Roethlisberger’s two TDS help Steelers top Broncos
PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers silenced the noise. At least for a week.
Funny how having something resembling a running game for the first time in a long time will do that.
Riding an offensive balance nonexistent for most of the past two years, the Steelers held off Denver 27-19 on Sunday to snap a three-game losing streak.
Rookie Najee Harris ran for a career-best 122 yards and a touchdown for Pittsburgh (2-3) before cramping in his calves sidelined him while a late rally by Denver fell short.
The Broncos (3-2) trailed by 18 in the fourth quarter before two Teddy Bridgewater touchdown passes brought them within striking distance. Bridgewater’s fourth-down heave with 11 seconds left was intercepted by cornerback James Pierre, allowing the Steelers to exhale. For a minute, anyway.
Asked if the victory will quiet withering criticism he’s endured over the last month, Roethlisberger just smiled.
“Probably not,” he said.
“But we won the game, and that’s all that matters.”
And won in a way they’re probably going to need to keep pace in the highly competitive AFC North. With Harris churning through holes that didn’t exist over the first four games, the Steelers didn’t have to rely exclusively on their 39-year-old quarterback to make something happen.
That was kind of the plan all along and got lost amid a difficult first month. The Steelers dropped three of four behind a retooled offensive line that at times looked overmatched.
Not so much against the Broncos. The Steelers gave up one sack and kept Denver star linebacker Von Miller in check while running the ball 35 times and passing just 25, the kind of ratio Roethlisberger is more than happy to live with.
Bridgewater completed 24 of 38 passes for 288 yards with a pair of scores, including a 39-yard rainbow to wide receiver Courtland Sutton that drew Denver within 24-19. Bridgewater then drove Denver to the Pittsburgh 3 in the final seconds before Pierre’s interception ended the threat.