The curse of Tom Brady continues.
The Pats QB moved to 6-1 all time against the Steelers Sunday night, doing his usual pick apart routine of the Steelers defense, hitting plays all night as New England cruised past the Steelers in stunning fashion 39-26.
By all accounts, it was by far the worst game of the season by the Steelers, who felt this would not be another undressing by Brady after how the Browns easily topped the Pats a week ago in Cleveland.
Instead, it was frustrating from start the finish. The Steelers O-line was terrible, as injuries took their toll as Ben Roethlsiberger was rushed all night, and the run game did little against the Pats after they allowed over 200 yards last week to Cleveland.
While the offense was off all night, despite scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter when the game was pretty much out of reach, the defense played their worst game of the year is allowing Brady to throw all night.
The QB, who makes a living off of beating the Steelers at Heinz Field, threw for 350 yards on 30 of 43 passing. He was not sacked all night, and while there were points when the Steelers got pressure, Brady usually was able to find check downs.
Pats rookie TE Rob Gronkowski, who was a goat last week in Cleveland, scored three times for New England, including an 18-yard TD on the Pats first series, and then again in the third and fourth quarters.
Roethlisberger was sacked five times, and was under pressure most of the night. The run game did little, putting up 76 yards on 18 carries. Rashard Mendenhall had just 50 yards on 11 carries as the team couldn’t get anything going all night.
New England took a 10-0 lead in the second quarter, and finally the Steelers got a field goal to cut it to 10-3 when they got to the Pats four but had to settle for a Jeff Reed 22-yard field goal.
Then they had a shot late in the half, but couldn’t score, and then the game got out of hand when the Pats drove 78 yards in 10 plays to take a 17-3 lead and pretty much put the game away.
The Steelers had one last shot to get back in the game, and drove down the field to the Pats 8 with 3:47 left in the quarter, but they failed on third down, and then trying to get to 17-6, Reed’s awful season continued as he missed a 26-yard field goal.
A wild fourth quarter saw the team combine for 39 points, but in reality, it was nothing more than desperation for the Steelers, who couldn’t stop the Pats, and New England seemed to play back on defense, allowing Roethlisberger to march up and down the field.
The Steelers got to 29-18 and 36-26, but there was never really a point where you felt they were going to be able to stop the Pats and really challenge to get close to tying or taking the lead.
At the end of the day, it was their worst game of the year, and it came at a time when they really could have used a win, as it would have put them a game up on the Ravens, who lost Thursday, in the AFC North.
Roethlisberger ended the night 30 for 49 for 387 yards with three TD’s and a pick six. He was sacked 5 times for minus 38 yards.
About the only good note is the fact the other three AFC North teams lost, meaning that the Steelers and Ravens are tied for first at 6-3, the Browns are three back at 3-6, and the Bengals are 2-7.
Next week the Raiders, a team that stunned the Steelers at home last year in the midst of that five-game losing streak, are in town with a record of 5-4 and coming off a bye.
11 Comments
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Jeff
November 15, 2010 at 12:25 am
What’s the excuse this time assholes???? Starting right guard out?? Second string safety on IR?? Every time you lose, there’s always a bullshit excuse. If you wanna say the loss to the Ravens doesn’t count cuz Ben was out, then the wins while he was out shouldn’t count either. You had your mountain-folk asses handed to you tonite. Fuck all of you rednecks, you’re still in second, bitches.
Jeff
November 15, 2010 at 8:34 am
Wow, a Raven’s fan posting BS on a another AFC team’s website after losing to Atlanta when they’re D caved in late. Get a Life!
mark
November 15, 2010 at 12:33 am
The Raider game will decide if the Steelers can make a playoff run. A loss next week sinks their ship. No doubt
The Tony
November 15, 2010 at 8:30 am
First Jeff go fuck yourself, last I checked your team had an embarrassing loss on thursday. Secondly, week after week its the same story with William Gay being constantly exposed. How the hell is a backup rookie tightend going to catch 3 touchdowns. UNBELIEVABLE! It is horridly obvious that our injuries are plaguing our team. The offensive line was putrid with the left side torn with injuries, with starters who have no right to be on the field. Granted our offensive line was pretty bad to begin with, but now it is just horrendous that they can not even pick up a three man blitz! It is also a shame that Hines was not able to get back into the game, congrats to him for his incredible streak. We definitely could have used him in the redzone last night after watching time again the Steelers dropping what should have been touchdowns. If we catch some of those then the game calling would have been different and maybe we get lucky. Is it just me or does it appear that Reed has Kris Brown syndrome? I honestly felt like I was watching a Pirates game! Better luck next week.
mark
November 15, 2010 at 11:04 am
Yeah Tony, Gay being exposed week after week is not just boring to watch, its painful. Are the fans the only ones who see this? If so, this team is headed in the wrong direction. I say shake things up a bit! Start Keenan Lewis over McFadden and have B-mac take over for Gay(Nickel). Then, cut Jeff Reed and make the statement that this underachieving will not be tolerated. If the O-line wasnt in shambles, I say cut Essex as well. Hell, cut him anyway! Then give Mendenhall his carries, spell him with Redman and on 3rd down try Dwyer once in a while. The team needs a shake-up! After this performance, I need to see heads roll! I know, “thats not the Steeler way”. Guess what, after last night, the “Steeler way” is NOT effective! How can Lewis/Butler not be an upgrade from Gay/McFadden? It cant be worse. Seriously, QB are playing catch and this secondary is helpless. All I have to say is a Rookie (McCoy) in his 1st start in the NFL, at Heinz field, had an effective passing day. Brees,Brady,Manning,Palmer,Schaub,Flacco,Rivers will KILL them! Hell… Ryan Fitzpatrick is capable of putting up BIG numbers on this secondary. Is there 1 game left on the schedule that you are comfortable with? The Steelers will win a few of these but overall, in a copycat league, last night was a bad omen!
jarod
November 15, 2010 at 4:56 pm
The Tony, Whiel I admit you’re pretty injury plagued (excuse) Rob Gronkowski is not a back-up TE. the Pats have, not including last week’s Browns Debacle, been running a 2 TE, 2 RB, 1 RB formation for most of the season. Gronk and Aaron Hernandez have been the primary TE’s on the field while Alge rotates in to essentially become a 6th Lineman on Rushing plays and to clear LB’s out of the flats when Welker is involved… all to great success. Gronk had some dropped passes and that Fumble in the red zone last night.. But he has made some spectacular plays over the course of the past 9 games, and has had similar TD receptions against much better, healthier backfields… Hernandez and Gronk should both be in the running for Offensive Rookie MVP honors… just check out the production.
Jeff shold absolutley go fuck himself because he has absolutley nothing to say after the ravens performance this week… Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a point though…
See you all in the Post Season… At Gillette… In January…
jarod
November 15, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Sorry Meant 2TE 2WR 1 RB
The Tony
November 15, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Thanks Jarod, you’re right. However seeing William Gay get beat multiple times is painful, especially when it is against a rookie tightend. I pray that we don’t have to go through New England in the playoffs!
Jeff
November 15, 2010 at 11:09 pm
First of all, all of you go fuck yourselves. Kudos to your well thought out responses, but you yinzes or whatever the fuck you call yourselves, are a bunch of knuckle dragging missing link dumbasses.
The Tony
November 16, 2010 at 9:45 am
Why do Ravens fans like to talk shit on Steelers sites, especially after a loss? BTW besides the Inner Harbor, Baltimore maybe one of the worst cities in America, don’t try to refute that, you know it’s true. Even still the Harbor is still pretty lame.
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