Cleveland spent a lot of money on its defense during the offseason to improve its defense, but couldn't stop the Steelers at the end of the game with everything on the line.
Back to the drawing board, boys.
© The wind at this game was as heavy as I've ever seen it. It took my breath away as I walked into the stadium. And it nearly swept the members of the armed services who were there for the pre-game flag festivities into Lake Erie, lifting them off the ground.
The Steelers were smart to give the ball to Cleveland when Pittsburgh won the coin toss. That allowed the Steelers to force the Browns to play into the wind.
It took Derek Anderson a while to figure that wind out.
Actually, he never really did, as it died down late in the second quarter only gusting into the 20 MPH range.
© I'd give Justin Hartwig a solid B in his handling of Shaun Rogers.
The Browns knew the Steelers were going to be running the ball and Rogers still wasn't that much of a factor.
© Ben Roethlisberger isn't getting sacked as much as previous years, but he does still take some vicious hits. Rogers nailed him in the third quarter – late in my opinion – with a shoulder than had the QB hurting.
You want to make the big bucks of an NFL quarterback, you've got to take the big hits.
But Roethlisberger was walking gingerly in the locker room following the game.
© Troy Polamalu's interception at the end of the first half was his second of the season in two games after not having one all of last season. It's also the kind of game-changing play the Steelers desperately needed from their Pro Bowl strong safety.
Polamalu was very active in this game, as he was last week against the Texans.
© Aaron Smith's two sack-game was his first since recording 2.5 sacks at Tampa Bay in 2002.
Didn't Troy have an interception last week?
ReplyDeleteAny word on Keisel's lowere leg injury?
ReplyDeleteThat hit in the 3Q was definitely late.
ReplyDelete@anonymous:
ReplyDeleteYeah, Troy had an INT last week.
It worries me that our QB could not even get through game 1 without a major injury. Oline..
ReplyDeleteThe hit on Ben by Rogers was totally late and he led with his helmet. Should have been a flag without a doubt... Especially after the flag on Woodley's hit. If someone were to show you video of both hits and asked witch one drew a flag, the answer would be overwhelmingly in favor of the shot on Ben. The refs had too many missed and poor calls last night. I didn't even mention the 'illegal contact' penalty on McFadden.
ReplyDeleteYeah he did. That was my mind working at 4 a.m.
ReplyDeleteKeisel is likely out for at least 2 months with a calf injury... Not good.
ReplyDeleteBefore the power went off, I saw Troy nearly leap the OG in a single bound at the snap. The OG just got his feet and flipped him, but that told me Troy is back.
ReplyDeleteCasey Hampton looks in Pro Bowl form. Tomlin was right to make him get him get in shape and lose weight.
Aaron Smith looks strong, too. His sack of Anderson at the end iced the win.
This game showed how big of an upgrade Hartwig is at center. The OL generally played well over all.
Cleveland was blitzing a ton and they did a good job keeping Ben upright.
Does this game confirm that Anthony Smith is an idiot?
ReplyDeleteKeisel's injury hurts, but they've got Orpheus Roye. Oh wait.
ReplyDeleteKelly,
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with regard to the roughing the passer penalties.
Harrison could have made contact as a continuation of momentum and gotten by ok. He drove through the guy and planted him though. He clearly didn't let up.
clearly a penalty in my mind. I'm ok with it since it rattles DA's cage a bit though.
Roger's hit was a cheap shot in my opinion but he did a good job of disguising it as a continuation of momentum. Funny how all that momentum went from Rogers' shoulder to Ben's injured shoulder eh?