By Sean Geddes
The Steelers start the season with a win, but it was certainly hard fought.
Mike Tomlin told Dennis Dixon the whole playbook was open to him, and the element the Steelers lacked in many a fan’s eye was back in the Steelers overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons. That missing factor was the run, something Bruce Arians has shied away from in his tenure as offensive coordinator. What was known as “Steeler Football” seemed to have vanished as the run pass ratio crept more and more towards the latter. But 31 runs, as compared to 29 passes attempted is more familiar to most fans of the Black and Gold.
The conservative play calling early on was a welcome change. Watching Rashard Mendenhall pound the rock, while being spelled successfully on short yardage by Isaac Redman was what most fans expected from the offense early as Dennis Dixon made his second career start for the suspended Ben Roethlisberger. The first drive resulted in a 52 yard field goal, which is only one yard short of the longest ever made at Heinz Field, notorious for swirling winds off the river and hills.
The defense came out ready for the power running game from Michael Turner. He never really got going early, and never got going late, and didn’t look that great in between. No other ball carrier fared any better, as the Falcons ran the ball 25 times for a total of 58 yards, 42 of which came from Turner’s 19 carries (his longest was only seven yards), the defense really looked good holding the former 1700(ish) yard rusher to just 2.2 yards a carry.
Matt Ryan’s passing attack was slightly more successful as Coach LeBeau’s “bend but don’t break” pass defense philosophy did just what it was designed to do. Ryan was able to complete 27 of 44 passes, for 247 yards and no touchdowns. Roddy White was the recipient of almost half of Ryan’s tosses, catching 13 balls for 111 yards. His 13 receptions tied the record for most catches by an opposing player in Steelers history. Speaking of history, tightend Tony Gonzalez caught his 1000th pass in the NFL, most ever by a tightend, and only the seventh player ever to accomplish the feat.
Dixon played well, known primarily for his ability to run, he remained fairly pocket conscious as he was spied on most plays, the Falcons clearly expecting the scramble. Through the air, Dennis looked nervous and maybe a little shaky early, as the Steelers tried to keep it short to middle, asking him to time his throws while mixing in the run. Dixon finished 18 of 26 with one interception, but could have thrown another one or two, as a few of his throws lacked the touch or placement to get them in through the crowd. He did however, make enough plays to get the Steelers into scoring range on several drives, despite not getting the ball into the endzone.
This was a battle of kickers, with Matt Bryant nailing 3 of 4, while Jeff Reed knocked home three field goals, but missed two. After the 52 yard boot, he tried a 55 yarder that was long enough but knocked off the upright and fell no good.
The play of regulation was definitely the Troy Polamalu interception, which followed a short lived drive by the Steelers after Matt Bryant’s third field goal, which tied the game at nine. The Steelers drive that started with just under 3:30 left on the clock, and lasted just a minute and a half, and made some fans (this fan) think about what could have been, with a clutch Ben Roethlisberger under center. But before we could really even delve deeper into that thought, on the first play from scrimmage with under two minutes to play, Troy Polamalu jumped the out route that Matt Ryan and Roddy White made look as simple as Unitas to Berry all game. It reminded everyone watching why he was so dearly missed last season, and gave everyone hope for a thrilling win late in the game.
After another short lived drive, this time only lasting three plays and just over a minute, Jeff Reed lined up for a game winning forty yard field goal. The kick sailed right, and the Steelers took the game to oh-so familiar territory versus the Falcons, overtime.
The defense held firm, and with some assistance from a holding call on third down, gave the ball back to the offense after a punt to the fifty. And that is when Dixon handed off to Rashard Mendenhall, who had a quietly solid performance already that night. He broke right through a hole cleared by Flozell Adams and Trai Essex, with some help from Hines Ward and Heath Miller, and a great two man eliminating block from David Johnson, Rashard rushed hard, stumbling but regaining his stride all the way to the game winning touchdown.
Another tight, chair gripping, nail biting, make your heart race win for the Steelers. This is how this team seems to like to win, although I’d bet anyone in that locker room would have taken a 42-3 beat down, a win is a win, is a win.
Of Special Note: Hines Ward caught his 900th pass in the NFL, all with the Steelers. He extends his franchise record to 901 pulling in six catches against the Falcons. With his 108 receiving yards he also crossed 11,000 yard plataeu; he is only the 24th player to have ever done that in the NFL.
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