Turns out, there really is nothing wrong with the Steelers offense.
It just took them 10 games to show it, but what a show.
“Hopefully,” Ben Roethlisberger said, “this is kind of the start.”
If it is, they have plenty to look forward to after they pummeled the Tennessee Titans 40-17 Thursday night at Heinz Field to run their record to an AFC-best 8-2 pending New England’s outcome this weekend.
It is their best 10-game start under Mike Tomlin, best since they went 15-1 in 2004, Roethlisberger’s rookie season.
“It’s great to be in this clubhouse early for the weekend,’’ Tomlin said. “Hopefully, it’s a catalyst for us as we move forward.”
Roethlisberger threw four touchdown passes, three to Antonio Brown, and Chris Boswell kicked four field goals as the Steelers hit the 30-point mark for the first time this season. Their defense set up three of those field goals with interceptions by Mike Hilton, Coty Sensabaugh and Robert Golden. Sean Davis added a fourth late in the game. Cam Heyward had two of the Steelers’ five sacks.
It’s the first time since 1984 the Steelers defense has had at least four interceptions and five sacks in one game. Those four interceptions, all by defensive backs, came with half of their starting secondary out with injuries – cornerback Joe Haden and safety Mike Mitchell.
Brown, the NFL’s leading receiver, had 144 yards on 10 receptions. Roethlisberger completed 30 of 45 for 299 yards and no interceptions.
“It did feel great to show what we’re capable of and put up 40 points,’’ Brown said.
It comes on the heels of a 17-point second half at Indianapolis that pulled them from 14 points down to a 20-17 victory. Their fifth win in a row put them 3 ½ games ahead in what is becoming a runaway with the AFC North Division crown.
But this team has higher goals than another division crown. They’ve had their sights set on home playoff games since last spring practices and that goes with the No. 1 seed in the AFC that could be determined Dec. 17 when they play New England at Heinz Field.
“This is just one step in the journey . . . It’s only going to get bigger and bigger,’’ Brown said.
Brown did plenty of big things Thursday night as his offense put on the kind of display that has long been expected of them.
“Our goal was 30-plus today,’’ said Le’Veon Bell, who was limited to 12 carries for 46 yards but caught nine passes for 57. “We got it.”
That and more, ruining Titans defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau’s homecoming two years after he was forced out of that position with the Steelers.
“It shows how good our team can actually be,’’ Bell said. “We made a statement tonight.”
The Steelers scored the first two times they had the ball and held a 10-7 lead after one quarter.
After Roethlisberger’s 41-yard touchdown pass to Brown capped a lightning opening drive that traveled 75 yards in six plays, the Steelers offense bogged down a bit in the first half. Boswell kicked two field goals after short drives following interceptions and added a third on their final drive of the first half, which they led 16-7.
But after Rishard Matthews caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Mariota on the first play of the second half to close the count to 16-14, it was almost all Steelers the rest of the way.
“After that,’’ Bell said, “we didn’t look back. We were firing on all cylinders.”
Roethlisberger hit Brown with a 5-yard touchdown pass, and came back with two more of 1 yard to Jesse James and 10 to Brown, who made a typically incredible catch in the back corner of the end zone.
Special teams added another big play when T.J. Watt blocked a 48-yard field goal try by Ryan Succop early in the second quarter to preserve the Steelers’ 10-7 lead at the time.
“We didn’t even play our best ball in this game, that’s the scary thing about it,’’ Golden said.
Tomlin, a few weeks ago, talked about how his team did not have enough “splash plays.” Thursday night? “Lot of splash,’’ Heyward said.
“Guys made the necessary plays,’’ Tomlin said.
Want in-depth Steelers coverage all season long?
Support quality journalism. Subscribe today.
First Published: November 17, 2017, 2:17 a.m.
