Offense answers challenge
Roethlisberger’s halftime speech translates into three consecutive TDs
It took 10 games and reverting back to a successful formula, but the Steelers offense finally looked the way everyone, including the players, expected.
And the reason was simple: Put the ball in Ben Roethlisberger’s hands and let him attack.
And he did that superbly, especially at the start of the second half after giving a halftime talk to his teammates that was part pep talk, part scolding.
“Ben came in at halftime and gave us a talk to get it together and go out and perform,” said receiver Martavis Bryant. “Guys really bought into what he said at halftime and went out and made plays.”
Nobody performed better than Roethlisberger. He answered a 75-yard touchdown by the Tennessee Titans on the first play of the third quarter by completing 17 of 20 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns on thefirst three possessions to blow open a close game and produce their most points in the past 21 games.
And he did it the way the Steelers offense performs best — operating from the no-huddle and using the NFL’s leading receiver, Antonio Brown, who caught a season-high three of Roethlisberger’s four touchdown passes.
“It was a great feeling tonight,” said Brown, who had 10 catches on 13 targets for 144 yards — the fourth time this season he has had 10 or more catches in a game.
Guard David DeCastro said that’s the way the Steelers offense is supposed to look.
“Ben was out there calling plays. … There’s a lot of passes. … We didn’t do a great job keeping him clean, but give him a little you can see what he does with the weapons he has,” DeCastro said. “It was great to see that.”
Said Bryant, who had two catches for 30 yards: “That’s the way I want it to look. It looks great.”
Roethlisberger finished with 30 completions in 45 attempts — his most in a winning performance this season — for 299 yards, a season-high four touchdowns and a 115.0 rating, his second highest this season.
But it was the way he responded in the second half, after Marcus Mariota threw a 75-yard touchdown to receiver Rishard Matthews on the first play after halftime to cut the lead to 16-14, that was most impressive.
He was 7 of 9 for 61 yards on a 75-yard scoring drive that ended with a 5-yard touchdown to Brown. He was 7 of 8 for 66 yards on the second 75-yard scoring drive that ended with a 1-yard scoring toss to tight end Jesse James. And he completed all three pass attempts for 38 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown, on the third consecutive drive.
All told, Roethlisberger was 20 of 23 for 185 yards and three touchdowns in the second half.
Now that’s responding to a halftime pep talk.
“I don’t do it a lot, unless it feels necessary,” Roethlisberger said. “It doesn’t happen very often. I wanted to let them know it’s unacceptable the way we played in the first half.”
He included himself among the unacceptable performers. After completing 4 of his first 5 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, he completed just 3 of his next 9 attempts for only 13 yards. The Steelers wasted interceptions and long returns by nickel back Mike Hilton (26 yards) and cornerback Cody Sensabaugh (32 yards) by settling for field goals.
But that all changed in the second half, and in a hurry.
“It didn’t feel too much different to be honest,” DeCastro said. “I don’t want to sit here and underplay it, but it’s kind of what you expect. It’s about time.”
Even though the offense produced its most points in 21 games, dating to Week 4 last season against Kansas City (43), Roethlisberger thinks it can be better.
“Was it our best game? No,” he said. “Was it better? Yeah.”