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Steelers snatch lead in AFC North
Source: Agencies |
December 10, 2011, Saturday
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PITTSBURGH quarterback Ben Roethlisberger battled through the pain of an injured ankle to connect with Antonio Brown for a late touchdown and seal a 14-3 win over divisional rival Cleveland on Thursday.
The Steelers (10-3) have won eight of their last nine games to move into first place in the AFC North ahead of the Baltimore Ravens (9-3), who have swept Pittsburgh and hold the tiebreaker should the two teams finish the season with identical records.
Roethlisberger left the field after his left ankle was injured late in the first half following a sack, but returned after halftime to finish with 280 passing yards. "I thought my leg was broken, honestly," Roethlisberger told reporters. "It's one of the most painful things I ever felt."
Pittsburgh's William Gay made a crucial interception in the Steelers end zone to halt a Browns drive with three minutes remaining. Pittsburgh then sealed the game with a 79-yard catch and run by Brown.
"We thought we were going to win it. It's one of those things," said Cleveland linebacker Chris Gocong. "If four or five plays had turned out differently, we could've won this game."
Cleveland settled for a field goal on the opening drive of the game after a touchdown was overturned following a video review. Pittsburgh responded when Roethlisberger found Jerricho Cotchery for an 11-yard touchdown.
Early in the second quarter a Steelers drive stalled at the Cleveland 15-yard line when Hines Ward fumbled the ball, and a few minutes later Heath Miller fumbled on the Cleveland eight-yard line to end another drive.
Pittsburgh also failed to score despite four running attempts by Rashard Mendenhall from inside the Cleveland two-yard line and had to surrender the ball on downs early in the fourth quarter.
"If we cannot get in the end zone from the two-yard line, four shots running, then we deserve to potentially lose," said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.
The Steelers (10-3) have won eight of their last nine games to move into first place in the AFC North ahead of the Baltimore Ravens (9-3), who have swept Pittsburgh and hold the tiebreaker should the two teams finish the season with identical records.
Roethlisberger left the field after his left ankle was injured late in the first half following a sack, but returned after halftime to finish with 280 passing yards. "I thought my leg was broken, honestly," Roethlisberger told reporters. "It's one of the most painful things I ever felt."
Pittsburgh's William Gay made a crucial interception in the Steelers end zone to halt a Browns drive with three minutes remaining. Pittsburgh then sealed the game with a 79-yard catch and run by Brown.
"We thought we were going to win it. It's one of those things," said Cleveland linebacker Chris Gocong. "If four or five plays had turned out differently, we could've won this game."
Cleveland settled for a field goal on the opening drive of the game after a touchdown was overturned following a video review. Pittsburgh responded when Roethlisberger found Jerricho Cotchery for an 11-yard touchdown.
Early in the second quarter a Steelers drive stalled at the Cleveland 15-yard line when Hines Ward fumbled the ball, and a few minutes later Heath Miller fumbled on the Cleveland eight-yard line to end another drive.
Pittsburgh also failed to score despite four running attempts by Rashard Mendenhall from inside the Cleveland two-yard line and had to surrender the ball on downs early in the fourth quarter.
"If we cannot get in the end zone from the two-yard line, four shots running, then we deserve to potentially lose," said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.
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