One week after being embarrassed at home by Tom Brady – again – the Steelers had their gut check of the season Sunday, and answered it with a complete beating of the Raiders at home 35-3.
The Steelers trailed 3-0, but came back after a slow start and ran all over the Raiders. They scored 21 points in the second quarter, controlling the quarter in making life tough for Raiders QB Jason Campbell.
The defense allowed in four second quarter possessions just 33 Oakland yards, in making them punt twice, forced a fumble and then end the half.
The Steelers offense came to life after two three and outs, as they had drives of 85, 56, and 35 yards in scoring three touchdowns to lead 21-3 at the break. Ben Roethlisberger threw a TD to Emmanuel Sanders, ran one in, and Ranshard Mendenhall ran in a 5-yard TD to give the Steelers a 7-3 lead.
The game was marred by some of the worst officiating seen in years in the league. Ike Taylor had a pick 6 taken away in the second half by an awful call of a personal foul on James Harrison, and overall the refs threw 14 accepted flags on the Steelers for 163 yards.
No matter what though, the Steelers D was as good as it’s been all season, and the offense was much more in sync after a couple early stumbles.
Roethlisberger was 18-for-29 for 275 yards, three touchdowns and a QB rating of 127.8. Mike Wallace had three grabs for 116 yards with a long 52-yard touchdown that made it 28-3 in the third quarter. Issac Redman scored his first TD as a pro late in the fourth quarter when he took a screen pass in from 16 yards out to make it 35-3 with 1:16 left.
The defense crushed the Raiders run game, which came in red hot. Darren McFadden was held to 14 yards on 10 carries, and Campbell was removed after being beat on a good portion of the day. He ended 7-for-19 for 70 yards with a pick, and was sacked four times for minus 32 yards.
The Raiders were held to 182 yards of offense, while the Steelers put up 431. The D also held Oakland to 2 for 13 on third downs, while the Steelers were 50% at 7 for 14.
The black and gold are now 7-3, and next week they travel to upstate New York where they take on the Bills, who were losing at half 31-14 in Cincinnati, but won 49-31 to improve to 2-8.
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DR
November 21, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Seeing Seymour lose it was nuts, wonder what Ben said to him: http://cosbysweaters.com/2010/11/21/richard-seymour-punches-ben-roethlisberger-gets-ejected/
mike
November 21, 2010 at 4:41 pm
I am as surprised by this outcome as i would be to see a donkey doing calculus.
DrGeorge
November 21, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Just what the doctor ordered. LeBeau made adjustments and the defense played more aggressively and got more pressure on the QB than it had all year, aided by the slow delivery of Raider’s QB Cambell (his replacement, Gradkowski, delivers quicker and looked better, but the D corraled him too). After a series of 3 and outs to start the game, Arians finally began running the ball, and lo and behold, the offense came to life in the air as well — ain’t balance wonderful. Then Ben played within himself, throwing to his short receivers, and a more disciplined approach paid big dividends. All in all, a feisty response to lack week’s loss. Now if we can just get some O-linemen healthy and keep the ball rolling against the Bills.
Jay
November 21, 2010 at 6:14 pm
I hope there are some referees who absolutely got beaten to within inches of their lives by someone after that embarrassment of an officiated game…The league and its officials should be ashamed of themselves for doing this to its fans. Yes I am happy with the win and we looked good but I’m sick of the refs constantly taking over these games! Something has to be done…If you’re a ref, I’d stay indoors if I were you as physical assault seems appropriate!
mark
November 22, 2010 at 9:57 am
OK, I think I have settled down enough to post a few comments. First of all, the fans do NOT pay top dollar to watch the refs. Those flags on the field yesterday only give more ammunition to those of us who feel that Vegas has just as much input in games as the teams. I was feeling totally insulted by the fact that the NFL really believes it can fool us fans into thinking that their product is “on the level”. Really, 14 penalties for 163 yards, at home no less?The personnal foul calls were atrocious. Harrison made a text-book tackle on Campbell and was flagged for it? Clark hits a receiver in the back and gets called for a Personal foul? Woodley pulls up and shoves Campbell and get a Personal foul? Ike Taylor runs with a WR along the sidelines, turns to look for the ball, has the same right to the ball as the receiver, and gets called for interference because he reached for the ball? Penalties took 3 TD’s off the board yesterday,so does anyone else think the 8 point spread or the over was in jeopardy for the bettors? Stop insulting us with that! Another point, lets see if that imbecile Roger GOD-dell suspends that scum-bag Seymour for violating the personal conduct policy of his “righteous” NFL? If that punch that drew an ejection isnt a violation of conduct, then I am going to need medication and therapy! Lets see what the “All-powerful” one does with this. I say BIG fine and 2 games suspension. In truth, it will be just a fine. Sickening what is happening to the league. If the Steelers do NOT give me ample reason to watch, I am this close to turning my back on football. Its sad that I havent even talked about the game or the ass-whooping that happened. MAybe later in the day Ill post about what I saw in terms of play on the field and not what the refs saw.