Roethlisberger re-injured a right shoulder that was separated in the
opener and did not play in the second half of the Steelers' 23-6 victory
in Washington on Monday night. Byron Leftwich replaced him and completed
seven of 10 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown.
This injury to Roethlisberger, though, did not happen as the result
of a sack, of which he's on a record pace. It occurred near the end of
the first half when he burrowed to the left of his center for a 1-yard
touchdown.
Roethlisberger said after the game he was "OK," although the team was
awaiting the results of an MRI on Tuesday. Coach Mike Tomlin said
Roethlisberger could have played if they needed him. However, how the
shoulder reacts in a short week will determine whether he starts against
Indianapolis on Sunday in Heinz Field or Leftwich gets his first start
in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have three consecutive home games -- Indy, San Diego and
Cincinnati -- and a one-game lead in the AFC North at 6-2 over 5-3
Baltimore. It might be time to shut down Big Ben for a game or two and
let that shoulder heal.
He has not missed a game this season even though he has been sacked
26 times, a pace that would topple Cliff Stoudt's team record of 51 in
1983. Roethlisberger did leave early in the third game at Philadelphia
to have his right hand X-rayed but had not been removed since because of
an injury until Monday.
"I've got a good football team around me," said Leftwich, who
completed his first pass of the game for 50 yards to Nate Washington. "I
just wanted to get the ball in my guys' hands.
NOTES, QUOTES
--It has become almost standard practice for Steelers fans to turn
out in droves for road games, but it had to stun the Redskins to see so
many of them waiving their towels and making the kind of noise they did
Monday night at FedEx Field.
"I'll be honest with you, I was surprised," Washington coach Jim Zorn
said. "It reminded me of the Super Bowl in 2005."
--The Steelers are still without a 100-yard receiver and, in fact,
have now gone a full season's worth of games without having one.
The last time a Steelers receiver topped 100 yards came in the eighth
game of last season when Santonio Holmes caught four passes for 110
yards and two touchdowns in a 38-7 victory against Baltimore in Heinz
Field. Hines Ward topped 100 yards in last January's playoff loss to
Jacksonville.
--The Steelers' first victory in three tries against an NFC opponent
this season gives them a record of 14-4 in their past 18 games against
the other conference.
--It was Pittsburgh's first win in Washington since 1964.
PLAYER NOTES
--WR Nate Washington caught a 50-yard pass from Byron Leftwich on
Monday. It was the fourth straight game Washington had a reception of 48
yards or more.
--TE Heath Miller has a sprained right ankle that forced him out of
Monday's game in the first half. His status is unknown.
--RB Mewelde Moore took over the kickoff return duties from Najeh
Davenport but fared little better with a 20.0-yard average on three
returns Monday.
--LB James Harrison's 1.5 sacks give him 10 halfway through the
season. The Steelers' single-season record is 15.
--PK Jeff Reed, perfect on 11 field-goal tries this season, missed
his first PAT since 2003.
REPORT CARD VS. REDSKINS
PASSING OFFENSE: C-plus -- Ben Roethlisberger was terrible,
completing just five of 17 passes for 50 yards with three sacks, one
interception and a 15.1 passer rating, all in the first half. Byron
Leftwich was the antidote in the second half. He completed seven of 10
for 129 yards, one touchdown and a 145.8 passer rating. He was sacked
twice.
RUSHING OFFENSE: D -- Willie Parker returned and had a decent game
with 70 yards on 21 carries and a 1-yard rushing touchdown. No one else
had much, though. Roethlisberger sneaked 1 yard for a touchdown, part of
a 64-yard effort on 29 carries.
PASS DEFENSE: A -- Jason Campbell had not thrown an interception this
season before Deshea Townsend and Tyrone Carter each picked him off in
the second half. Campbell was sacked 16 times in the first eight games,
seven times Monday night by the Steelers. He completed 24 of 43 passes
for only 206 yards, no touchdowns, a long of 29 yards and a rating of
49.2.
RUSH DEFENSE: A -- Clinton Portis, the NFL's leading rusher, managed
only 51 yards on 13 carries, 22 of them on one try. The Redskins did not
try the ground much, there was so little there -- they had 60 total
yards on 15 carries and no touchdowns. The Pittsburgh run defense put
another notch on its belt.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B -- So the punter did not punt very well, and the
opening onside kick try failed, and the kicker missed his first extra
point in five years. LB Andre Frazier recorded the Steelers' first
blocked punt in two years, and it led to the go-ahead touchdown late in
the first half. Jeff Reed did make a 35-yard field goal with a new long
snapper, and the Redskins had no returns to speak of.
COACHING: B -- The decision to try an onside kick to open the game
won't go down among history's most brilliant coaching moves. The
continued ignoring of the running game with a quarterback who was
struggling in the first half did not seem very smart. But defensive
coordinator Dick LeBeau trumped them all with his continued masterful
coaching on a defense that smothered the Redskins' passing and running
attacks.