The Pittsburgh Steelers are not a team that throws in the towel when they are down. Just ask Hines Ward. With the game firmly in hand, Ben Roethlisberger threw a bullet to Hines Ward for a first and goal inside the five yard line with less than a minute to go. The sure handed Ward then proceeded to fumble the ball while trying to get into the end zone. The mistake was one that many teams would have let get them down.
Not the Pittsburgh Steelers. Instead, they forced overtime and took the opening possession straight down the field for the game winning field goal. There is a reason that the Steelers are defending Super Bowl Champions.
While the game itself was highly competitive, it did seem inevitable that the Steelers would win the game. The biggest reason why was Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes, who hooked up throughout the game with catch after catch.
The Titans appeared to be completely unable to stop the Steelers once the Steelers went to the pass. They continuously rushed only four men, and Ben simply sat back in the pocket, scrambled when needed, and hit his receivers like it was a game of catch. It seemed at times that he had hours to pass the ball. This led to the Steelers completely abandoning a running game that could not get by the stiff Titan defense at all.
The Steelers could manage only 38 yds on the ground, but went over 300 yds through the air. The Titan secondary was not the problem for the Titans. Ben simply had way too much time to throw the ball.
The Titans did have some bright spots as well. Justin Gage had a touchdown and 85 yds through the air. Kerry Collins looked sharp for the most part throughout the game as well after a less than sterling preseason. The Titans gave the defending champs all they could handle.
The Titans now go home to face the upstart Texans while the Steelers travel to play the new look Chicago Bears.
