My prediction for this game was not even close as the Steelers (6-2) dominated the Patriots (5-2) en route to a 25-17 win. The winning game plan that the Steelers decided to use was simple, come in swinging and keep swinging all day. Big Ben threw the ball all over the New England Patriots from the start of the game to the end and the defense played tough against the usually dominant Tom Brady.
The Patriots have only trailed teams for 22 minutes all season long, in the first half they trailed the Steelers for 24 minutes as the defense kept the Patriots on their toes. The Patriots didn't get a single lead in the game as the trailed for 44 minutes in this contest.
Big Ben set team records by throwing 32 times and completing 23 of those in the first half of the ball game with 231 yards and two touchdowns. Big Ben used the passing game to perfection in this match-up even without the savvy Hines Ward. Ben spread the ball out among nine receivers with Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders and Heath Miller leading the charge. Big Ben finished 36 of 50 for 365 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.
The running game was rarely used in the first half as the Steelers only ran nine times for 45 yards.The second half brought a much different story as five times on the first drive of the second half. Rashard Mendenhall, whom I have called extremely inconsistent played a much better game this week as he carried 13 times for 70 yards averaging 5.4 per carry.
Defensively the Steelers piled it on in the first half and kept shoveling in the second. LeBeau decided to use a press man coverage and blitz Tom Brady non stop. The banged up defense started Stevenson Sylvester for the injured James Farrior and LaMarr Woodley left the game in the third quarter with a hamstring injury, opening the door for rookie Chris Carter. Woodley did a great job of mentoring Carter in this game as he really impressed me with his motor and ability to break free from the lineman. Inspite of the injuries the Steelers dominated the Patriots giving up 213 yards, 43 of those on the ground and 170 in the air while sacking Tom Brady three times, two of which were by LaMarr Woodley.
The Steelers had a big problem putting the ball in the end zone settling for three short field goals instead of getting into the end zone, and more of a running game might have helped with that. You can't argue with the game plan though because it worked so well, but there is still room for improvement. The Steelers won't have the luxury of a running game against the Ravens next week but the passing game looks good enough for us to win, as long as Big Ben doesn't turn the ball over seven times.
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