Just when the Pittsburgh Steelers thought they may have been over the “injury hump,” the “bug” bit them once again.
With Ben Roethlisberger seeming to shake off the rust from the Steelers loss to the Bengals the week before. Roethlisberger left Sunday’s game early in the fourth quarter with a left foot injury but the Steelers eventually came back to beat the Raiders 38-35 with Steelers kicker Chris Boswell kicking a 16 yard field goal just as time expired.
Antonio Brown and DeAngelo Williams set up the game winning kick. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin had this to say about Antonio Brown. “He’s a guy who always wants to be the reason that we’re successful. He’s a competitor, and more importantly, than that, he’s a hard and detailed worker. That does football justice when a guy works that way he works gets an opportunity to deliver for you in the manner in which he was he was able to do today.”
The Steelers defense was a very complex and layered defense, often appearing to bi-polar, maybe even a bit schizophrenic, giving up 139 rushing yards and 301 passing yards to the visiting and very determined Raiders. If not for the 5 fumbles (3 lost) by the Raiders this game may have very well turned out differently. The Steelers defense was a times physical and aggressive but could generate very little pressure on the Raiders QB, Derek Carr.
Everyone it seems was worried about the Raiders “press coverage,” well everyone except Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Steelers backup QB Landry Jones. There was concern once again when Jones entered the game to replace Roethlisberger but unlike his last stint as a starter, everyone assumed that Jones should have at least gotten rid of the butterflies and been ready to perform, after all he (Jones) has been a part of Steelers Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley’s system for 3 years and counting.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin said as much. “That’s what we expect, [of Landry Jones]. Again much like DeAngelo, it’s not the first time we have called on him this year. He’s shown big play-making abilities in those moments in the past. It’s reasonable to expect him to deliver again. Not that we don’t appreciate it, we do.”
Tomlin also praised Steeler running back DeAngelo Williams, who gouged the Raiders “press defense” for 170 rushing yards and was a huge reason that the Black and Gold came away with the victory. Williams was first called upon to replace Steelers running back LeVeon Bell during the first two games of 2015 whenBell was suspended for violating the NFL’s illegal substance policy, now replacing Bell as the result of a season ending knee injury.
“He was Deangelo that’s why we acquired him back in the spring.” Tomlin said. “That was our level of expectation and his as well. He’s delivered for us time and time again.” With key multiple players’ being injured and/or suspended 2015 may end up being a banner coaching year for Mike Tomlin.
Tomlin also reached a milestone the Steelers the Raiders. He is only the 3rd Steelers Head Coach, following only Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher to win 50 home games during the regular season. It may be a bit premature but if the Steelers advance to and go deep into the 2015 NFL post season, Mike Tomlin should be a lock for NFL Coach of the Year.
Aubrey Bruce can be reached at: abruce@newpittsburghcourier.com or 412.583.6741 he is also a contributing columnist for urbanmediatoday.com
Follow him on Twittter@ultrascribe
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