Okay, no more predictions for me here. I could not have been further from the reality of the opener. It was a heart stopper but Ben pulled it out. Kevin Gorman of the Trib sums it up.
“By Kevin Gorman, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Steelers tied the Titans on a 32-yard Jeff Reed field goal in the fourth quarter.For nearly 28 minutes of tonight’s NFL season opener, the Steelers and Tennessee Titans played to a draw. The final two minutes provided a frenetic finish to the first half at Heinz Field.
Titans kicker Rob Bironas hit on a 45-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to give the Titans a 10-7 lead.
The game was tied at 7-7 at halftime.
Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes — who teamed for the winning touchdown play against the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII — connected again for a 34-yard scoring pass with 1:22 remaining in the second quarter to cap a five-play, 79-yard drive and take a 7-0 lead.
The Titans, however, answered with a 57-yard pass play from Kerry Collins to rookie receiver Kenny Britt that set up a 12-yard touchdown pass to Justin Gage to tie the game at 7-7 with 48 seconds remaining in the half. Collins was 13 of 21 for 174 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Roethlisberger’s Hail Mary pass as time expired was intercepted at the goal line by cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who returned it 80 yards before being stopped by Steelers left tackle Max Starks.
Roethlisberger was 15 of 21 for 180 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, but the Steelers have rushed for only 12 yards on 10 attempts.
The Titans twice missed on field-goal attempts. Rob Bironas was wide right on a 37-yard attempt at 6:48 of the first quarter, and Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith blocked a 31-yard attempt with 2:14 remaining in the half.
Steelers safety Troy Polamalu made a spectacular one-handed interception at the Titans’ 5 with 1:38 left in the first quarter, but Roethlisberger had a pass picked off by Titans safety Vincent Fuller on the ensuing possession. Polamalu also had a team-high six tackles but was called for three penalties — sandwiching personal-foul flags for unnecessary roughness and a facemask around a pass interference call — before leaving the game with a left knee injury. His return is questionable.”
Click here for Jeff’s article at the Trib
Good after noon to everyone, Last night game was a good opener, steelers and titans 13-10
But we can’t play the way we did last night this season. We must have a balance in our game plan, in passing, running, special teams. We are much better than we played last night, the steelers are a runn’em over offense not just passing so we must remember that, and get back to what we do best and better than everyone else. Our running game is known all over the league because other teams fear It and know they can’t stop it, So lets not disappoint them……
I agree John. It’s been a rough couple of weeks. It’s a little humbling. After spending quite a bit of bragging time at work and with friends about the Steelers and the Penguins I have had to eat crow lately. At least we’re coming back home. We always do well in prime time games so we have this one.