Despite not having Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback and having other players out with injuries, the Steelers proved that they have enough depth to get the job done when called upon.
The Steelers outmatched the Rams in all three phases of the game as they beat St. Louis, 27-0, finishing 7-1 at Heinz Field on the season.
“Nobody wants to let this team down and for me, it was the same exact way,” said QB Charlie Batch. “When your number is called, now you have to perform. We just try to keep the ball rolling, whoever is in there.”
Batch, getting the start at quarterback in place of injured Ben Roethlisberger, managed the offense and threw for 208 yards on the day.
“Charlie is a veteran guy,” said head coach Mike Tomlin. “We won games with Charlie in the past and if need be, we’ll win games with Charlie in the future. We’re very comfortable with our depth at the quarterback position.”
Throughout the season, the Steelers maintained the philosophy that regardless who is in the game, every player will strive to step up and get the job done.
Early in the first quarter, Doug Legursky, who was filling in for injured center Maurkice Pouncey, left the game with a shoulder strain and was replaced by Trai Essex, who has now played every offensive line position this season.
“I particularly like the efforts of Trai Essex,” said Tomlin. “You talk about a guy that is our emergency or third center. Doug of course went down early in the game and I tip my hat to Trai.”
The Steelers rushed for a combined 28 times for 169 yards, while Rashard Mendenhall, Isaac Redman and John Clay each had rushing touchdowns.
“I was just trying to make plays,” said Mendenhall. “Every game is its own game.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the Steelers were able to hold the Rams scoreless, minimizing them to just 232 total yards.
“Any time you keep an NFL team off the board, that’s big, no matter what their record is,” said safety Ryan Clark. “We are excited that we got the ‘W’ in the way that we did.”
With the win, the Steelers improved to 11-4 on the season and remain in second place in the AFC North behind the Baltimore Ravens, also 11-4, who hold the tiebreaker after beating the Steelers twice in the season.
With one game remaining left in the season, in Cleveland next Sunday, the Steelers will finish at worst as the 5th seed in the AFC playoffs.
The Steelers could be the 2nd seed with a first round bye with a Ravens loss and a win in Cleveland or the 1st seed with a first round bye with a Ravens loss, a Patriots loss and a win in Cleveland.
Notes: Antonio Brown set a Steelers franchise record with 2,048 all-purpose yards in a season… Rams running back Steven Jackson rushed for 103 yards, the first 100 yard rusher against the Steelers at Heinz Field since Jaguars’ Fred Taylor rushed for 147 yards in 2007… Pittsburgh musician B.E. Taylor sang the National Anthem while astronaut Buzz Aldrin led the Terrible Towel twirl
Image Source – (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Questions, Comments, Suggestions? Contact Shawn at shawn@ovathletics.com
Discussion about this post