Hot topics: + The Steelers did not record a sack on the evening and looked to blitz fewer than 10 times the entire game, something the Redskins apparently weren’t prepared for, with Cousins looking especially lost early in the game.
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Steelers’ fans seemed to have some nerves going into the game. On his two punts, Berry averaged 45 yards, with his longest being a 61-yard punt.
The formational tool was meant to show Roethlisberger what coverage the Washington Redskins were throwing at the Steelers in what would end as a 38-16 Pittsburgh victory.
“Like I said, our faith is trusting coach (Joe) Barry, Coach Perry Fewell”. Throughout the game, not only I but the commentators often wondered the same. I think you go for it there. “Any time you can get those balls back, it’s huge”. That’s a 15-, 25-yard swing. I will second-guess that one.
Later in the second quarter, facing a similar situation at the Washington 34, the Steelers again passed on a field goal.
The Steelers’ offense will make a lot of opposing defenses look bad this year, so the Redskins can take some solace in that fact going forward. That one didn’t sit too well with Gruden, either.
“We just line up and play”, the quarterback said. “He played a really good football game for us”. The aggressive plan would have been to run DeAngelo Williams for the first down to keep the drive going.
Throughout the game, Norman stayed on his side of the field. 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.
Roethlisberger and head coach Mike Tomlin sensed a direct correlation between Williams doing as much as he had done _ 26 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns rushing and six catches for 28 yards receiving _ and the Steelers winning the game. Antonio Brown’s touchdown receptions, Ben Roethlisberger’s poise in the pocket or the physical dominance of the offensive line weren’t revelations. The two decided that the victor of the Week 1 game would get the rights to push their team on their daughter, and on Tuesday morning, baby Holland was decked out in black and gold with a Terrible Towel in hand.
Asked if he thought Cousins appeared tentative, Gruden replied: “a little bit”. Then you have issues with pick plays and all that stuff. “He just had a couple rough plays and a couple unbelievable throws and catches by Ben and Antonio, man. Hats off to them”.
Wheaton was out for the opener, but he should be good to go versus the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
The Redskins aren’t losing any confidence in Breeland, either, which Gruden reiterated on Tuesday. Yet Tomlin said he does not feel the need to address his players about the importance of keeping their cool this week either on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook – or the playing field.
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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. “.by some passes that I don’t know what corner could defend”.
