Roethlisberger helps Steelers win again

Steelers battle back to defeat the Cowboys
The Steelers fought hard for an impressive come-from-behind win in Dallas, defeating the Cowboys 24-20 to improve to 5-1 on the season.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger won his fourth game in as many starts, completing 21 of 25 pass attempts for 193 yards and two touchdowns, despite being hobbled after getting hit from behind in the second quarter.

“I can’t say enough about Ben,” said head coach Bill Cowher. “I thought this was going to be a good test for him and it was. He made some plays. He stays in there versus the rush, he eludes it. He sees guys that are open. I thought he played a really solid game. He stood in there, got his ankle and knee hit, and fought through it.”

The Steelers defense came up huge in the waning minutes of the game, with Kimo von Oelhoffen recovering a fumble to set up the winning touchdown and then stopping the Cowboys on their final drive.

“It was a very good football game,” said Cowher. “We kept battling back. Our defense made some stops at the end of the game when we had to. It was a hard fought game. Neither team was going to beat itself.”

The Cowboys came out firing first with Vinny Testaverde hitting Keyshawn Johnson for a six-yard pass and then Johnson took it on the ground on the end around for a 13-yard run. Testaverde kept the offense moving, completing five of six passes in the drive, four of them to Johnson. But it was Richie Anderson who got the Cowboys on the board when he broke loose for a 21-yard touchdown run, giving the Cowboys and early 7-0 lead.

It didn’t take long for the Steelers to come right back. Roethlisberger hit Jay Riemersma for 10 yards to get things started. Faced quickly then with a third-and-five Roethlisberger went to Plaxico Burress who laid out for a one-handed 32-yard reception to the Dallas 28-yard line. Roethlisberger connected with Hines Ward for a 15-yard completion and then capped the seven-play, 75-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Burress to tie the game at 7-7.

After a quick offensive start, both team’s defenses picked it up a notch. The Cowboys weren’t able to do anything on two drives and the Steelers on one, before the black and gold got the ball back with 8:50 to go in the half. Duce Staley broke free for a 24-yard run to the Cowboys’ 41-yard line. But Staley came up hobbling and went to the sidelines, bringing in Jerome Bettis to carry the load.

Roethlisberger, who got banged up on the previous drive, hit Ward for an 11-yard gain, but the running game was unable to get going, forcing a third-and-seven situation. Roethlisberger was sacked for a seven-yard loss, bringing on Jeff Reed to attempt a 51-yard field goal. Reed’s attempt went straight through the uprights, giving the Steelers a 10-7 lead.

Neither the Cowboys nor the Steelers did much on their next drives, although the Steelers got a boost when Staley returned to the field. The Cowboys got a final shot before the half ended and made it count. Even though they were backed up to their own nine-yard line because of penalties, Testaverde lead them down the field and set up Billy Cundiff for a 47-yard field goal, sending them into the half tied at 10-10.

The Steelers got the ball to start the half with Ike Taylor returning the kickoff in place on Ricardo Colclough, who suffered from dehydration in the first half. Keith Davis hit Taylor, who forced a fumble, which was recovered by Antwaan Randle El at the Steelers 15-yard line. The offense was unable to get rolling, though, and had to punt.

It was the Cowboys who then came to life as they started their drive with a seven-yard reception by Terry Glenn and a run by Eddie George. Testaverde hit Johnson for 12 yards, but was sacked by Deshea Townsend two plays later for a loss of eight-yards. They rebounded quickly with a 20-yard completion to Glenn and an 11-yard run by Dedric Ward. They capped the drive with a 39-yard field goal by Cundiff, giving them a 13-10 lead.

After the Steelers went three-and-out the Cowboys came firing back and fast. Testaverde connected with Glenn for a 48-yard gain and then two plays later he found Johnson in the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown, digging the Steelers into a 20-10 hole.

Roethlisberger fought back with the poise of a seasoned veteran on the next drive. He ran for nine yards, hit Ward for gains of seven and five yards, and just when it looked like he would be sacked tossed the shovel pass to Riemersma for a 14 yard gain. He continued to move them down the field and got the Steelers back in the game when he finished the drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Jerame Tuman, cutting the lead to 20-17.

After exchanging possessions without a score the Cowboys got the ball back and had the chance to put the Steelers away. They converted a third-and-three with just under three minutes to play, but the defense stepped it up a notch. George was stopped for no gain and then Glenn knocked for a three-yard loss. The Cowboys had third-and-13 and a conversion would have closed the door. But Testaverde was under pressure from James Farrior, fumbled at his own 45-yard line, and Oelhoffen picked it up and rumbled for 21 yards to the Cowboys 24-yard line.

Roethlisberger took over and continued to be cool under pressure. He completed passes of 11-yards to Burress and six yards to Tuman. Staley ran for five, giving them the ball on the two-yard line. It was then Bettis time, as he found his blockers for an easy jaunt into the end zone, putting the Steelers up 24-20.

The Cowboys made a valiant effort to come back, and with just one second left Testaverde launched it into the end zone where it was tipped and finally knocked to the ground by Farrior to give the Steelers the win.

Posted by Ron at October 17, 2004 08:10 PM