Pittsburgh Narrowly Escapes Major Upset
Jerrell Jones
September 15, 2009
Filed under Sports, Uncategorized
It was a tough victory for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a lukewarm one, at that.
If it had not been for Jeff Reed’s 33-yard field goal with 4:32 left in OT, the Steelers would not have barely clinched their victory over the Tennessee Titans, 13-10.
The Steelers running game went nowhere as Willie Parker was held to 19 yards on 13 carries. It took “Big Ben” Roethlisberger to get the offense going as he connected to Hines Ward and Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes, for a combined 17 catches for 234 yards. Roethlisberger would go on to finish the night with 33 for 43 and 363 yards.
“The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t beat the Tennessee Titans, the Tennessee Titans beat the Tennessee Titans,” said former Steelers’ receiver Nate Washington. Steelers’ Jeff Reed was 2 for 2 on field goals and Titans’ Rob Bironas missed both of his field inside the 40 that could have won the game. “We had chances and opportunities, but missed a field goal, had a field blocked,” said Titans’ coach Jeff Fisher. “I believe we’ve got a good football team in that locker room and we’re going to bounce back.”
The Titans were up 10-7 on a Bironas 45-yard field goal. It didn’t take long for the Steelers to bounce back on Reed’s 32 yard field goal with 2:57 left in the 4th quarter. The game was extended into overtime and seemed like it would end on a tie until Reed unloaded the goods and delivered the late win in overtime.
Ben Roethlisberger is undefeated in season openers and the Steelers have won their last seven openers, which is the longest ongoing streak. Returning Super Bowl champions have won their season openers 10 consecutive seasons in a row.
