Big Ben on target against Redskins
Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown makes a catch over the middle during the game against the Redskins Sunday. Brown had four receptions for 38 yards in the Steelers’ 27-12 victory at Heinz Field.
Steelers linebacker Larry Foote makes one of his six tackles in Sunday’s game; this one against Redskins running back Alfred Morris.
Steelers running back Jonathan Dwyer rushed for 107 yards on 17 carries against Washington at Heinz Field Sunday.
Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton reaches for Washington running back Alfred Morris during Sunday’s game at Heinz Field.
PITTSBURGH – Rain wasn’t the only thing falling to the ground Sunday in Pittsburgh. The football hit the ground quite a bit, too, particularly when thrown to a Washington Redskins receiver. While Washington’s receivers were struggling, dropping 10 passes on a cold, rainy day at Heinz Field, the Steelers were flourishing. Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes and Jonathan Dwyer had his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game in Pittsburgh’s 27-12 victory over the Redskins. The victory moved the Steelers to 4-3 and pulled them within a game of idle Baltimore (5-2) in the AFC North standings. More important, it was the second in a row for a team that had been looking for some kind of consistency. “This is the part of the season where you want to be consistent, get better and start to stack wins,” said Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. The Steelers did that by playing keep-away from red-hot Washington rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III. Griffin entered the game completing 70 percent of his passes and was 12th in the NFL in rushing yardage with 468. The Steelers limited Griffin to eight yards rushing on six carries, keeping him in the pocket. With 10 dropped passes by Washington receivers, Griffin finished 16 of 34 for 177 yards and one touchdown. “You can’t have that many drops that we had and keep drives going,” said Washington head coach Mike Shanahan. “We had some opportunities, had some potential for a number of big plays. You have to make those plays against this type of defense.” Pittsburgh’s defense, which has given up 116 points in its past 11 home games, had a hand in some of the drops, breaking up eight passes. Other times, the Redskins simply couldn’t hold onto the ball. “They had the same weather we did, so I definitely don’t attribute it to the weather,” said Shanahan. Roethlisberger completed 7 of 8 passes for 65 yards on Pittsburgh’s opening drive, throwing a one-yard touchdown pass to backup tight end Leonard Pope to give the Steelers a 7-0 lead. Washington (3-5), which entered the game leading the NFL in rushing, tried three consecutive runs at the right side of the Steelers defense on its ensuing possession. After gaining nine yards on an end-around on first down, Alfred Morris – who entered the game as the NFL’s second-leading rusher – was stopped for no gain and a loss of three yards as the Steelers forced a three-and-out. “It’s about setting the tempo for the game,” said defensive end Brett Keisel, who was in on the tackle of Morris for a loss of three. “Good teams have to do that. Winning teams have to do that. We made the plays to win.” The Steelers answered Washington’s punt with a 48-yard field goal by Shaun Suisham to go up 10-0 before Griffin finally attempted his first pass. Washington marched to the Pittsburgh 2 and faced a fourth-and-goal when Griffin tossed a two-yard TD pass to Santana Moss. But defensive end Ziggy Hood got a hand on the PAT, blocking it to keep the Steelers ahead 10-6. Roethlisberger then went to work in the no-huddle, guiding the Steelers from their own 26 into Washington territory, where he threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Heath Miller – the 37th touchdown catch of Miller’s career, which ties Elbie Nickel for the most by a Pittsburgh tight end. Up 17-6 midway through the second quarter, Pittsburgh’s defense again held, covering Griffin well on a wide receiver throwback to the quarterback downfield on third down. Washington punter Sav Rocca shanked the ensuing punt just 12 yards, giving the Steelers the ball at midfield and they tacked on another Suisham field goal, this one from 27 yards, to take a 20-6 lead into the half. Washington added a 48-yard field goal by Kai Forbath on the opening possession of the second half, but Roethlisberger again answered Washington’s score with a touchdown, this one a one-yard TD pass to fullback Will Johnson – Johnson’s first career TD – for a 27-9 lead. From there, it was up to Dwyer – making his second consecutive start in place of injured Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman – and the Pittsburgh defense to run out the clock. Washington could only muster another Forbath field goal – this one from 45 yards – the rest of the way. Dwyer finished with 107 yards on 17 carries, while the defense shut down a Washington offense that entered the game averaging just over 28 points per game, holding the Redskins to a season low for points. “It was a total team effort,” said Keisel. “We knew how explosive they could be on offense. They have a really good running game. But our offense controlled the clock, and we were able to get enough stops to put this game away.” Odds and end zones Roethlisberger completed 24 of 33 passes for 222 yards. … The Steelers limited the Redskins, who entered the game averaging nearly 178 yards rushing per game, to 86 on 21 carries. … Steelers safety Ryan Clark suffered a concussion in the third quarter and did not return. He will have to pass a concussion test in order to play next Sunday against the Giants in New York. … Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall was ejected in the fourth quarter for arguing with an official. … The victory was the Steelers’ 400th since the 1970 NFL merger, the most by any team. … The Steelers are now 14-1 against rookie quarterbacks since Dick LeBeau became defensive coordinator in 2004.