The Pittsburgh Steelers will have their home opener this afternoon at 1:00 PM Eastern. Since Ben Roethlisberger joined the team in 2004, the Steelers have a tremendous record in home openers at 13-3. Roethlisberger will look to continue stringing together good performances in week 2 and he will have to do so without two of the starters along his offensive line. Chukwuma Okorafor and rookie Kevin Dotson will be starting on the right side of the line today. Both will have their hands full at certain parts throughout the game going up against league veteran, Jurrell Casey. You also better believe that former Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak briefed the Broncos defensive line on the strengths and weaknesses of his former unit.
The Broncos are coming off a tough loss in week 1 against the Tennessee Titans. They will be starting 2nd year quarterback Drew Lock behind center – the 2nd sophomore quarterback in as many weeks that the Steelers defense will play against.
Steelers Inactive Players
-G David DeCastro
-QB Joshua Dobbs
-ILB Ulysees Gilbert III
-DL Carlos Davis
-TE Zach Gentry
Broncos Inactive Players
-ILB Mark Barron
-RB Phillip Lindsay
-DL McTelvin Agim
-G Netane Muti
-WR Tyrie Cleveland
-OLB Anthony Chickillo
-TE Albert Okwuegbunam
Rookie running back, Anthony McFarland Jr. will be on the active gameday roster for the first time in his young career. I am interested to see how they use him to avoid the Dri Archer conundrum – when he was on the field he got the ball and everyone knew it. Meanwhile, Ulysees Gilbert III is inactive for the second week in a row. Not the start that was expected for the 2nd year player.
Joe Haden getting warmed up:
Ben getting warmed up:
Minkah is locked in!
Heinz Field looks great, but has that eerie no-fan look. Beautiful day in Pittsburgh.
Steelers taking the field. Jaylen Samuels nearly rolled his ankle coming out.
Both teams have exited the field after warm-ups. Just a few minutes until the game!
Ben is here to stay:
The Pittsburgh Steelers take the field at home:
The Steelers won the coin toss and have elected to defer. Once again, the Steelers defense will start out the game. Boswell with a short kick, the tackle made by Chase Claypool at the 20 yard line.
First play of the drive, a 1st down pass to Courtland Sutton with Steven Nelson in coverage. And just like that, Melvin Gordon has as many yards (6) as Saquon Barkley did all of last week. On 3rd and 3, the pass goes incomplete but pass interference on Joe Haden brings up a fresh set of downs for the Broncos.
Devin Bush and Tyson Alualu in on the tackle for loss on first down for a loss of two. On 2nd down, two Steelers missed the sack. Heyward and Dupree couldn’t bring down Drew Lock on the run, he dumped the pass off – incomplete. This brings up 3rd and 12 for the Broncos. Could have been 3rd and 20 with the sack.
Devin Bush goes in on the quick blitz on 3rd down, he wasn’t able to get the sack, but Lock was forced to throw the ball earlier than he wanted to. Incomplete and the Broncos will punt. Diontae Johnson back to receive the punt.
Johnson fielded the punt at the 5 yard line and promptly ran into his teammate, Cam Sutton. He was able to salvage the play and got them back to about the 20 yard line. Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense are taking the field. James Conner is getting the start after an injury last night.
The Steelers attempt an end around to Diontae Johnson on 1st down. The ball security issues continue as he fumbled on the exchange. Thankfully, he recovered the ball, but for a big loss.
On 3rd and 10, Ben hits Juju along the left sideline, but they came up 2 yards short of the 1st down. The Steelers with a 3-and-out.
Two special teams snaps, two tackles for Chase Claypool. The rookie is out here to prove his value in more ways than one – something that was evident on tape at Notre Dame as well.
Melvin Gordon off the left tackle for a pickup of 7 on 1st down. Back to Gordon on the next two plays, for two big pickups. Back to back first downs and the Broncos are near the Redzone.
3rd and 7 on the 25 yard line. TJ Watt nearly misses the sack, but trips up Drew Lock. Bud Dupree shot into the backfield for the one-two punch and knocked the ball loose! Mike Hilton with the scoop, and the Steelers have the ball. Once again, the defense holding strong in the redzone.
Drew Lock came off the field with his throwing arm looking pretty limp. Possibly banged up on the strip sack.
One first down for the Steelers, a nice pickup by Eric Ebron. Nobody in coverage as he gets the first down.
Ben gets his first incompletion of the day to Diontae Johnson across the middle. The ball bounced right off Diontae’s hands. James Conner was able to pickup the first down the very next play dragging several tacklers along with him. Several yards after first contact.
Ben Roethlisberger tried to hit Diontae Johnson on a corner route, but Michael Ojemudia deflects the pass – nearly intercepted. The very next play, Juju Smith-Schuster with a nice catch and run to get the Steelers on the 1 yard line.
James Conner punches it in for the touchdown. 7-0 Steelers.
Jeff Driskel coming in for the Broncos. On first down, a quick stop on Melvin Gordon – Bud Dupree and Mike Hilton in on the stop. Driskel is able to pickup the first down with a nice pass to Jeudy for the 1st down.
Another tackle for loss for the Steelers. This time, TJ Watt and Mike Hilton in on the play. Hilton has been all over the backfield so far in the game. On 3rd down, the Steelers pass rush flushed Driskel out of the pocket forcing the incompletion. The Broncos will punt.
Benny Snell in on this drive for the Steelers. Steelers trying to find the hot hand and keep their backs fresh.
Ben dropped back and was sacked on 2nd down for a big loss with a possible missed facemask. An incompletion brings up 4th down. Colquitt will be kicking deep in his own end zone. Not a great punt, the Broncos have the ball roughly where they left off last series.
Jeff Driskel delivers a nice tight window pass to Jeudy on the left side for the first down. The Broncos are already nearing the redzone.
On 1st down, Nick Vannett with the false start. On 1st and 15, Driskel drops back and Mike Hilton gets the sack for a big loss. The Broncos just keep moving backwards as Heyward gets the tackle for loss on Gordon. 3rd and 25, and the Broncos can’t get it done. They will attempt the field foal towards the open end of Heinz field from 49 yards out. The kick is good. 7-3 Steelers.
Ben Roethlisberger connects with James Washington for a pickup of 7 on first down. James Conner gets the carry up the middle, very nearly pickup up the first down. The chains crew comes out to measure. First down!
Diontae Johnson picks up another first down on a crosser and the Steelers are right around midfield.
Diontae Johnson with another first down as he breaks a tackle and makes another miss to pickup 18.
Simmons came in untouched on 3rd down to deflect the pass, the Steelers punt is a fair catch at the 12 yard line. Jeff Driskel has a long way to march down this field. Since the opening drive, Melvin Gordon has been unable to get much going on the ground.
On first down, Gordon picks up two. Mike Hilton nearly gets the sack on 2nd down. That man is everywhere tonight. Extended him will be tough, but losing him will certainly hurt in 2021, I hope they can work something out.
Jeudy is able to pickup the first down on a pass over the middle, but Devin Bush collides with him at the catch point, Jeudy was shaken up on the play.
On 2nd and 10, Gordon gets the handoff off the right side, picking up 6. Vince Williams is able to bring him down. On 3rd and 4, Driskel gets swallowed up in the backfield for a sack by several Steelers. Watt, Dupree, Heyward, Tuitt. Great team sack, credited to Watt and Heyward.
On the punt, Diontae Johnson shows off his shiftiness and takes one to the house, unfortunately there was a illegal block in the back, so the beautiful return was called back. Regardless, you like to see that kind of agility on the return and Johnson could very well break another this season.
It doesn’t end up mattering as the next play Chase Claypool catches a beautiful ball from Ben Roethlisberger for an 84 yard touchdown pass. The play is under review as his foot very nearly went out of bounds. The touchdown was upheld. 14-3 Steelers.
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With that pass, Ben Roethlisberger passes Eli Manning to be 8th all time in touchdown passes (367).
Jeff Driskel answers the touchdown right away with a large 45 yard pickup to Courtland Sutton. Sutton got tripped up on himself, or that would have been a touchdown with Haden in coverage.
The very next play, Tyson Alualu gets a nice sack in the backfield for a big loss bringing up 2nd and 20. Alualu gets the pass deflection on the next play, almost getting TJ Watt another interception. Pass incomplete on 3rd and 20 and the Broncos will attempt a long field goal. The kick was wide right. Turnover on down back to the Steelers around midfield with plenty of time to score again before the half.
A holding and delay of game contribute to a three-and-out for the Steelers, would will punt with just over 2:00 remaining in the half.
Jeff Driskel drops back on 1st and 10. The ball bounces off the hands of Courtland Sutton and Joe Haden is right there to intercept. He was able to pick up a few yards on the return setting up a 1st and 10 on the Broncos’ 11 yard line.
On 1st down, Ben gets a throw to James Conner in tight coverage for a gain of 6. Nothing was there on 3rd down, as James Conner is hit right when he gets the hand off. 4th and 2, on the 3 yard line. The Steelers are attempting the short field goal to wrap up the half. The kick is good by Boswell. 17-3 Steelers.
The Broncos have been attempting long passes with 00:40 to go, but they all fall incomplete. TJ Watt chips in another sack on 2nd down to bring up 3rd and 19. The pass falls incomplete to bring up 4th down and effectively end the half.
Join us in the 2nd half live update and discussion board.
