Monday 19 September 2016 00:35, UK
Pittsburgh Steelers edged out Cincinnati Bengals 24-16 in their AFC North divisional battle at a rainy Heinz Field that saw both offences struggle.
Ben Roethlisberger overcame two interceptions in a sloppy first-half performance to throw three touchdowns and lead his team to a second win to start the season.
The third touchdown - and ultimately game-winning score - was a four-yard completion to DeAngelo Williams, to cap a fine day for the Steelers running back, who earned 132 all-purpose yards on the day.
In 140 characters...
Roethlisberger throws three TDs and Steelers stuff Bengals' running attack to earn AFC North win over divisional rivals in rainy Pittsburgh.
MVP
Williams. Churned out 94 yards on the ground off 32 attempts, with a longest gain of 11 showing the hard graft he put in. Add to that 38 yards off four receptions, including what turned out to be the game-winning score.
Game-changer
Trailing by eight points with two minutes still to play, Cincinnati were marching down the field into Pittsburgh territory looking to possibly tie up the game, but rookie wide receiver, Tyler Boyd, fumbled the ball. Or did he? Boyd looked to have his knee down before the ball came loose, but the ruling of the officials was upheld, much to the Bengals' annoyance.
Stat of the Night
46 - by way of contrast to Williams' stellar effort, the Bengals backfield were held to only 46 yards rushing off 18 attempts; seven of which came off two Dalton scrambles.
The Game
The Steelers took a first quarter lead when Roethlisberger connected with Xavier Grimble - an undrafted tight end out of USC in 2014 - on a 20-yard pass.
It was a rare highlight, though, in a soporific first half played out in wet and windy conditions that saw both offences struggle - two Bengals field goals to one from the Steelers the only other scores.
Maybe it was the weather. Maybe it was the relatively conservative game plans, or maybe it was just pretty solid defense. Whatever it was, the expected duel between superstar wide receivers Antonio Brown and A.J. Green never materialised.
Brown caught just four passes for 39 yards and even had a rare drop while running free in the middle of the field in the first half, while Green was equally ineffective with just 38 yards off two receptions.
Roethlisberger found further joy from his tight ends in the third quarter, hitting Jesse James for a nine-yard touchdown to extend the hosts' lead, while Williams landed the game-clinching TD, with a third Mike Nugent field goal for the Bengals sandwiched in between.
The Bengals briefly rallied with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Dalton to Giovani Bernard bringing them to within eight late in the fourth quarter, but Boyd's controversial fumble on their next drive gave the Steelers the win.
