In what most figured would be an easy victory for the then high flying 4-1 Arizona Cardinals, especially after the Steelers second starting quarterback went down with an injury, actually may have saved Pittsburgh season.
Landry Jones had not played in three years and was so unimpressive during the preseason the Steelers went outside to pick up veteran Michael Vick when both starter Ben Roethlisberger, and second stringer Bruce Gradkowski were knocked out with an injury.
But after being forced into action against the Cardinals when Vick injured his leg, Jones threw two touchdowns on 8 of 12 for 168 yards in the second half as he led the Steelers to a 25-13 win over the Cardinals. The win not only pulled their record up to 4-2, but revived the passing game. Martavis Bryant had 6 catches for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Despite winning two games for the Steelers, Vick was struggling trying to learn the offense which made the offense one dimensional while taking Antonio Brown almost totally out of the game. Where as Jones, who has been with the team for three years, knows the plays and the players.
Jones will start next week even though some are saying that Roethlisberger will be ready. He earned it, plus the Steelers want to see just how good this kid is, after overlooking him all season.
“I just can’t believe I got in the game,” Jones said. “I’m still kind of reeling from it.”
“He played very well for a young guy to come in in that situation,” Arizona coach Bruce Arians said. “He won the football game.”
“Landry was like Ben’s little brother out there,” Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell said. “He was out there making checks and everything and it brought us back like ‘Dang, Landry really got this.’ After we scored the first touchdown, it was like a confidence booster.”
The Cardinals dominated the Steelers in the first half in every aspect of the game except the score. They only led 10-3 after the first half and they paid for it dearly in the second half when the offense caught up with the defense.
The defense played another outstanding game.
This Sunday the Steelers face the 1-5 struggling Kansas City Chiefs, who lost to the Minnesota Vikings last week 16-10.
Alex Smith‘s 42-yard touchdown pass to Albert Wilson midway through the fourth quarter pulled the Chiefs within three points, but the Vikings (3-2) played well enough early to survive their ragged finish. They shut out the Chiefs for more than three quarters.
The Chiefs (1-5) netted 51 yards in the first half and were penalized for 50 yards, but they found a rhythm after the break with five receptions for 88 yards by tight end Travis Kelce.
The Chiefs at one time were considered to be an up and coming franchise but haven’t done anything this year on either side of the ball to show that they are a contender. But it’s teams like this, with nothing to lose that give the Steelers the most trouble.
Both Ryan Shazier and Jarvis Jones missed Sunday’s game, and it’s not sure if they will be available for this weekend’s game.
If Vick cannot play this week, then Roethlisberger may be activated as the second string quarterback, because the Steelers would be down to one quarterback.
The Chiefs wide receivers are: Jeremy Maclin and Albert Wilson, but their top receiver last week was tight end Travis Telce. The running back is Kmile Davis.
In other AFC North Division action: The Cincinnati Bengals remained undefeated (6-0) by beating the Buffalo Bills, 34-21, the Cleveland Browns (2-4) lost to the Denver Broncos in overtime, 26-23, and the Baltimore Ravens, (1-5) lost to the San Francisco 49ers 25-20
Despite all the Steelers offensive problems after the injury to Big Ben, they are still fourth in the league in points scored behind the Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots.
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