The Steelers won by a score of 38-16.
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For the first few minutes of the game, the Redskins were in control. They kept them out of the end zone all but once. The Steelers caught a break as Roethlisberger had the ball stripped.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) celebrates his touchdown with running back DeAngelo Williams (34) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. On that front, Redskins fans want to see a crisp and efficient Kirk Cousins, utilizing DeSean Jackson and Jordan Reed, and a functional running game.
The Steelers erased an early 6-0 Washington lead, cruising to a 24-6 lead.
That closed the gap to 24-16, but the Steelers then closed the door.
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 had everything working, including a backbreaking 15-yard touchdown run as he split two defenders like a point guard. Instead, Pittsburgh went down the field to lead 7-6. They also had a total of 435 yards, 147 of which were rushing, while the remaining 288 were in the air.
Roethlisberger finished 27 of 37 for 300 yards, and a committee of players stepped up alongside Brown. That gave Pittsburgh the 7-6 lead in the first.
The Steelers were 2 for 2 on fourth downs and 9 for 14 on third downs.
The Redskins gashed the Steelers for occasional big plays, but ultimately it didn’t affect the outcome of Monday’s game. Turns out there was a third choice – go for it all.
The Steelers got off to a slow start offensively but the defense held the Redskins to a pair of first-quarter field goals. However, with an ineffective running game, zero passing touchdowns, and two interceptions, it was not a good night for Kirk Cousins. However, on fourth-and-6, safety Robert Golden stopped Thompson inches short after a reception at the Steelers’ 33 to thwart that threat.
On second-and-10, Roethlisberger fumbled the snap, picked the ball up and heaved it down the left sideline where Sammie Coates hauled it in for a 42-yard gain. If Kirk Cousins cannot preform in this offense, he cannot play quarterback in the NFL.
It’s easy to display that level of trust in players such as Roethlisberger and Brown.
On that second series, Rogers ran a hook on the left and Roethlisberger’s pass was a tad wide. Eli Rogers, who was an undrafted free agent, had one of the more entertaining touchdowns of Week 1, catching a ball that bounced off of his teammate’s hands and into Rogers’ face before he pulled it in for the score.
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Ben and Haley seemed exhausted with the lethargic nature of the offensive momentum, and chose to go for the jugular- a deep 29 yard pass on 4 down to Brown made the game 7-6. Not even close. But save for one drive, Cousins didn’t look particularly sharp. Rookie Javon Hargrave also got in at nose tackle. The defense was looking good.
