Steelers even record with win over Falcons

Pittsburgh Blitz  (AP)

It was a game the Steelers had to win after the heart breaking loss to the Ravens to open the season. Questions were mounting as to the off season make over and if the coaches made the right decisions to get younger in many areas of the roster. The secondary, D-line and LB’s got a make over as did the O-line and WR’s corps but would it work, would it help the Steelers get better after finishing 4-12 last season?

Many of those questions have been answered with this win, as the Steelers found a way to win late verse a solid Atlanta Falcons team that played very hard. Many of the young guys have found a roll on the team and many of them helped make the win possible by making big plays during key situations in the game.

The Steelers game plan coming into this one was to run the ball until the wheels fell off. After the Falcons allowed 350+ yards on the ground week 1 it had to be the plan. The problem was Atlanta was ready for the run and held the Steelers in check early, forcing them to go to the pass game.

The Falcons would score first as C.Lofton intercepted Ben Roethlisbergers first pass of the game and returned it for a touchdown. They would add a field goal later in the quarter to make it 10-0 before the Steelers found their groove.

Down by 10, Big Ben would find rookie FB Eric Pollard, on a quick hitter and Pollard would take it 69 yards for the score and his first touchdown as a professional. The half would end with the score 10-7 and the Steelers going to the locker room looking to make some much needed adjustments.

The second half would open with another Pollard touchdown, this time on a 3 yard run up the middle and the Steelers were on top for the first time of the game, 14-10. Atlanta would not trail long though as HB M. Turner would turn a screen pass into a 59 yard TD and the Falcons were back on top 17-14 just that fast.

Both teams would go back and forth the rest of the quarter unable to score. It would not be until late in the 4th quarter that Steelers rookie CB Juran Riley would put the nail in the coffen as he grabbed his second interception of the game and turned it into a pick six with a 28 yard run back to put his team ahead 21-17, which would be the final score of the game.

“Last year our secondary was a liability, this time around they have been a strength thus far on the season. Our first game we had 4 interceptions and our young DB’s Joe Bennett and Keenan Lewis stepped up big, this time around it was Riley getting his first picks of the season, the second one being the game changer. I am proud of our younger players and how they have stepped up so far this season.” said coach Mike Tomlin after the game.

Up next for the Steelers is a rematch with the Baltimore Ravens. After their week 1 loss to them, they will be looking for some revenge this time around. A late fumble was the difference in that game and the Steelers will need to play much better on offense this time around if they wish to find a way to win.

Part of that will be finding ways to get newly aquired WR Chaz Schilens involved in the game. During his first game as a Steeler he only had one ball thrown his way but it was on a crutial 3rd down that his catch helped convert. Look for Schilens to become more of a factor as he and Roethlisberger get better aquainted over the stretch of the season.