Raise your hand if you thought the Steelers would score 38 points in Tampa on Sunday.
That’s what I thought.
Nevertheless, the Steelers and their veteran QB Charlie Batch had a fun time in the heat down in Florida Sunday, as the Steelers scored early and often as they moved to 3-0 with a 38-13 trouncing of now 2-1 the Buccanners.
Batch was 12-for-17 for 186 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. “You really have to tip a hat to Charlie Batch for what he was able to do for us today,” said Coach Mike Tomlin. “He played like a veteran. This guy hasn’t had many opportunities not only in recent years, but in recent days, weeks and months. He didn’t blink. He’s been a consummate professional and team players. Good things usually happen for those kinds of people. A lot of congratulations to go around. Just a total team effort and one I am excited for the men in that locker room.”
Things didn’t start so well, as he threw a pick on the Steelers opening drive, but two series later he got the offense moving at high speed.
He and Mike Wallace hooked up on a nifty 46-yard touchdown with 7:53 left in the first quarter to make it 7-3. The Bucs went on a long drive, which stalled late as they settled for a field goal to cut it to 7-6 early in the second quarter.
Batch went back to work, as on the next drive after three Rashard Mendenhall runs, he ran himself for 24 yards to the Bucs 24, then hit tight end Heath Miller for 21 yards to the 3. Mendenhall did the rest on the next play to make it 14-6.
After the Steelers got a turnover on the next Bucs possession, Batch went for the kill, going deep again for Wallace, and after Buccaneers CB Aquib Talib batted the ball, the Steelers wide out pulled it in for a 41-yard score to make it 21-6.
The team had one more long drive, starting at the 4:18 mark of the second quarter, the Steelers went from their own 21 to the end zone, as Batch hit Hines Ward with an 9-yard TD with :16 seconds left in the half to make it 28-6 at the half.
The second half saw Mendenhall go off, having some big runs as the team scored a field goal in the third quarter to go up 31-6, and then pull off a final big play on D in the fourth quarter to finally seal it.
On an attempted pass, Bucs QB Josh Freeman threw it on a screen Mike Williams, and James Harrison buried Williams, and Keisel, a defensive end, caught the ball and ran down the left sideline for the score on the first play of the fourth quarter for the 79-yard score to make it 38-6.
The Bucs scored a nothing TD late to make the final 38-13.
The Steelers rocked Freeman, holding him to 20-of-31 passing for just 184 yards with the interception. He also was sacked three times.
Wallace had 100 yards on three grabs for two scores, and Mendenhall had 143 yards rushing on 19 carries with a score.
The Steelers at 3-0 stay up atop the AFC North, as they enter their final game without Ben Roethlisberger next week, a huge home game vs the 2-1 Ravens.
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mark
September 26, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Batch gave the Steelers a steady hand and good judgment for most of the game. He did make a few good throws, and a few of the bad ones fell into Mike Wallaces hands anyway! LOL. Batch used his legs effectively all day. A couple of good scrambles and some great pocket sliding to avoid pressures. Charlie has some game left in him and it will be interesting to see how he fares against the Ravens on Sunday. The Steelers ability to get the ball downfield has given the running game an added boost. At least the Ravens have to be wary of Batch throwing. I thought the O-line played a very good game today. Holes to run were plenty, pockets were fairly solid and Batch rarely got touched. Is Legursky a MAJOR upgrade from Essex? I think he just might be. Pouncey continues to impress!! Mike Wallace is just a playmaker who may actually get better. Scary, huh? My only gripe was that I thought too many starters were in the game too long. In that heat, and with that lead, their was no reason for Mendenhall to get more carries or for Polamalu to be tackling anyone with less than 12 minutes to go in the game. With Will Allen banged up and Ryan Clark leaving the field late, does anyone have any updates on their conditions? or who would back-up Troy or Clark in Allen’s absence? I would guess Mundy or Keenen Lewis.
jay
September 26, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Yeah, good stuff, Mark! ATTENTION BRUCE ARIANS: WHEN BEN COMES BACK, DO NOT REVERT TO 60%-40% PASS-RUN RATIO OR YOU’LL BE AN ASSHOLE!!! WELL, YOU ALREADY ARE AN ASSHOLE BUT ANYWAY…AHEM, NO ONE SAYS YOU HAVE TO GO IN THE OTHER DIRECTION TO 60%-40% RUNN-PASS…HOW ABOUT SOME STINKING BALANCE EVEN WHEN BEN COMES BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And on a lighter note;) it’s so great to listen to Deion, “Nig” Sanders talk about how old batch is and then his snide remarks about how the ball was tipped in lieu of an honest touchdown catch. We all know you don’t like Pittsburgh, Deion, but the reason they didn’t want you is not because you couldn’t cover, it’s because you soft, brah, can’t tackle!!!! The only thing at the corner of 21st and Prime are pimps, hoes and “Olay” defense!!!!