CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
With the suspension of Ben Roethlisberger now complete the Steelers returned to full strength to face the Cleveland Browns. Ben did not disappoint throwing three touchdowns in the 28-10 win.
The Steelers improved to 4-1 Sunday, but their win was no all that lopsided for most of the game. They took a 7-3 lead deep into the third quarter. After being pushed back to their own four yard line Ben hooked up with Mike Wallace on a 50 yard bomb and Heath Miller for 36 yards on consecutive plays to helped to get the Steelers on track offensively in the game.
Hines Ward would eventual score after fighting off defenders a few plays later to extend the lead to 14-3.
Roethlisberger finished the day 16 of 27 for 257 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He would throw addition touchdown passes of 29 yards to Wallace and 14 yards to Miller.
Ben did not get off to a good start throwing a costly interception during their first drive.
Rashard Mendenhall was there to help easy Roethlisberger back into the game. Mendenhall ran for 84 yards today including a 2-yard touchdown run
What was surprising in the game was the positive fan atmosphere when Ben took the field. While the stadium was not without boos, the overall mood was positive.
Big Ben alleged incident of sexual assault in a Georgia nightclub along with a similar accusation in Vegas landed him with a six game suspension, which was cut to four before the season started.
However, there was much debate among the local media, as well as talk shows and forums, that perhaps it might be best for Ben to look elsewhere for the future.
However, a very contrite Big Ben arrived in training camp this year and has slowly won over many of his critics. And for the most part Steelers nation is ready to move on with him leading the team at quarterback. The humbled man now has his fans trust, but that trust comes with much hesitance and skepticism.
Meanwhile the Browns, now 1-5, were breaking in a new quarterback, rookie Colt McCoy. McCoy went 23 of 33 for 281 yards, but was sacked five times in the game. McCoy threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Ben Watson late in the game making it 18-10.
McCoy seemed fine under pressure, despite Steelers linebacker James Harrison dominating the game on that side of the ball. Harrison knocked out McCoys two biggest playmakers in wide receivers Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi. Both left the game with head injuries before halftime.
Without Cribbs to run the wildcat formation, the one that help upset Pittsburgh last December, the offense was much more predictable and easy to defend.
The Steelers have beaten the Browns for the 13th time in the past 14 meetings and moved into first place in the AFC north, after Baltimore lost to New England in overtime, 23-20.
The Steelers will head to Miami next Sunday to play the 3-2 Dolphins.
