The Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Cincinatti Bengals 13-10 on Sunday to drop their record to 7-8 on the season. Below are the players that I thought had winning and losing performances in the game. The coaching staff was way too easy and a given here, so spare me those comments. Feel free to add your other choices in the comments below.
Winners:
Cortez Allen – Two interceptions and a forced fumble is more than enough to land the Steelers second-year cornerback on this list. Sure, he gave up some catches to Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green, but he kept him out of the end zone and registered seven combined tackles and three passes defensed. A coming out game? Let\’s hope so.
Lawrence Timmons – Timmons was all over the place in this game and recorded two of the six sacks and a couple of quarterback hurries to go along with his 10 total tackles. This game remind me of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles earlier in the season.
Troy Polamalu – That looked like the Polamalu we all know and love on Sunday. His timing on his lone sack was vintage him and only him. He also showed burst in the secondary over the top and recorded two pass breakups to go along with 8 total tackles.
Keenan Lewis – That was a gutsy performance by Lewis on Sunday, who played the game on one leg. He tallied 6 total tackles and 2 defensed passes and needs to be commended for his effort. He promised a big season and delivered one.
Losers:
Ben Roethlisberger – Roethlisberger picked a big time to deliver his worst game of the season. He was off target all day with his throws and forced several others. The two interceptions were killers and he looked more like Andy Dalton than Dalton did. a 50% completion rate is not going to get it.
Greg Warren – Warren picked a hell of a time to deliver the worst snap perhaps of his career and it resulted in a missed chipped shot by Shaun Suisham.
David DeCastro – DeCastro gave up at least two sacks and a few pressures as he finally got a chance to meet Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins, who recorded 2.5 sacks, 6 total tackles and a forced fumble. He will learn from this game and be better for it. Keep in mind that this was just his second NFL game.
LaMarr Woodley – Two first half tackles, with one being an assist at that was it. Woodley disappeared for a second game in a row in the second half.
