Win over Giants a big boost for Steelers
Steelers defensive back Cortez Allen (28) breaks away from Giants wide receiver Roger Lewis after intercepting a pass during the second half of Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh.
Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Giants Sunday.
PITTSBURGH – Wins over the Browns and Colts the past two weeks helped the Steelers dig out of the hole they had dug for themselves.
A win Sunday over the New York Giants, however, was needed to show that those two victories weren’t just a blip on this season’s radar.
The Steelers got that victory and did so in impressive fashion, limiting the Giants to 234 yards and turning Le’Veon Bell loose for 118 yards on 29 bruising carries in a 24-14 victory at Heinz Field.
The strong defensive effort coupled with a persistent running attack made this look like a throwback game for the Steelers, who improved to 7-5 and kept pace with Baltimore for the AFC North lead.
“We knew we had to,” said guard Ramon Foster of the team’s rushing attack. “They have an offense that is very capable of scoring points quick. Our job is to run the ball the best we can to keep their offense off the field.”
The Steelers did just that, holding the ball for just over 34 minutes to keep Eli Manning and company standing on the sideline.
And when Manning was on the field, the Steelers harassed him into mistakes and incompletions as they stopped the Giants’ winning streak at six games.
New York (8-4) was 4-for-11 on third downs and failed on three attempts on fourth down. Manning threw for just 195 yards, two touchdowns and had two interceptions.
“When you play a guy as seasoned as Eli, (pressure and coverage) are going to be required,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “You can’t lean on one. If you’re rushing great and your coverage isn’t tight, he’s going to make quick decisions. If your rush isn’t getting there, he’s going to find people when they come open.
“I thought we did both above the line.”
That was apparent early in the game.
After a punt pinned the Giants inside their own 5, Manning dropped back to pass in the end zone on third down. Tackle Ereck Flowers was penalized for holding outside linebacker James Harrison in the end zone, negating a completion to Odell Beckham and resulting in a safety for the Steelers and a 2-0 lead.
The Steelers then got a field goal from Randy Bullock – one of three on the day for Bullock subbing for an injured Chris Boswell – to go ahead 5-0.
New York drove to the Pittsburgh 9 on its next possession midway through the second quarter, but on second-and-4, linebacker Lawrence Timmons made a leaping interception of a Manning pass at the 2 and returned it 58 yards to keep the Giants out of the end zone.
“Lawrence Timmons has played a long time and made a lot of plays,” said Manning. “I thought I could get it high enough to (tight end) Larry Donnell. Timmons got a little wider than I thought.”
Timmons didn’t score on the play, but set the Steelers up with good field position.
Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown made the Giants pay for the mistake three plays later, connecting on a 22-yard TD pass that put the Steelers ahead 11-0 after a failed two-point conversion.
Roethlisberger, who threw for 289 yards and two scores, rolled to his right to escape pressure on the play and found Brown in the back of the end zone working against corner Janoris Jenkins.
“That was a great throw,” said Brown. “The guy didn’t see the ball. I was able to go up and make a play on the ball. I felt my left foot hit and then I got my body down.”
Leading 14-0 at the half, the Steelers turned the ball over after stopping the Giants from scoring inside the 10 a second time. Shazier broke up a pass at the goal line on fourth down to turn the ball over on downs.
But Bell, who also had six receptions for 64 yards, fumbled at the Pittsburgh 18 and Eli Apple recovered at the 17 for the Giants to set up a 13-yard TD pass from Manning to running back Rashad Jennings.
The Steelers, however, answered immediately, going 88 yards in just seven plays, with tight end Ladarius Green starting it off with a 33-yard catch from Roethlisberger and finishing it with a 20-yard TD reception.
“Coach Tomlin knew how I felt. He said, ‘We’re going to come out and give you the ball.'” said Bell. “Obviously, they knew I was frustrated a bit. We capitalized right after my fumble. I’m glad we responded the way we did.”
Green finished with a career-high 110 yards on six receptions.
“I thought he played great,” said Roethlisberger. “He wants to be great, and we left a little bit out there. But I can’t say enough for the way he played and stepped up.”
Trailing 21-7, the Giants tried to make a game of it early in the fourth quarter, driving to the Pittsburgh 35, but rookie safety Sean Davis recorded his first career interception on a fourth down pass by Manning and the Steelers rode Bell throughout most of the fourth quarter as he gained 61 yards on the Steelers’ next two possessions to help set up another Bullock field goal.
The Giants finally scored their second touchdown with 26 seconds remaining on a 1-yard pass from Manning to rookie Sterling Shepard, but it was too little, too late.
“That’s just how this game has to go,” said Foster. “Later in the season, we have to be able to run the ball. We have to be able to close out games. That’s what we were today. We closed out a game in decent fashion.”
Bell’s 100-yard rushing game was his third straight. It’s the first time a Pittsburgh running back has recorded three straight 100-yard games since Willie Parker in the 2006 and 2007 seasons. … Brown’s touchdown was the 54th of his career, moving him past Lynn Swann into sole possession of fifth place in team history. … Ricardo Mathews and Harrison had sacks for the Steelers. … Timmons’ interception was the 11th of his career. … Rookie nose tackle Javon Hargrave and reserve safety Shamarko Thomas left the game for the Steelers with concussions. … Roethlisberger has now won three of four games against Manning in head-to-head matchups. They were two of the first three quarterbacks selected in the 2004 draft. … The Steelers Dec. 18 game in Cincinnati was changed to a 1 p.m. start.