Defense keeps Steelers in pace with the Bengals
Earlier in the day, the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, so the Pittsburgh Steelers had to beat the Arizona Cardinals in the desert to keep pace with the division-leading Bengals. The Steelers did thanks in part to their defense as they are now 9-4 with a 28-20 victory.
The Steelers have lived on two things all season long…big plays from QB Kordell Stewart and a dominating defense. They got both on this Sunday.
The first big play came with the Steelers trailing 3-0 in the game. Stewart scrambled right and threw a bomb deep into the Cardinal endzone. WR Courtney Hawkins ran under the pass for a 41-yard TD reception giving the Steelers a 7-3 lead in the 1st quarter.
The second big play came when the Steelers were trailing 10-7 in the second quarter. Stewart avoided a sack from DT Eric Swann and scrambled through the Arizona defense for a 49-yard touchdown run giving the Steelers a 14-10 lead at halftime.
The third big play came when the Steelers were in trouble as they were trailing 20-14 midway through the fourth quarter. After the defense forced a Cardinal punt, Stewart threw another bomb! This time WR Yancy Thigpen ran under this one and raced 82 yards for a touchdown to give the Steelers a 21-20 lead!
The final big play came from the Steelers’ defense. After the Thigpen TD, the Cardinals took over and was forced with a third-down play. QB Jake Plummers’ pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage, and it was picked off by cornerback Donnell Woolford, who returned the pick 16-yards for a touchdown. The Steelers won the game 28-20.
With the victory, the Steelers are tied with the Bengals for the AFC Central lead, but the Bengals hold the tiebreaker because the Bengals swept the Steelers in their head-to-head meetings. The Steeles have a huge game next week as they host the Denver Broncos. The Cardinals are now 2-11 and will face the Redskins at home in a huge game for the Skins.