Steelers fall to the Whizard of AZ

21
14

We may have lost, but at least I came up with a witty title for the entry.

Arizona wins the toss and comes out gunning. Quick out to Fitz and he picks up 12 YAC yards. James fumbles on the next play but the Cards recover. They pick up another first down before the Steelers D cracks down and forces a punt.

Ben hooks up with Holmes on the 2nd play from scrimage for a solid gain, but nothing comes of it and it's Superman time.

Image by Karri.
57 yard punt. Definitely worth the 4th round pick.

Arizona does nothing and former Steeler Matt Barr (remember him from training camp the last 3 years?) punts. Sean Morey, another former Steeler on the tackle.

Big Ben engineers a nice drive with a hookup to Heath and some solid runs by Parker. After Ben gets sacked for the second time in the game, he hits Santonio Holmes on a fly route for a 43-yard touchdown. 7-0.

Arizona goes West-coast and hits a bunch of short passes to move the ball down the field and pick up a few first downs but a sack by Aaron Smith and James Harrison stops them short and forces a punt.

Ben hits Willie Reed on 3rd down who comes up just short of the sticks. In a call you would only make on a video game, the Steelers go for it on 4th and short on their own 30. Ben for 2 and the drive stays alive. But not for long. Run-run-pass-punt. 52-yarder by Superman.

Warner comes in to replace Leinart, but I Like Ike comes up with a big strip on Fitz and Troy scoops up the fumble. If this entry was an english paper, I'd call this a motif. Run-run-sack (attempted pass)-punt. A 56-yard boomer this time.

Warner comes back out to run the 2-minute drill. The veteran overcomes a Clark Haggans sack and moves the Cards into field goal range, but Rackers can't connect from 52 and the half ends.

Steelers get the ball and try to go 3-and-out (run-run-pass again) but a penalty on Arizona keeps the drive alive. Run on first down. Attempted run on second down, but a fumbled exchange leads to nothing and an incomplete pass on 3rd down brings the punt team back out. Sepulveda pounds a 51-yarder (his shortest of the game to this point).

Warner and Fitz lead the Cards down the field and move into the red zone after a taunting penalty on Ike. The Defense almost holds, but Warner's touchdown pass on 3rd down was upheld after a challenge by Coach. 7-7.

The Steelers decide to change up the game plan and come out throwing. But it only lasts for 1 first down. Then they go back to their old ways. Run-run-pass-punt.

The Cards look to be poised to move the ball again, but a botched snap gives us the ball back when James Harrison falls on it at the 4.

1st and goal from the 4. Our Tight Ends have 4 TD catches in 3 weeks. Any guess what we'll do?
Run. Parker for 2 yards.
Run. Parker for 0 Yards.
Pass.

Interception.
"When I let go of it, I thought it was a touchdown. I thought he [Wilson] was gone. I honestly didn't see him" - Ben Roethlisberger

I've Got A Feeling take: Ben should spend less time reading to kids and more time watching film.

The Steelers hold after the turnover and force a punt.

Ben tries to make up for the pick by gunning one deep for Nate, but it's just out of his reach. Two more incompletions force a punt. Sepulveda makes a great 59-yard punt that gets called back on an ineligible man downfield penalty. Rekick.

Shades of the 2001 AFC Championship game flash by as Steve Breaston from Woodland Hills HS runs the punt back for a touchdown. For the record, it was another 59-yarder.

7-14. Ouch.

Parker finally breaks one for 20, but the drive stalls after that and we have to punt...again.

Leinart comes back out to lead the 4th quarter and marches the red shirts down the field for a score. Good job by the Cards of mixing run and pass on this drive, something we didn't do well all game. 7-21.

With 4 minutes to go the Steelers come out firing. Ben spreads the ball around and runs for a few first downs to bring the Steelers down to the 7 where he hits Holmes for the score. 14-21.

After a failed onside kick, the Cards go 3-and-out giving Ben a chance for a game-winning drive.

Incomplete. Holmes for 31 to our 40. 60 yards to go.

Incomplete. The drama builds.

Sack. We're in trouble. 68 yards to go.

Interception. Game over.

"Give their defense a lot of credit. They played well tonight. They did a lot of things. This loss is on me. I'm really proud of the way the rest of the offense played, O-line, the receivers, some guys really stepped up. It's on me. I can't throw a pick in the end zone. Defense gives us an opportunity, and you throw it away. It's disappointing. It's frustrating. You feel like you let guys down." - Ben Roethlisberger

Coach, your thoughts?

“We didn’t run the ball effectively, we were highly penalized, and our special teams was not a winning edge for us, and when you don’t do those things you’re going to lose. Whether you’re at home or away you’re going to lose when you don’t do those things."