Steelers get past Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Sometimes, real life intrudes on the games we play. And sometimes, we need those games to get away from real life.
In the wake of Superstorm Sandy and the destruction it brought to the Northeast, everyone on the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants understood that.
“There are so many bigger things going on around here that what we do is not as important as real life,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Sunday after throwing for two touchdowns in a 24-20 comeback victory. “My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone else who are going through so much. There were so many emotions going on, I didn’t know what to expect from it. But maybe we were able to take their minds off their problems just a little.”
That’s all the local fans sought: temporary relief and the Giants (6-3) provided it for a while. But they couldn’t stop Isaac Redman, who had little relief with Pittsburgh’s other two main backs injured, yet rushed for a career-best 147 yards and the winning 1-yard TD with 4:02 to go.
Overcoming unusual sloppiness, the Steelers (5-3) dominated the second half. They did so after they arrived in New Jersey hours before the game, which might have accounted for their carelessness. They had the fewest giveaways in the NFL entering the game, but were neglectful with the ball and in pass coverage; cornerback Keenan Lewis had 87 yards on two pass interference penalties. They wasted some great kick returns, too.
“Coming in the day of the game was tough and we had to deal with that adversity,” Redman said. “But the Giants had to deal with adversity all week. We just had to come in here and be ready to play.
“This shows we have a lot of heart. When you play for the Steelers, it’s all about heart.”
Steelers 24, Giants 20
Pittsburgh | 0 | 10 | 0 | 14 | — | 24 |
N.Y. Giants | 0 | 14 | 6 | 0 | — | 20 |
Pit—Sanders 4 pass from Roethlisberger (Suisham kick)
NYG—A.Brown 1 run (Tynes kick)
NYG—Boley 70 fumble return (Tynes kick)
Pit—FG Suisham 30
NYG—FG Tynes 50
NYG—FG Tynes 23
Pit—Wallace 51 pass from Roethlisberger (Suisham kick)
Pit—Redman 1 run (Suisham kick)
A—80,991.
Pit | NYG | |
First downs | 22 | 13 |
Total Net Yards | 349 | 182 |
Rushes-yards | 35-158 | 22-68 |
Passing | 191 | 114 |
Punt Returns | 3-76 | 0-0 |
Kickoff Returns | 5-173 | 4-100 |
Interceptions Ret. | 1-3 | 1-7 |
Comp-Att-Int | 21-30-1 | 10-24-1 |
Sacked-Yrds Lost | 4-25 | 2-11 |
Punts | 4-41.3 | 5-47.4 |
Fumbles-Lost | 2-1 | 1-0 |
Penalties-Yards | 6-119 | 7-40 |
Time of Poss. | 35:15 | 24:45 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Pittsburgh, Redman 26-147, B.Batch 2-7, Rainey 1-4, W.Johnson 1-2, Roethlisberger 4-(minus 1), Suisham 1-(minus 1). N.Y. Giants, Bradshaw 15-48, A.Brown 7-20.
PASSING—Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger 21-30-1-216. N.Y. Giants, Manning 10-24-1-125.
RECEIVING—Pittsburgh, Cotchery 4-50, Miller 4-48, Wallace 3-66, Sanders 2-20, A.Brown 2-19, Redman 2-4, Rainey 2-(minus 3), Paulson 1-7, W.Johnson 1-5. N.Y. Giants, Cruz 5-67, Bennett 3-40, Nicks 1-10, Hynoski 1-8.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—N.Y. Giants, Tynes 51 (SH).