Rashard Mendenhall's overtime TD lifts Steelers over Falcons
The Pittsburgh Steelers will take a win any way they can get it without having their starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the lineup as he serves a four-game suspension. While the Steelers are missing their offensive leader, they do, however; still have their dominant defence and potent running-game, and that was enough to edge the Falcons 15-9 at Heinz field on Sunday.
Pittsburgh’s kicker Jeff Reed had a chance to win the game with 39 seconds left but failed to connect on a 40-yard attempt that sailed wide right. Reed was responsible for all of his team’s points at the end of regulation, connecting three field goals from 52, 36 and 34 yards.
This was the third straight game between these two teams where the score is tied after four quarters and is decided in overtime. Atlanta won the coin toss, but could not get their offence in gear and were forced to punt the the ball to the Steelers. It didn’t take Pittsburgh very long to end the game as running-back Rashard Mendenhall got in the end zone on his team’s first possession in extra time.
"In the run game, you've got to be patient," said Mendenhall, who darted through defenders and was in the open field virtually untouched on his 50-yard game-winning touchdown. "You wait all day for something like that to open up. The run game, you've got to stick with it and stick with it."
The Falcons had a pretty good chance to take the lead late in the game, but Matt Ryan threw a costly interception that Troy Polamalu read perfectly with just under two minutes left on the clock.
"I don't know what the quarterback was thinking, but when you see No. 43 (Polamalu), don't throw it his way," linebacker James Farrior said of the interception that put an end to the Falcons scoring drive late in the game. "He's the best player I've ever played with."
Steelers’ receiver Hines Ward had himself quite a day and was solid target for quarterback Dennis Dixon cracking the century mark for the 26th time in his career.
"I'm just happy to have someone like Hines Ward and the savvy vets to calm me down,” said Dixon who finished 18 of 26 for 236 yards with an interception.
Ryan, who struggled last season, was expecting a better effort from his offence. But Ryan and Atlanta’s pre-season woes carried over in their season opener and were unable to score a touchdown. Ryan completed 27 of 44 for 252 yards and will need help from his running game next week if the Falcons want to keep pace with New Orleans in the AFC South.
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