Even at their worst, sometimes the Steelers can in the end look their best.
A duck thrown by Tony Romo that was picked off by DeShea Townsend and returned 25 yards for a touchdown with 1:51 left was the difference, as the Steelers improve to 10-3 in a game they probably should not have won beating the Cowboys 20-13.
The Steelers entered the fourth quarter down 13-3, and then things got worse as they went for it on 4th-and-goal from the one, only to have Gary Russell stopped for a two-yard loss. They came back after a Santonio Holmes punt return to kick a field goal with 7:20 left to make it 13-6, then after a 8-play, 67-yard drive, Ben Roethlisberger hit Heath Miller on a niffty pass play to tie the game up with 2:10 left.
The kickoff was muffed by Adam Jones, and he only got back to the 15-yard line. After a first down run to Tashard Choice for two yards, Romo was looking for TE Jason Witten, and he threw it right to Townsend, who rambled 25 yards for the score which sent Heinz Field into a frenzy.
Dallas did have one last shot, but from their own 18 with 1:35 left, Romo was only able one first down before four straight incomplete passes to end the game. The Cowboys fall to 8-5 with the setback. Romo was 19-for-36 for 210 yards with the one TD to Terrell Owens hat made it 10-3 in the third quarter and three picks, the final one the nail in the coffin. Witten was the leading pass catcher with six catches or 62 yards, and Choice had a solid game with 88 yards rushing and 78 receiving.
Pittsburgh was led by Roethlisberger, who was 17-for-33 for 204 yards and a touchdown. Willie Parker was held in check, rushing for just 25 yards on 12 carries, and Mewelde Moore had 22 yards on the ground and 36 through the air. Nate Washington led all Steelers pass catchers with 58 yards on four catches.
The game was a snoozer at first, as the teams traded turnovers and entered the locker room 3-3. The Cowboys put up 10 in the third quarter, and looked to have the game well in hand after the key fourth down stop of Russell in the fourth with 12:26 to go, but in the end, it was not to be for Big D.
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mark
December 7, 2008 at 9:27 pm
BIG win, but the Steelers HAVE to get a better offense going in order to clinch a playoff spot and do anything in the playoffs. They are asking the defense to bail them out every week. Ben has to play better and they somehow have to get that running game going. With weaqther like this coming up more often then not, Steeler football has to get back to running. This winter weather might prove to uncover a serious Steeler weakness, running the ball.
mike
December 7, 2008 at 10:49 pm
I am still not sure how Bruce Arians is employed. My kingdom for Dan Kreider and a fullback. It is as if Arians is spiting steeler nation. Fire Bruce Arians.
mark
December 8, 2008 at 8:42 am
Arians seems to have his way of doing things.The Steelers have put a lot of faith in Ben and this year Ben has not been great. He has been very good at times but unsettled plenty of other times. I have plenty of faith in Ben myself, but unless the Steelers can find a way to run the ball better, the team will live and die by Arians throwing the ball 2 out of 3 downs. Like I said, the weather is now a factor. Watch the Ravens,watch the Titans, they run, run,run!! Yes, we are tough against the run but cannot match them running ourselves. Our offensive line has been schizophrenic all year and I doubt it will change now, but somehow Arians has to figure a way to get Parker, Moore and Russell to carry the ball and move the ball. Like the old saying, when you throw the ball 3 things can happen and 2 of them are bad!
curt
December 8, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I Have been calling for bruce Arians head last season, were throwing the ball to much. short 3rd down situations, instead picking up the first down were throwing down field. our punters suck we give up good field positioning. offence has been horrible. defence has been spectacular. our offence will be the major factor in post season. until we improve steelers are pretenders instead of contenders
mark
December 8, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Hey Curt. Curt, do you really think that the Steelers are pretenders? I dont want to call them that yet. Lets see what happens in the next 3 games. I do agree that the team is throwing the ball FAR too much.25 times should be enough but it all starts with the running game. Arians has 3 capable RB’s and there has to be a way to get them carries to move the chains.
Tim
December 8, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Unbelievable! The Steelers are 10-3 and we get comments from people who think this team is a bunch of “pretenders.” Incredible! Hey people, what would you rather be? 3-10??? Would you want to be 1-11-1 like the Bengals???
Stop the crap talk about trading Ben (ain’t gonna happen) and stop the Bulls**t nonsense about being pretenders – this team is for real and is positioning themselves NICELY for a DEEP run into the playoffs.
Last I check the Steelers defense is Number 1 in the League across the board! Tomlin was right, who cares about style points! I’ll take this win over Dallas any day of the week. Unfortunately, some Steeler fans (if they really are fans) just want to see the team lose the rest of the way. They want that because all they know how to do is BITCH! Amazing!
This team has a good chance of playing in the Super Bowl! So just sit back, relax, have a Coke and a smile and shut up! Just enjoy this! It could be worse…we could suck like Cincinnati!
Jay
December 9, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Hey, Tim, this blog is for people who need to vent. I agree that it could be worse and I just told a neighbor that there’s no way that a team with our offensive line should be 10-3! That speaks testaments to our defense and yes, I’ll admit it, Ben’s ability to play like shit for 3 and a half quarters and put together winning drives at the end. I’ll take it and recant on my earlier opine. It’s just frustrating is all! To imply we want Pitt to lose the rest of our games is absurd. I don’t wear rose colors glasses, it helps me remain objective! I agree that I was wrong about issuing and ushering off Ben and it’s primarily because i get tired of the int.’s and it was an impulsive remark. However, I will not recant on wanting Parker gone for a high second round pick! I will not recant on wanting Arians gone for implementing this nonsense offense. I am happy about the win(s) against big D and all but am trepidatious about our o-line! if you read the chat transcript today with Bouchette, he intimated that we will offer contracts to Chris K and Max and Essex! If we bring back suck-ass Colon who can’t even keep his balance on the goal line and undrafted talent Stapleton, we’re resigning SUCK players! I fear that our offensive line is simply not good enough and needs one or two first or second round draft picks or Marc Columbo or someone in free agency; otherwise, we can’t run Arains’ offense, hell any for that matter. I say trade Parker for a high second round pick, we’ll (most likely) get a compensatory third round for Faneca which means five picks in the first three rounds—try and tell me that we can’t land two quality offensive lineman, another RB, interior DL and corner with those five picks whom could all conceivably contribute in their rook or second years!
Tim
December 9, 2008 at 10:13 pm
I agree with a lot you said, Jay. I was just on an adrenaline rush after the Cowboy victory and took a few things others said the wrong way.
I will say this, I agree with those who don’t know how the hell Bruce Arians keeps his job. I hope he gets canned after the season! But what happens to Arians if the Steelers should somehow win the Super Bowl???
You know the old saying? DEFENSE wins Championships!? Especially with the way our Offense has been playing lately! LOL