Here are my thoughts as the game progressed followed by the wrap-up.
1st Quarter
It never ceases to amaze me how many Steelers’ fans show up at opposing stadiums. The crowd in Tennessee looks great.
Excellent looking mustache sported by Landry Jones. And by excellent I mean horrible.
While I have no problem with wanting to establish the run, you don’t let Ben Roethlisberger throw once on the opening drive? C’mon.
Unbelievable kickoff by Shaun Suisham following his field goal. His placement couldn’t have been better.
Good for Dick LeBeau bringing the heat on the very first play. Result? Pick-six William Gay.
Just a horrendous performance following the 10-0 lead by the defense. No pressure, poor tackling. Ugh.
Red Zone woes are back. Not sure I liked the fade to Bell and then the fade to Bryant was OK but Ben has to make that throw more catchable.
2nd Quarter
Misdirection continues to haunt this defense. Excellent to Wright off action away by the Titans. Steelers were lucky to hold to a field goal.
Empty sets are bothering the Titans but Steelers can’t take advantage.
Twice in this quarter Roethlisberger could have thrown the ball away but didn’t and took sacks. This is what we live with though with Big Ben. There are many times where he makes great plays out of that.
No need for the timeout following short Bell run with under a minute to go. Can’t leave the Titans with any time…
Just a horrible decision by Roethlisberger and the Titans get the interception.
The time out taken by Tomlin give the Titans time and they take advantage of William Gay who gets burnt. 17-13 Titans at the half.
3rd Quarter
Steelers get a three and out to start the second half. Keisel very fired up.
Big return on the ensuing punt by AB but anther penalty ruins it.
Back to back sacks kill a drive. Pressure continues to come right up the middle and the Steelers have no answer.
Titans absolutely owning LeBeau and the defense.
Steelers make a journeyman tight end in Chase Coffman look like Tony Gonzalez.
Steelers trying to respond as quarter ends. Big night for Bell but it may be in vain.
4th Quarter
Great effort by Bell to stay parallel to the ground and get the ball to the goal line. Steelers trying to mount the comeback.
Steelers force a three and out. Poor punt and they have good field position.
Ben,Bell clicking on this drive.
Beautiful play-action and throw. Great route by AB for the go-ahead TD.
Another three and out. Defense getting it down when they need to.
Good confirmation of Bell incompletion. Never had control of it.
How about my co-writer Chris calling for the Steelers to ride Bell tonight? Well done!
Bell hit 200 yards rushing becoming just the fifth man to do so on Monday night football.
Game. Steelers win 27-24
This was a great team win but this team has issues. Make no mistake about it. The bye week comes at a good time. Players need to get healthy and they need to get on the same page.
Marc Uhlmann writes for and co-owns www.steelcityblitz.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteelDad and the website @SCBlitz. Check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/steelcityblitz and on Fancred.com. You can hear him weekly during the season on game day on the Trib-Live Radio Steelers Pre-Game
1 comment
Every D gets fooled by Mis-Direction that is a fact. Yes the OL had trouble with the blitz but honestly face the facts the OL is never going to be consistent enough to protect Ben form getting hit or sacked. The Deep ball didn’t worked based on the weather. Those passes floated and hung in the air and had no shot of being caught. A better run games is needed not a consistent one but a better one is needed. Look at the bright side people this team is 7-4 and yeah they should be at least 9-2 but they could have lost to the Colts and Ravens but they didn’t and this where they are at this point and with 5 games left 4 wins should be enough to either get the Division and a Home Playoff Game or a Wildcard Spot. Now with the Saints and Falcons it’s hard to say what kind of team they are. We know what Cincy and KC are so take that for what it’s worth.