Pittsburgh Pastes Packers

The Pittsburgh Steelers scored on the decisive 86 yard drive as time expired to surpass the Green Bay Packers 37-36 at Heinz Field Sunday. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger delivered the game-winning pass to rookie receiver, Mike Wallace to tie the game. Jeff Reed booted the extra point to snap the Steelers’ five game losing streak, allowing Pittsburgh’s playoff chances to stay alive another week. The Steelers avoided tying their longest losing streak in 40 years with the one point victory. Roethlisberger set a franchise record with 503 passing yards. Big Ben became the first Steelers quarterback to top 500 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Y.A. Tittle and Warren Moon are the only other two NFL passers to throw for at least as many yards with three touchdowns and no picks.
The Steelers carried a ten point lead into the fourth quarter before a scoring surge began. The game’s final fifteen minutes featured four touchdowns and a pair of field goals as the scoreboard got plenty of exercise. Packers’ tight end, Jermichael Finley, began the point pasting with an 11 yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay’s fifth year signal caller put up a three touchdown day to match Roethlisberger. Rodgers threw for 383 yards without a pick. His pass to Finley with 13 1/2 minutes left in the game cut the Steeler lead to three. Reed gave Pittsburgh their points back with a 34 yard field goal. The 9-5 Packers took their first lead of the day on the ensuing Green Bay possession. Rodgers fired to Finley twice before hitting Jordy Nelson for 27 yards and a Green Bay first down. Running back, Ryan Grant, took over from there. Grant pounded 24 yards, squirting into the end zone to squeeze out 28-27 Packer advantage.
Reed drilled his third field goal of the second half to put the Steelers up by two, but his onside kick with four minutes remaining went the Packers’ way. Pittsburgh’s Ike Taylor was charged with a penalty after touching the ball before it had gone the required ten yards. Green Bay took full advantage, scoring on a 24 yard touchdown toss from Rodgers to James Jones. The Packers successfully executed the two-point conversion to go ahead of the ailing home team, 36-30. With just two minutes to work with, Roethlisberger went with the player who started the scoring for Pittsburgh. The Steelers were helped on their desperation final drive by some big Green Bay penalties. Wallace scored on the Steelers’ first and final plays. His 60 yard reception on a one-play Pittsburgh drive opened the first quarter and provided the 7-0 lead. Roethlisberger shipped the ball to Wallace from 19 yards out with zero second left on the clock. Wallace tiptoed in bounds on the 3rd-and-10 play in what brought back memories of Santonio Holmes’ game-winning haul ten months ago in Superbowl XLIII. The rookie finished with 79 yards and two touchdowns. It was the first two-touchdown game of his young career.
Hines Ward and Heath Miller had seven catches a piece and a combined 244 yards as the Steelers improved to 7-7. LeMarr Woodley was sterling in a four tackle effort on defense. Roethlisberger polished off his fifth 300 yard passing attack of the season. The game was practically devoid of running plays. Former Illinois running back, Rashard Mendenhall, rushed for 38 yards, but scored in the opening quarter on a two yard run. It was Pittsburgh’s only touchdown from the backfield. Mendenhall’s bigger contributions came as Roethlisberger’s receiver. Grant scrambled for 37 yards in the near 900 yard passing contest. The Packers were piloted by wideout, Greg Jennings’ 118 yards. Jennings scored in the first quarter on an 88 yard drive that lasted three plays for Green Bay. He gouged the once-dominant, stingy, ruthless and ferocious Pittsburgh defense with an 83 yard touchdown from Rodgers. Green Bay could have secured a playoff spot with a win Sunday. They came close to defeating Pittsburgh at home for the first time since the 1970 season. The Steelers joined five teams in the hunt for last AFC wildcard spot.

Parting Points: How lovely of Mark Sanchez to put up a hat trick of interceptions in yesterday’s Jets loss!

A ginormous (I know it’s not really a word) shout-out to my father. Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you.