Brown comes up big; Steelers survive Raiders
Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant makes a catch Sunday despite tight coverage from Raiders cornerback David Amerson.
Brook Ward/For the Observer-Reporter Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown caught 17 passes for 284 yards Sunday against the Raiders at Heinz Field.
Brook Ward/For the Observer-Reporter Steelers tight end Heath Miller makes a catch Sunday against the Raiders.
Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns Sunday against the Raiders.
PITTSBURGH – Steelers’ All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown kept looking across the line of scrimmage and seeing one-on-one coverage from the Oakland Raiders.
It’s not something the 2014 NFL yardage and reception leader is accustomed to seeing. Despite Brown making catch after catch, the Raiders continued to put just one defensive back on one of the NFL’s most dangerous players.
Brown made Oakland pay, setting franchise records with 17 receptions for 284 yards as the Steelers outlasted the Raiders, 38-35, thanks to a field goal by Chris Boswell with two seconds remaining Sunday at Heinz Field.
The win, which improved the Steelers to 5-4, was costly as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a sprained foot midway through the fourth quarter when defensive end Aldon Smith fell on the back of his leg during a sack. He is expected to miss at least next week’s game against Cleveland at Heinz Field.
The Raiders, who had been ahead of the Steelers in the AFC playoff race, fell to 4-4.
“We’ve just got to rally around Landry (Jones),” said Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward. “Landry’s had a couple of starts. We expect there not to be a dropoff and we’re praying for Ben to get back healthy.”
Jones came in to finish the game for the Steelers after Roethlisberger, who was making his second start after missing four games with a sprained MCL, was helped off the field by teammates with just under eight minutes remaining and the Steelers clinging to a 35-28 lead.
Pittsburgh forced a punt on Oakland’s ensuing possession. Brown, who had given way to newly acquired Jacoby Jones as punt returner to that point, lined up to receive the ensuing punt.
Brown initially bobbled the kick and Oakland’s Andre Holmes got a hand on it as he ran past, forcing a fumble that the Raiders recovered at the Pittsburgh 39.
“I should have made a better judgment on that ball and called for a fair catch,” said Brown.
Cornerback Ross Cockrell helped the Steelers dodge disaster for that decision by intercepting second-year quarterback David Carr in the end zone with 4:31 remaining.
“We dropped back into coverage and they ran a route combination that we had seen a lot of and he just let it fly,” said Cockrell of his second interception of the season.
Even that, however, didn’t put the Raiders away.
Despite picking up a first down, the Steelers were assessed two of their five penalties in the game and were forced to give the ball back to the Raiders.
Carr, who completed 24 of 44 passes for 301 yards, made them pay with his fourth touchdown pass and second to Michael Crabtree, this one from 38 yards out to tie the game 35-35.
But he left too much time for Jones and the Steelers.
On third-and-2 from the Pittsburgh 28, Jones, who had led the Steelers to a win three weeks ago against Arizona after replacing the injured Mike Vick, completed a short pass to Brown over the middle.
Brown scampered 57 yards down the sideline to the Oakland 15 before stepping out of bounds to avoid being tackled by safety Charles Woodson.
“I was trying to be cognizant of the clock and make sure we got into field goal range,” said Brown.
He did that, and two plays later, running back DeAngelo Williams, who had 170 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries, nearly scored one a 9-yard run to the 1 with four seconds remaining.
Boswell – who missed from 41 yards earlier in the game, his first miss in 11 tries since joining the Steelers – banged home an 18-yarder to save the Steelers, who had 597 yards of total offense but allowed 440 and a season-high 35 points.
“The defense played like garbage,” said defensive end Cam Heyward. “We’ve got to get a lot better. I’m not going to hide it or shy away from it. We’ve got to get a lot better.”
Roethlisberger was crisp early, throwing for 334 yards and two scores before the injury. Both of Williams’ TD runs came in a first half in which the Steelers took a 21-14 lead to the locker room.
Oakland’s offense also had plenty of success early, particularly while running the ball. Latavius Murray had 96 yards on 17 carries before leaving in the third quarter with a concussion following a hit from safety Mike Mitchell.
Only the best game of Brown’s career and a stellar effort from Williams helped save them.
“They were rushing the passer with their front four, stopping the run with eight guys in the box and playing one-on-one on the perimeter,” said Brown, who had 10 catches for 180 yards in the first half. “We knew if we were going to win this game, we had to win big on the perimeter.”
Rookie tight end Jesse James made his NFL debut and had the first two catches of his career, including a touchdown in the fourth quarter after fullback Roosevelt Nix forced a fumble on a kick return that the Steelers recovered. … Brown had two carries for 22 yards, giving him 306 total yards, also a Steelers’ record. … Jones was 4 of 6 passing for 79 yards. … Smith’s sack was the only one for either team in a game that featured 94 pass attempts.