There Will Be Defense: Steelers WIN

The Steelers won the toss and deferred. The Artist Formerly Known as Pacman makes a few moves on the kick return before Ike brings him down.

After an incompletion and a short run, Romo is faced with a third and long. By the way, did I mention Romo came into the game leading the league in quarterback rating? On 3rd and 7, he overthrows TO, right into the waiting arms of Troy Polamalu, league leader in interceptions.

After a delay of game penalty, the Steelers offense looks as though they’re going to stall out, but Ben hits Holmes down the sidelines for 23 yards. After that sign of life, the Steelers crap on themselves by doing nothing on 3 plays then missing a 45-yard field goal.

Choice managed 4 yards on first down, then Romo hooks up with Witten on 3rd down to keep the drive alive. Choice runs twice to get the ball across midfield, then Witten snags another to keep things rolling for Dallas. Choice got 2, then Romo hit Williams on a short out to set up a 3rd and 2. The Steelers were confused on defense and called a much-needed timeout before the next play. Romo empties the backfield and pitches to Owens, going in motion, but Farrior and Woodley team up for the stop. With 4th and 1 at the Steelers 33, the Cowboys go for it, but Defensive Player of the Year candidates Harrison and Polamalu are there to stop the fullback in his tracks for the turnover on downs.

The Steelers pick up 5 free yards on a defensive offsides, then Ben hits Moore on a quick hitter, and he turns it upfield for 12 yards. Moore catches another short one and turns it into an 11-yard gain and another first down, getting the ball inside the 40. Arians busts out the motif offense, which fails miserably, and the Lob Wedge punts.

With the ball 95-yards from the end zone, the Steelers defense is up to the field position game, and holds the Cowboys to a 3-and-out. Punt.

The Steelers get the ball within breathing distance of midfield. After an incompletion, Ben hits Heath over the middle, but Heath, who has one of the best set of hands on the team, gets hit from behind and fumbles. Dallas recovers on the 45, winning the field position turnaround and killing any momentum the Steelers might have had.

To make matters worse, Romo hit Choice on a short pass that he turned into a 12-yard gain to move into Steelers territory. Farrior stuffed Choice to end the longest first quarter of the year. It was brutal, especially in the cold.

Second Quarter

Romo found Choice with Big Snack in man coverage, and took advantage. But the Snack was hungry, and brought Choice down before the sticks. Romo looked for Owens on 3rd and short, but pressure from Foote broke up the play. The Cowboys elect to go for it on 4th and 2, but Romo can’t hook up with TO and the Steelers take over.

Parker manages 2 yards to the outside, which was a stupid play call because the Cowboys defense is fast. We should have been running up the middle. After two incompletions for Nate, it’s Lob Wedge time again. 30 yards. Vomit.

Choice shows a flash of speed and gets through a seam as the safeties are sitting back. Polamalu brings him down after 11 yards. Farrior and Snack show up on the next play to stop Choice in his tracks. Harrison gets pressure on 2nd down, forcing a bad pass. You knew what was coming next.

Like a shark, Harrison smells blood in the water and swats the ball out of Romo’s hand for his 15th sack of the season, tying the team record set by Mike Merriweather. Kirschke fell on the loose ball, giving us a huge swing of momentum. Dallas challenged the fumble, but it wasn’t happening. Steelers ball.

Moore gets 7 on first down, then Ben hits Hines on a Flanker screen that he gets close to the sticks. Ben tries a QB-sneak on 3rd and short but fumbles the ball. Dallas recovers to steal momentum back.

The Cowboys get themselves into a 3rd and 4 and try a draw play against the nickel defense, which was a good idea, but Aaron Smith and Farrior were able to pull Choice down before the marker. Punt. Dallas’ real punter booms a 51-yarder, killing it inside the 10. We miss you Danny Boy.

Backed up inside the 10 with a punter that sucks, you knew we needed a first down or two if we were going to give our defense any chance of stopping them. Arians tries to get it through the motif offense, but it wasn’t happening. The Lob Wedge gets some serious backspin on his punt (not what you want when kicking out of your own end zone, but in this case it worked out) and the ball hits one of the Cowboys covering the kick. Timmons falls on the ball to give the Steelers offense new life.

You were hoping this was the spark they needed to get things going, but after two incompletions, we were looking at 3rd and long. Ben hit Moore out of the backfield for a 7-yard gain, but that was well short of the first down, bringing out the Lob Wedge again.

Owens tries to sneak behind Ike down the sidelines like Moss did last week, but Ike is all over it and pulls down a HUGE interception to give the Steelers the ball deep in Dallas territory.

Parker comes in to run the motif offense and picks up 8 yards to set up 3rd and 2. Remind me again why we don’t run the ball anymore on 3rd and 2 and insist on going empty-backfield? Ben can’t hit Sweed, but the Cowboys were cheating, so we got 5 yards and a first down. Parker gets stuffed on first down at the 10, and two incompletions later, it was field goal time.

3-0

The Cowboys took over with 2:40 and no time outs, looking to get something going. Choice had his way against our nickel package in this game, taking the first carry of the drive for 10 yards. Romo hit Witten for 9 more to get the ball across the 40 as the clock stopped at 2:00. Out of the break, Choice picked up the first down, then Romo went back to Witten for a big 22-yard gain. Choice picked up 4 to get inside the 30, then Romo missed Witten due to pressure by Woodley. Romo was confused by the defense and with no timeouts left, had to take a delay of game penalty. On 3rd and 11 with 30 seconds to go, Romo hit Witten for 7 yards to get the Cowboys into field goal range. Nick Folk hits a 44-yarder as time expires in the half.

3-3

Halftime

The lines at the men’s bathrooms were longer than the lines at the women’s bathrooms. Some dude peed in a cup in the corner rather than waiting in line. At Three Rivers people used to pee in the sinks at halftime. Someone crapped in a sink once during a playoff game there. Haven’t seen any of that yet at Heinz Field.

By the way, that’s halftime analysis you’re not going to get on any other blog.

Third Quarter

Russell manages a good kickoff return and Parker starts the drive with a solid run. But then things start to fall apart.

Pressure forces a bad throw on a screen pass, then Ben is sacked to end the drive. The Lob Wedge manages a 34-yard punt to give Dallas the ball on their 30.

Choice gets stuffed on first down, but Romo scrambles away from a sack and picks up a few to set up 3rd and short. With the safeties playing deep, Choice bounces one to the outside and takes it for 22 yards. Romo complets another pass to get down to the 25. Choice goes outside again and picks up 12 yards to get inside the 15. Ryan Clark comes up to stop Choice in the hole on first down. On 2nd and 9 the Steelers only rush 3. Big mistake. Romo has all day to throw and scrambles out to his right and heaves a ball for the end zone with Kirschke in his face. TO goes up and snags it at the back of the end zone for the score.

3-10

Things were looking down, but a touchdown on the next drive would have made up for everything. Mewelde Moore starts things off by reeling in a short pass then busting a carry for a first down. No surprise, Ben goes 5-wide, the Cowboys bring pressure and Ben is sacked. When will we learn that this 5-wide shit doesn’t work? Ben comes back and connects with Heath then scrambles for 7 yards, but still comes up 4 yards short of the sticks. The Lob Wedge boots another 30-yarder to the Dallas 28. I never thought punting could make me this angry.

Romo hits Owens on a crossing route for 11, then finds Choice across the middle in space, which winds up being a huge 50-yard gain down to the 10 after he makes some guys miss in the open field. Kirschke gets some heat on Romo, forcing a bad pass for Williams on first and goal. Choice gets 3 yards on 2nd down, setting up a big 3rd and goal.