Steelers/NFL
Steelers off to Kansas City with thumping of Dolphins
The Most Dangerous team in the AFC?
We’re about to find out next Sunday in Kansas City where the Steelers have opened as a 2.5 point favorite.
The Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business and more in a 30-12 win over the Miami Dolphins.
The rest of the AFC has to be on notice.
This one was over minutes into game on touchdowns from Antonio Brown, 50 and 62 yards, as the Steelers roared to a 14-0 lead.
The Steelers produced touchdowns on their first three drives:
5 plays – 85 yards | Antonio Brown 50 yard touchdown reception
6 plays – 90 yards | Antonio Brown 62 yard touchdown reception
10 plays – 83 yards | Le’Veon Bell 1 yard touchdown run
Pittsburgh exploited a depleted Dolphins secondary from the get-go with crossing routes and quick screens.
On the Steelers opening drive, prior to Antonio Brown taking a 50 yard screen pass to the house, Roethlisberger dumped a pass off to Eli Rogers on a 3rd and 5 that went for 19 yards.
The Steelers ability to turn passes barely across the line of scrimmage into 15+ yard plays was a major part of their success.
Roethlisberger took what the Dolphins gave him all game in going 13/18 for 197 yards with 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and a 105 quarterback rating.
The notion coming in was the 30th ranking Dolphins defense wouldn’t have a prayer in stopping Le’Veon Bell and that played out.
Bell gained 11 yards on his first carry of the game and cruised to a Steelers franchise record in rushing for 167 yards on his first 29 carries.
A contrast from the previous meeting, Pittsburgh dominated the line of scrimmage so overwhelmingly, to go up 20-3, Pittsburgh rushed the ball 10 times behind Le’Veon Bell and passed 0 times on the scoring drive.
No Steeler receiver had more than 21 yards receiving other than Antonio Brown. Brown had 5 catches for 124 yards and touchdown catches of 50 and 62 yards. Brown had over 100 yards after the catch.
The Steelers offense proved on Sunday when this group is clicking on all cylinders, they are near unstoppable. The question now is whether they can do it on the road for two games to reach the Super Bowl.
James Harrison, Steelers D shines
Anytime the Dolphins offense was pressing to get back into the game, the Steelers defense produced a turnover, starting with a James Harrison sack-fumble at the Steelers 17 yard line late in the first half.
Starting with the Harrison forced turnover, the Dolphins would turn the ball over on three straight drives.
The Steelers defense changed for good this season when Mike Tomlin stepped in and made Harrison a full-time starter after defensive coordinator was so reliant on playing Jarvis Jones.
The 38 year old Harrison had a team-high 7 tackles in the first half and finished the game with 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks.
Other Standouts on D
*Lawrence Timmons | Team-high 14 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 TFL
*Ryan Shazier | 6 Tackles, Interception
*Bud Dupree | 6 Tackles, 0.5 sacks, 4 Qb pressures
The edge play from Harrison and Bud Dupree was a major factor in the win.
After gashing the Steelers for over 200 yards in a week 6 meeting, Jay Ajayi was held to 33 yards on 16 yards. No “lightning strike” in this one.
