to throw it; that gambit off a lateral should have resulted in a touchdown pass but didn’t when running back Baron Batch couldn’t finish on the receiving end.
They also came up with a three-tight ends, two-running backs alignment that featured TEs Heath Miller and David Paulson lined up as wide receivers on what became a successful two-point conversion late in the second quarter (a fade from Roethlisberger to Miller).
Miller’s TD and two-pointer help highlight a night that also saw him otherwise asked to stay in and protect a great deal against the Bengals’ relentless front-four pressure.
The most dramatic new wrinkle of all was an 11-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown run by training camp sensation Chris Rainey.
Fullback Will Johnson even got to carry the ball and Ben Roethlisberger tried his hand at punting it before the Steelers were through.
That aforementioned urgency seemed to be there, too.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, self-inflicted wounds continue to be an issue.
Their two first-half turnovers (they had only four such miscues coming in) occurred in the Cincinnati end zone and just 8 yards outside of the Pittsburgh end zone.
And three special teams penalties conspired to force the Steelers to start drives at the Pittsburgh 9- , 13- and 11-yard lines.
Had they cleaned most of that up they might have been ahead at the conclusion of a first half that saw them hold the ball for 18:03 and out-gain the Bengals 200-115, instead of tied at 14-14 and somewhat fortunate to have broken even through two quarters.
This much hasn’t changed: These Steelers don’t often appear interested in doing things the easy way.