1)The Good-QB Ben Roethlisberger helped stake the Steelers to a 27-3 lead at halftime, passing for 278 yards including a 35 yard touchdown pass to WR Antonio Brown. Ben, like the rest of the team, got bogged down in the 2nd half as Cleveland climbed back into the game to tie at 27. But, Ben being Ben, he led the Steelers on a 4th quarter drive that ended with Suisham's game-winning field goal. Ben was sacked 4 times and hit 4 more and finished with 365 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT & 100.7 passer rating. On that final drive though, who you gonna call? Big Ben!
2)The Bad-Sorry, this dubious distinction is going to the D. They allowed the Clowns to get back in the game by surrendering 24 points in the 2nd half. They also let rookie RB Terrence West run all over them for 100 yards on 16 carriers and another rookie RB, Isaiah Crowell, gash them for 2 TDs. Going no-huddle in the 2nd half, Cleveland proved, as Philly did in the preseason, that speed kills the Steelers D. The Steelers let opportunities slip through their hands many times with missed tackles and dropped interceptions. Unless the defense shows improvement, it looks like Ben and the offense are going to have to bail the D out many times this season.
3)The Ugly-Like this game before Suisham's game-winner, it's a tie. Penalties, as they have been during the Tomlin-era, were a killer, 11 of them for 96 yards. From OL Kelvin Beachum's holding penalty that negated a Le'Veon Bell touchdown early in the game, to the Antonio Brown unnecessary roughness penalty for kicking Cleveland's punter in the face, the Steelers almost penalized themselves out of the game. Just as bad as the sloppy, undisciplined play was the play of one man, CB Ike Taylor. He was as guilty as any for some of these infractions. The capper, though, was when Ike dropped a sure interception that hit him right in the breadbasket in the endzone. That set up Cleveland to score the tying touchdown. Ike complained in the offseason about how he was forced to take a paycut. The way his play has regressed, Ike is lucky he wasn't cut completely. Focus on cutting back on the penalties and take advantage of the opportunities when they're in your hands, Ike.
The Steelers do find themselves in first place in the AFC North following this nailbiter. The Clowns are in the cellar at 0-1. The Bungles beat the Baltimorons to go to 1-0, too. Enjoy this win and get back to the drawing board. There's still a lot of work to be done with the road trip to Baltimore for Thursday night's game. Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!
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