Lefty returns to golf course of infamous collapse
Ben Roethlisberger did a very Pittsburgh thing in his return to the lineup, riding the Steelers’ defense and running game to victory in East Rutherford, N.J.
Oh, Big Ben did plenty to help the cause.
Roethlisberger, who missed the final 14 games last season after elbow surgery, threw for three touchdowns in a 26-16 win over the New York Giants at an empty MetLife Stadium on Monday night.
The keys, though, were several defensive plays and the running of backup Bennie Snell, who rushed for 113 yards on 19 carries — his first 100-yard performance in his second NFL season.
The defense, while not quite on the level of the famed Steel Curtain, was plenty stingy and physical.
It not only held Saquon Barkley to 6 yards on 15 carries, it also swarmed him in the backfield nearly all night.
Three Steelers stars got them their first touchdown.
All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt made a clever interception at the New York 36. Roethlisberger beat a blitz with a perfect throw to JuJu Smith-Schuster for a 10-yard second-quarter score.
Chris Boswell’s extra point hit the upright, leaving them behind 10-9.
They got the lead with 7 seconds remaining in the half as Roethlisberger connected with James Washington, who dived into the end zone for a 13-yard score. Boswell made the PAT this time, and added a 36-yard field goal early in the final quarter.
That came following the night’s biggest play.
Even though the Pittsburgh defense broke down as the Giants marched 87 yards on 19 plays in just under nine minutes in the
third quarter, it still came up with a major stop. Bud Dupree pressured quarterback Daniel Jones as he rolled left from the 4 and deflected his pass. Edge rusher Cam Heyward practically made a fair catch in the end zone for the interception.
Roethlisberger then took Pittsburgh 62 yards for the field goal and a 19-10 lead. He hit SmithSchuster again for a 10yard touchdown and a 2610 lead before New York got a late TD.
COWBOYS LB VANDER ESCH TO HAVE SURGERY ON COLLARBONE >> Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is scheduled for surgery to repair his broken collarbone today. Vander Esch was injured in Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams and will miss six to eight weeks, multiple outlets reported.
Tight end Blake Jarwin is believed to have suffered a
torn ACL and is out for the season, according to multiple reports. Jarwin signed a four-year, $22 million contract in the offseason. JETS’ BELL OUT WITH HAMSTRING INJURY >> New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell could miss a few weeks after injuring his left hamstring in the team’s seasonopening loss at Buffalo.
Coach Adam Gase says Monday he doesn’t want to put a timetable on Bell’s return, but says it could take some time because it’s a soft-tissue injury.
Bell was injured on an incomplete pass late in the second quarter when Bills linebacker A.J. Klein was penalized for holding after he got tied up with Bell and sent the running back sprawling. Bell grabbed at the back of his left leg on the play before heading to the sideline.
LEAGUE REMINDS TEAMS TO FOLLOW RULES ON FACE COVERINGS >> The NFL reminded
team personnel on the sidelines about the COVID-19 requirements for wearing face coverings. There were several games Sunday in which team members other than players did not use them.
Troy Vincent, who oversees the league’s football operations, sent a memo to the 32 clubs on Monday saying “we must remain vigilant and disciplined in following the processes and protocols put in place by not only the league, union and clubs, but also by state and local governments.” REID LABELS LEAGUE SOCIAL JUSTICE EFFORT ‘HALFHEARTED’ >> Pro Bowl safety Eric Reid, who was among the first players to join quarterback Colin Kaepernick in taking a knee to protest police brutality, said NFL efforts to address social justice issues were “half-hearted at best.”
The opening weekend of the NFL season saw players stage pre-game protests from coast-to-coast taking a knee during the playing of the U.S. national anthem once again putting a spotlight on racism and inequality.
Reid chastised the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell in a Monday tweet after the league used a video of Kaepernick’s kneeling protest for “disingenuous” public relation purposes.
“What the @NFL is doing is half-hearted at best,” tweeted Reid, who signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2018 after being released by the 49ers. “@nflcommish has gotten comfortable saying he ‘was wrong’ as if his mere acknowledgement reconciles his admitted wrongdoing.”
“He hasn’t even called Colin to apologize, let alone reconcile, proving this is only PR for the current business climate.”
MRI CONFIRMS TORN ACHILLES FOR COLTS RB MACK >> An MRI confirmed that Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack sustained a torn Achilles tendon, and he will miss the rest of the season, NFL Network reported.
Mack, 24, was carted to the locker room during the first half of Sunday’s season-opening 27-20 loss to the Jaguars in Jacksonville. TITANS PLACE JACKSON ON IR BEFORE OPENER AT DENVER >> The Tennessee Titans have placed starting cornerback Adoree Jackson (knee) on injured reserve and replaced him by signing cornerback Tye Smith to the active roster from the practice squad.
The Titans made the moves Monday hours before their season opener at Denver.
Jackson will be eligible to come off injured reserve in three weeks, the day after the Titans’ fourth game of the season on Oct. 4 against Pittsburgh.