The scariest offense in all of football belongs to Big Ben and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hyde was the first to find the end zone with an 11-yard scamper in the first quarter – his first touchdown since week five last season – and Draughn followed suit from three yards out in the second quarter. We’ve got to get our running game going to take some pressure off the quarterback. “We’ve got guys who can make plays”. “My first catch, hit, everything felt great”.
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“We’re confident in that group”, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.
During Tuesday’s wrap-up press conference following Washington’s 38-16 loss to Pittsburgh, head coach Jay Gruden called Cousins a “work in progress”. At the time, the move seemed odd because in the only preseason game he played with them, he managed to produce a sack and looked like one of their best defensive lineman. Brown, an All-Pro for Pittsburgh, had a huge night (8 catches, 126 yards, 2 touchdowns) without Norman taking away his ability to make plays.
Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins threw two interceptions on a disappointing night for the team at home. The entire first half of the game his passes were low and behind his receivers, and at the start of the 3rd quarter his inaccuracies led to an interception.
Cousins stayed patient with that dink and dunk approach all throughout the first half of the game as he only threw deep once during the first 30 minutes of action and completed that throw to wide receiver DeSean Jackson for a gain of 33 yards. Starter Matt Jones carried only seven times for 24 yards. It ranked 29th in rushing yards allowed per play.
Brown beat Breeland for two touchdowns, including one on a fourth-and-1 play.
“We have to create more disruption”, Tomlin said. We left a lot of yards out there. He didn’t disappoint Monday night as he racked up 59 yards and one touchdown receiving in his debut. But the Steelers are also very good-good enough to run for 147 yards without their best running back.
Reed caught three passes for 39 yards on the Redskins’ opening drive and was a nonfactor with four catches for 25 yards the rest of the way. They are clearly on the same page at all times and quite frankly they play flawlessly together.
“They had momentum the early part of the game”, Tomlin sad.
The Steelers made both their fourth-down attempts and the Redskins failed at both.
Washington couldn’t stop the run at all.
There were all sorts of problems for Washington (0-1).
That said, the team still piled up more than 300 yards passing.
Linebackers: The linebackers had an outstanding night, specifically Ryan Shazier. Washington WR Pierre Garcon started his 100th career game. Doctson, the 22nd overall pick, played 12 of 58 snaps.
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With the game still in the balance, the Steelers relied repeatedly on Williams “by design”, QB Ben Roethlisberger insisted. Later in the half, he surpassed Dan Fouts (43,040) for the 12th-most passing yards in National Football League history.
