Luckily for Washington, they play in a division without a clear leader – Dallas showed its problems in Week 1, the Giants appear to be a prototypical 8-8 team, and the Eagles are starting a rookie quarterback.
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The Steelers subsequently drove down the field with a professional, methodical 13-play, 73-yard touchdown drive that took 7:13 off the clock.
However, that didn’t prevent quarterback Ben Roethlisberger from leading his team against Kirk Cousins’ Redskins team.
The Michigan State product is the 13th highest paid player in the National Football League – he makes half-a-million dollars less than Tom Brady – and Monday’s was a performance deserving of the $660,000 he made last season. Williams polished off the final 15 on a touchdown run around left end behind blocks by David DeCastro and Sammie Coates.
The Steelers led 24-9 after three quarters.
The fact of the matter is that Brown already has two seasons under his belt in which he has caught more than 128 passes, so that is not even impressive by his standards at this point, even though just two seasons ago it would have been the second-most receptions in a second in the history of the game. On their first three scoring drives, the Redskins had to settle for field goals. A balanced attack between runs by DeAngelo Williams and another pass from Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown for another Steelers score. That pushed the Steelers’ lead to 24-6. Washington drove inside the 15 before having to settle for a 31-yard Dustin Hopkins field goal.
The Steelers led 14-6 at halftime. This man was just punishing Redskins’ defenders all night long. In each game Cousins had some chances to make plays but didn’t come though. Turns out there was a third choice – go for it all. However, on fourth-and-6, safety Robert Golden stopped Thompson inches short after a reception at the Steelers’ 33 to thwart that threat.
Davis had four tackles, three solo, and he was not taken advantage of in the least by a fleet of accomplished Washington receivers.
The Steelers capped the drive when Roethlisberger’s pass intended for Coates on a slant deflected in the end zone to Rogers for a 3-yard touchdown with 27 seconds left in the half.
In contrast, the Redskins offense couldn’t get anything going all night. A 72 % pass completion rate for Roethlisberger and 69 % for Cousins. Rogers and Breeland reached for it, the ball tipped in the air, Breeland grabbed it and ran 26 yards to the Steelers’ 37.
Washington gained only 55 yards on the ground.
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The Steelers defense didn’t record a sack all night and infrequently got pressure on Cousins. Rogers caught six passes from Roethlisberger, accumulating 59 yards. He bulldozed through the Redskins defense with 143 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns.
