Steelers/NFL
Updated 10:00 p.m.
STEELERS 12 – RAMS 6
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense rose to the occasion, gutting out a 12-6 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday afternoon to improve to 2-1 on the season.
For the Steelers it wasn’t all excitement afterwards.
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger exited the game in the third quarter with a left knee injury as Roethlisberger was carted off to the locker room and left the stadium on crutches.
The franchise quarterback had an MRI tonight in Pittsburgh around 8:00 p.m. that revealed a grade 2 MCL sprain, no ligament damage, but the MRI also revealed a deep bruise that is significant as it will keep Roethlisberger sidelined for at least a month.
The official diagnosis is 4-6 weeks but it’s looked at as more of a six week injury than four at this point because of the bruise. The Steelers are planning for Roethlisberger to miss six weeks, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports.
Big Ben was 20-24 for 192 yards, leading the Steelers on one touchdown drive and threw a second quarter interception prior to being injured.
Head coach Mike Tomlin did not have a problem with the hit by Mark Barron. According to the rule with how Barron lunged into Roethlisberger’s leg, it was an illegal hit.
With Roethlisberger under center the Steelers offense moved the ball at will on their first two drives but the group stalled for much of the afternoon as the running game never got going.
Le’Veon Bell rushed for 62 yards on 19 carries. DeAngelo Williams rushed just once for two yards. Bell’s biggest impact was in the receiving game with 7 catches for 70 yards.
The Rams defense dominated the line of scrimmage in the second half.
Antonio Brown had 11 catches for 108 yards and was once again uncoverable. Brown, though, had little chemistry with Mike Vick and was not a factor once Ben went out.
Vick was 5-6 for 38 yards and sacked twice. He showed little grasp of the offense.
The Steelers defense in bend don’t break mode got their first interception of the season from Will Allen late in the 4th quarter. Allen and Lawrence Timmons each led the Steelers with 7 tackles.
The front-seven continues to trend up and Stephon Tuitt had his second consecutive encouraging start. Tuitt had 6 tackles, sack, 2 tackles for loss, 2 QB pressures and 1 QB hit.
