Cardinals win again, Brady’s Pats blowout Manning’s Broncos, and all of NFL Week 9˗˗the Monday Morning Realist

Every Monday morning, Section 215’s Akiem Bailum gives an in-depth and unfiltered look at all of the latest sports news in The Monday Morning Realist. You can follow Akiem on Twitter @AkiemBailum.

Say it isn’t so that we have reached the midpoint of the NFL season already! Sooner than later, it will be time to start prognosticating about the…

Uh…playoffs?!

Exactly.

The Signs were there

Nov 2, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Matt Asiata (44) celebrates his touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Washington Redskins at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Redskins 29-26. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

It would be an interesting question to ask, Realists. Why have I decided to tease a Redskins/Vikings matchup when the probability of either team making the playoffs at this point?

Much of it, admittedly, revolves around the intrigue that was surrounding this game. Again, neither team has much of an opportunity to make the playoffs given who is in their respective divisions. But, Washington probably should have turned around and headed back to Landover, Maryland when they had the chance.

Literally. After all, on the way to TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, the Redskins’ team bus was involved in a car accident. In addition, there was a mass protest outside of TCF Bank that protested the team’s name.

Given the ramifications of said name, the idea of the Redskins even playing at TCF Bank Stadium was a controversial item in itself. That’s why there was talk of the possibility that anything and everything related to the “Redskins” may be banned from the stadium itself.

Washington’s team, given the outcome of this one, probably should have heeded that warning.

The game began with the Vikings mustering only a three and out, then the Redskins having the football. Included in Washington’s first drive was a 3rd and 7 play where Robert Griffin III found Roy Helu for 27 yards from the Redskins’ 49 yard line. This advanced the football to Minnesota’s 27.

Four of the next five plays would see losses of yards as Washington had to settle for a 36 yard field goal from Kai Forbath. 3˗0 Washington.

Minnesota only had one first down on its ensuing drive before punting back to the Redskins who kept the football as the 2nd quarter began.

They started with the football at their 9 yard line, then a 46 yarder from RGIII to Desean Jackson put the football at the 45 yard line of the Vikings. Five plays later, Alfred Morris scored six from 14 yards out to make the Redskins lead 10˗0.

Both teams only managed one first down on their following possessions. The Vikings would get three on its following drive but would only go as far as their 42 yard line.

A Redskins three and out was followed by Minnesota doing very little on its ensuing drive. Then on a first and 10 from the Redskins 39, Captain Munnerlyn picked off an RGIII pass intended for Andre Roberts at the Washington 47. It was originally ruled incomplete before the call of interception stood.

Four Teddy Bridgewater passes later (including one to Jackson for 22 yards), he threw for 20 yards to Chase Ford for a touchdown as the half was about to expire. This made the game 10˗7.

The Redskins began the second half with possession and could not move the ball far after starting deep in their own territory. Minnesota then got the ball back and put together a 6 play, 56 yard drive lasting just over two minutes ending in a Matt Asiata one yard touchdown run. This gave the Vikings the lead at 14˗10.

Washington answered with a seven play, 56 yard drive culminating in a Griffin pass to Jackson for 13 yards and a score. 17˗14 as they retook the lead.

A Minnesota three and out was followed by a Redskins drive that lasted nine plays for 43 yards. Despite moving the football to the Vikings’ six yard line, they had to settle for a 26 yard field goal from Forbath which was good for a 20˗14 score.

Bridgewater would pass to Cordarelle Patterson for 21 yards on the Vikings’ first play of the ensuing drive. The last play of that possession was another Asiata run for a TD (this time for seven yards) as the Vikings took a slim 21˗20 lead.

The ensuing Redskins drive was set up by a 56 yarder to Desean Jackson from RGIII on 2nd and 7 from the Washington 23. Six plays later, Morris scored six from one yard out to bring the game to 26˗21 in favor of Washington.

Bridgewater, at the middle part of the Vikings next drive would pass to Jarius Wright for 21 yards on 3rd and 10 from the Minnesota 43. He then connected with Chase Ford for 21 on 1st and 10 from the Washington 36 to the 15. The 12 play, 73 yard drive that spanned over five minutes ended when Asiata scored his third TD of the game. Asiata also converted on a two point attempt. 29˗26.

The Redskins didn’t do much on their final drive and on 4th and 6 from their 43, RGIII threw incomplete with offsetting penalties. After Washington burned its last timeouts on the Vikings last drive that featured only run plays, A first and 10 from their 20 was incomplete, sealing a Minnesota win.

• Bridgewater: 26/42, 268, 1 TD
• Asiata: 10 carries, 26 yards, 3 TD
• Jennings: 6 receptions, 76 yards

• Griffin: 18/28, 251 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Morris: 19 carries, 92 yards, 2 TD
• Jackson: 4 receptions, 120 yards, 1 TD

Week 10: WAS bye, MIN bye

Rivers clogged

Nov 2, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon (50) sack San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) at Sun Life Stadium. Miami defeated the Chargers 37-0. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

It is one thing to lose. It is another to get embarrassed.

Given the trajectory of these two teams and this matchup on paper, one would think that if any team were to get blown out it would be Miami, right?

Yes, the Dolphins recently got their fourth victory last week. But, that victory came against the Jacksonville Jaguars who ought to be relegated to the SEC or ACC.

Meanwhile, the Chargers did suffer defeat last week at the hands of the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. So, San Diego did have an extended period where they had more time to prepare.

There is a reason why football games are played on green grass and not in the studios of Bristol or Los Angeles. If they were, the Chargers would likely win this game by a final score of 37˗0.

That was not exactly the case.

Everyone has off days where they don’t perform well. San Diego didn’t even show up in Miami.

The Chargers’ first drive of the game would see them advance the football well as they were able to convert several plays into first downs. Where did that drive go all wrong? When instead of going for only three points with a field goal, they went for it on 4th and 1 from the Dolphins’ 22 yard line. Branden Oliver was pushed back for a loss.

That was a wasted opportunity after a drive that lasted approximately half the quarter. Miami responded by putting points on the board for its first possession. Their ensuing 10 play, 77 yard drive featured two big throws from Ryan Tannehill to Charles Clay. The first was on 1st and 10 from the Miami 39 for 24 yards to the Chargers’ 37. The second gave Miami their first six points when Clay caught a six yard pass from Tannehill. The ensuing Caleb Sturgis extra point was good for a 7˗0 lead.

A Chargers three and out was followed by a mainly pass centric Dolphins drive that began in start of the second quarter. On 1st and 10 from the Chargers’ 32, Tannehill ran for 22 yards. He and his team were the beneficiaries of seven more points via a two yard TD run from Lamar Miller. 14˗0.

They were also the beneficiary of a 1st and 10 play from the Chargers 30 that Philip Rivers threw to Reshad Jones when it was intended for Malcom Floyd. The return went sixteen yards to the 31 of San Diego.

On the first play of the ensuing drive, Tannehill then threw for 21 yards to Damien Williams to the 10 yard line of the Chargers. After two plays of no gain and one for only two, Sturgis had another 26 yard field goal try that was good. 17˗0.

Another three and out from San Diego gave Miami the football back. On a third and 12 from the Chargers’ 46, Tannehill found Mike Wallace for 38 yards to the 8 yard line. The Dolphins would only net one yard on the next few plays as Sturgis would come out on the field for another 26 yard field goal attempt. It was good as the lead became 20˗0.

The Chargers would go three and out again before the Dolphins had one final possession going into the halftime period. It appeared that it was once again going to result in points with the Dolphins advancing the football to the 28 yard line. Tannehill after running to the 28 had fumbled but it was recovered by Miami.

But, Sturgis had to kick a field goal from 45 yards out that was no good.

Miami had to be at least glad that they would be the ones getting the football back as the second half began. On 2nd and 10 from the 21, Tannehill threw to Rishard Matthews for a 21 yard TD to make the score 27˗0.

San Diego picked up a first down on their next drive, but it would stall when a Rivers pass intended for Keenan Allen instead was picked off by Brent Grimes from the Chargers’ 45 to the 19 yard line.

Despite forcing a first and goal situation from the eight yard line, Miami could not find the end zone and had to settle for a field goal from Sturgis: this time from 23 yards out. It was good for a 30˗0 lead.

Miami’s next drive would be a three and out. So would San Diego’s but the Chargers had more consequences. A third and 9 at the 11 resulted in a sack of Rivers for a loss of seven yards and a fumble. Olivier Vernon caused the turnover and Jared Odrick was on the recovery.

That was turned into seven points with a Tannehill TD pass to Jarvis Landry to make the blowout official at 37˗0.
At this point, both teams brought in their backup QBs with Kellen Clemens for the Chargers and Matt Moore for the Dolphins.

With both backups in, this resulted in not much happening for the remainder of the game as the 4th quarter was mainly uneventful. San Diego mustered no comeback and Miami already had a comfortable lead en route to the win.

• Tannehill: 24/34, 288 yards, 3 TDs
• Miller: 11 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD
• Clay: 5 receptions, 65 yards

• Rivers: 12/23, 138 yards, 3 INT
• Brown: 4 carries, 23 yards
• Floyd: 4 carries, 60 yards

Week 10: SD bye, MIA at DET

Red Hot

Nov 2, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona Cardinals nose tackle Dan Williams (92) celebrates his second quarter sack with defensive end Calais Campbell (93) and defensive tackle Frostee Rucker (98) against Dallas Cowboys quarterback Brnadon Weeden (3) at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Cardinals may be the textbook definition of what happens when the media tries too hard to enforce a certain narrative.

Coming into this week, they were 6˗1. In other words, they were 6˗1. In other words, they had just as many victories as the Denver Broncos had and were one better than the New England Patriots in the loss column. But, because the Cards don’t have a sexy quarterback name like Manning, Brady, or Brees (more on the former two later), the Cardinals are the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL.

Compare that with what happened last week on Monday Night Football when the Dallas Cowboys were stunned at home by Colt McCoy and the Washington Redskins. They beat the ‘Boys 20˗17.

In addition, Tony Romo suffered an injury leaving Brandon Weeden to start this game. Weeden is a former Browns quarterback. Could one imagine the media hype that would occur if Jerry Jones drafted a certain media hyped up QB that is now suiting up for the Browns?

That’s better left unsaid. Anyway…how did the proceedings go for the two teams?

Inauspiciously in the early going if you are Arizona. In the first drive of the game on a 3rd and 7 play, a Carson Palmer pass intended for Michael Floyd was instead picked off by Tyler Patmon at the Cowboys’ 42. 58 yards later, the Cowboys had a 6˗0 lead. A Dan Bailey field goal later made it 7˗0.

The next Cardinals possession would end in a three and out.

Weeden would then lead Dallas on a 10 play, 49 yard drive that included a 40 yard pass to Lance Dunbar that moved the chains from the Cowboys’ 30 yard line to that of Arizona’s. It would increase the lead to 10˗0 when after advancing the football to the 34 yard line (penalties), Bailey kicked a 52 yard field goal through the uprights.

Arizona hoped to respond. On a 3rd and 2 from the Arizona 36, Palmer connected with Larry Fitzgerald for a 31 yard pass as that moved the chains to the Cowboys’ 33 yard line. It would culminate in a seven yard TD pass from Carson (Palmer) to (John) Carlson as the Cardinals got on the scoreboard.

The next three drives overall would be three and outs before Arizona got the ball back midway through the second. First and 10 plays from the Arizona 49 and the Dallas 31 both resulted in 20 yard gains for Andre Ellington (one via a run and another via a pass). The eight play, 63 yard possession ended with a Jaron Brown 11 yard touchdown reception from Palmer to give the Cardinals a 14˗10 lead.

The Cowboys hoped to put points on the board as the half was about to expire. They had a timeout and the two minute warning on their side. After moving the football to the 17 yard line, the Cowboys hoped to put three more points on the board with a 35 yard field goal. But Arizona blocked it and Patrick Peterson recovered as time expired for the half.

After both teams traded three and outs early, Dallas started its next drive with decent field position at midfield. The Cowboys got three first downs and advanced the football to the 18 yard line of the Cardinals before Weeden threw to Tyrann Mathieu. One problem…he’s a Cardinal.

After the nine yard return from the 10 to the 19, the following Arizona possession did not result in any points off of that turnover. The Cowboys would then get three first downs on its first drive but it resulted in no points.

Both teams exchanged three and outs their next possessions. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Cardinals were on the move, including a Palmer pass to Ted Ginn for 27 yards to the Cowboys 28 yard line before being pushed out of bounds. Four plays later (and three of them being first and goal at the one), Palmer passed to Ellington for a one yard TD and a 21˗10 lead.

Two plays into the following Dallas drive, Weeden was looking for Terrance Williams. He found Antonio Cromartie instead who returned the football to the Dallas 28.

Five plays into Arizona’s following possession, they scored on what was the fourth out of five run plays to Marion Grice. Originally, it was said that Grice didn’t break the plane, but he did. 28˗10 after Chandler Catanzaro’s extra point.

Dallas had to act fast. Their next (and last) possession of the game featured a 2nd and 10 play to the Cowboys’ 38 that was a 24 yard pass to Jason Witten. The 12 play, 87 yard drive ended in a short pass to Dez Bryant for a score and a 28˗17 game.

The game would end when Bailey’s following onside kick was recovered by Larry Fitzgerald. Two kneel downs later, the Cards had sealed their seventh victory of the year.

Now, can they get respect from the Cowboy˗lovin’ press?

• Palmer: 22/34, 249 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
• Ellington: 21 carries, 95 yards
• Fitzgerald: 5 receptions, 70 yards

• Weeden: 18/33, 183 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
• Murray: 19 carries, 79 yards
• Witten: 6 receptions, 62 yards

Week 10: DAL at JAC, STL at ARI

Patriotic Statement

Nov 2, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws against the Denver Broncos during the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Brady. Peyton Manning.

Not much has to be said after those four words.

Remember when the Kansas City Chiefs were the beneficiary of a 41˗14 blowout of the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football? Everyone and their football˗lovin’ mamas were declaring that it was time for Tom Brady to retire. Brady had supposedly lost what had made him so great.

So much for that.

Ever since then, he seems to have looked like the same Brady that has competed in five Super Bowls and won three of them. Last week, Brady and the Pats thrashed the Chicago Bears 51˗23 in a game that saw Brady’s QB rating near 150.

Meanwhile, Manning who had already set the all time record for touchdowns earlier in the season, was coming off a 35˗21 victory on Thursday Night over the San Diego Chargers. As was mentioned earlier, the Chargers didn’t exactly perform well the following Sunday.

So of course anytime Brady and Manning meet, the press hypes it up like it’s a preview of the Super Bowl (which it only can be when they’re in opposing conferences).

On top of that, the Foxboro area dressed up as the North Pole for the Halloween weekend as snow pelted Massachusetts prior to the game. We all know how Manning and Brady perform in snowy conditions.

The Broncos began the game with a three and out which was followed by New England only scoring one first down on their first drive. Another Denver three and out later was followed by a punt that would have been caught at the Patriots’ 46 yard line by Danny Amendola, but was interfered with. The fifteen yard penalty gave New England the ball at the Broncos’ 39 yard line.

But, they only moved the football 8 yards as Stephen Gostkowski put the first three points on the board for New England with a 49 yard field goal.

For the time being, that lead would evaporate after the Broncos’ next possession. Manning, on 2nd and 6 at the Broncos’ 48 found Emmanuel Sanders for 21 yards to the Patriots’ 31. Ronnie Hillman capped off a 9 play, 80 yard drive with a one yard touchdown. Brandon McManus’ extra point was good for a 7˗3 lead.

The first play of the following Patriots drive would be a short pass to Rob Gronkowski for 20 yards to the New England 42. The Patriots would maintain possession as the second quarter began. The drive would stall at the 11 yard line of Denver, setting the stage for a 29 yard field goal via Gostkowski. This made the score 7˗6.

The second play of the following Denver possession would see Manning try to hit Demaryius Thomas for a first down gain, but Rob Ninkovich was on the pick at the 45. He returned the football 11 yards to the 34.

Four plays into New England’s next drive, they converted that turnover into points when Brady found Julian Edelman for a five yard touchdown and a 13˗7 lead.

Denver’s drive began at the 20. Two plays in, D. Thomas was the recipient of a 24 yard pass from Manning to the 41 yard line of the Broncos. After a penalty, this brought up a situation of 2nd and 10 becoming 2nd and 20. After 4th and 20 at their own 31, Denver attempted to punt, but Britton Colquitt fumbled. He then recovered to punt to Edelman who returned that punt 84 yards for a TD and a 20˗7.

A penalty for an ineligible downfield was declined.

Denver’s fortunes didn’t get much better. The next drive did include a Manning/Emmanuel Sanders gain of 25 yards from the Patriots’ 48 to their 23. Four plays later, McManus came on the field for another FG try (41 yards) but it was no good as it hit an upright.

This was followed by a New England three and out and a drive that saw the Broncos gain two first downs, but with the drive ending on 4th and 6 sack of Manning for a loss of nine.

This gave the Patriots possession at their own 43. On 2nd and 21 from the Broncos 49, Brady threw to Edelman for a 26 yard gain. Later, he passed to Edelman again for what appeared to be a five yard touchdown, but he couldn’t maintain possession of the ball and the ruling was reversed.

No harm, no foul for New England as Brady would get his five yard TD pass courtesy of Shane Vereen for a 27˗7 score as the half expired.

On top of that, the Patriots would start the second half with possession. But, they only had two first downs and the possession ended with a Brady interception by Bradley Roby.

Denver would once again answer by converting a turnover into points. On 3rd and 6 from the 47, Manning found D. Thomas for 27 yards. Then, he found Julius Thomas for an 18 yard TD pass. This cut their deficit to 27˗14.

The big play of the next drive would be Brady passing to Amendola for 21 yards on 3rd and 8 from the Pats’ 37 yard line. That 12 play, 53 yard drive lasting over three minutes ended with a 45 yard field goal off the foot of Gostkowski. 30˗14.

Manning, on the first play of the following Broncos drive attempted to throw to former Patriot Wes Welker, but was picked off by Brandon Browner who returned that interception 30 yards to the 10 yard line of Denver. One play later, Brady got those 10 yards by throwing to the end zone to Brandon LaFell for a 37˗14 lead.

The next Denver possession featured all pass plays, including one to Emmanuel Sanders from Manning for 25 yards from the Broncos 41 to the Patriots 34. He would then find Hillman for 15 yards to end a 4 play, 72 yard drive lasing under two minutes to make the score 37˗21.

Late in the Pats’ following scoring drive that ended in the beginning of the fourth quarter, Brady found Gronk on two occasions. Once on 1st and 10 from the 21 for 20 yards and another for a short TD pass. 43˗21.

The Broncos only got two first downs on their next drive, but one of them was for 41 yards to Demaryius Thomas to the Patriots’ 39. They had forced 1st and goal from the 9 but were denied the goal line for 2nd and 3rd downs.
Needing as many points as they could get, they had to attempt to go for it on fourth down. They couldn’t settle for an FG.

Manning attempted to pass to Jacob Tamme. Incomplete.

The turnover on downs led to the two teams trading the next three and outs overall.

With over six minutes left, Manning threw for 20 yards to C.J. Anderson. A penalty on New England’s Patrick Chung was for 15 yards.

Denver advanced the football to Patriots’ 26 yard line and were in a 4th and 1 scenario, but Manning threw incomplete to Sanders.

At this point, all the Pats had to do was take care of the football and they did so with primarily run plays. Denver burned their last two timeouts and it was past the two minute warning as well. On 4th and 6 from the Broncos’ 46, New England punted.

Three run plays to Anderson later, it was over as New England made a huge statement to the rest of the NFL.

• Brady: 33/53, 333 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
• Gray: 12 carries, 33 yards
• Gronkowski: 9 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD

• Manning: 34/57, 438 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
• Anderson: 3 carries, 18 yards
• Sanders: 10 receptions, 151 yards

Week 10: DEN at OAK, NE bye

SixBurgh

Nov 2, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) celebrates his sixth touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of the game at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 43-23. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Why does it appear that every time the Steelers and Ravens play each other that it is always placed on the national schedule?

The answer to this question is obvious, but that’s for another column at another time.

But there is a reason, especially in regards to this matchup. This isn’t just a rivalry, it’s a rivalry that regularly features both teams being good. The AFC North is arguably the best division in the NFL.

Baltimore did look like a team that was primed and ready for another Super Bowl run even though they seemed to have struggled as of late. They did lose to the Cincinnati Bengals at home by a final of 27˗24.

Meanwhile, is this the most people seemed to have been talking about Ben Roethlisberger since his rookie season and the two years he won Super Bowls? He only threw for a pedestrian 522 yards last week over Indianapolis as well as 6 TDs.

Apparently, Roethlisberger had the same number on his mind for Sunday night.

Baltimore only managed two first downs on its opening drive before a Steelers three and out followed. After that punt, Jacoby Jones returned the football 25 yards to the 35 yard line of the Steelers.

That was followed by a Joe Flacco pass to Torrey Smith for those 35 yards and a TD for a 7˗0 Baltimore Ravens advantage.

The next five drives overall for both teams would be three and outs. It looked like another defensive struggle. Typical Ravens/Steelers, right?

With five minutes left, Baltimore managed only one first down gain before punting again. Pittsburgh took over with just under three minutes left. They would keep possession going into the second quarter.

They got two first downs as the quarter expired, but penalties and three straight sacks of Big Ben made the Steelers go backwards instead of forwards.

The Ravens’ next drive started at the 30 of the Ravens. The fourth play would feature a run from Lorenzo Taliaferro for four yards. Arthur Moats was responsible for a fumble and it was scooped up by Brice McCain. The 26 yard return put the football at the 27 yard line of Baltimore.

After a Roethlisberger pass to Antonio Brown for seven yards, the Ravens were flagged twice. Once on Matt Elam for defensive holding and once on Lardarius Webb for a horse collar tackle. This set up first and goal from the 10.

Three plays later, Roethlisberger threw to Le’Veon Bell for a five yard TD. Shaun Suisham’s extra point was good for a 7˗7 tie.

Two plays into Baltimore’s next possession would see Flacco attempt to throw to Crockett Gillmore but it was picked off by Jason Worilds to the 30 yard line of Baltimore. Three plays into the ensuing Pittsburgh drive with a short field, Roethlisberger threw to Martavis Bryant for a TD for 19 yards. 14˗7 Pittsburgh.

On the following Baltimore Ravens’ drive, they would advance the football 49 yards on 10 plays, including a 24 yard pass from Flacco to Justin Forsett who was pushed out of bounds. They had possession on their own 46 but that moved the chains to the Steelers’ 30. Four plays later after advancing to the Pittsburgh 28, Justin Tucker kicked a 46 yard field goal through the uprights. 14˗10.

The ensuing Steelers’ scoring drive would last 5 plays for 80 yards for less than a minute. Why? Because on 1st and 10 from the Ravens’ 47, Roethlisberger connected with Markus Wheaton for a TD (plus an ensuing two point conversion attempt) and a 22˗10 advantage.

Baltimore would only run three more plays as the half expired.

The Steelers would start the second half with possession even though they only managed one first down on their first drive of the third quarter.

The Ravens got two first downs on their next possession, but nothing more. Flacco attempted to pass to Taliaferro but it was ruled a sack when James Harrison got pressure and got to the quarterback. Originally, it was ruled an incomplete pass. This forced a punt.

Each team then traded drives where they only picked up one first down. The Steelers’ last possession of the third quarter that lasted until the fourth. Pittsburgh didn’t advance the football far until a 3rd and 9 play from the 46. Roethlisberger passed to Antonio Brown for 54 yards and a score for a 28˗10 lead.

The following play: special teams. Suisham kicked a 73 yard kick to Jacoby Jones. He returned it 108 yards for a TD to make the score 29˗17.

Pittsburgh would then engineer a nine play, 71 yard drive that lasted over four minutes, ending in a Roethlisberger pass to Markus Bryant for 18 yards and a TD. This made the game 36˗17.

A Ravens three and out was followed by one for the Steelers, but Pittsburgh’s had worse consequences when Roethlisberger fumbled and it was recovered by DeAngelo Tyson at the Steelers’ 33.

The following drive for the Ravens featured almost all pass plays including a 17 yard pass to Forsett from the Steelers’ 20 that forced first and goal from the 3 yard line. Three plays later, Gillmore was on the receiving end of a Flacco pass for a TD. The two point conversion attempt failed for a 36˗23 score.

Pittsburgh answered with a 4 play, 41 yard drive that lasted for over a minute. It culminated in a Matt Spaeth 33 yard reception for a touchdown from Roethlisberger to make the score 44˗23.

The Ravens would have one last possession, in which they moved the football to the Steelers’ 27 yard line, but with the clock not on their side, it was as good as over.

• Roethlisberger: 25/37, 340 yards, 6 TDs
• Blount: 10 carries, 23 yards
• Brown: 11 receptions, 144 yards, 1 TD

• Flacco: 30/43, 303 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
• Forsett: 9 carries, 38 yards
• Forsett: 5 receptions, 67 yards

Week 10: TEN at BAL, PIT at NYJ

Other Games

Oct 26, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; General view of the NFL logo on the goal post pad before the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Saints defeat Panthers 28˗10

Browns defeat Buccaneers 22˗17

Eagles defeat Texans 31˗21

Chiefs defeat Jets 24˗10

Bengals defeat Jaguars 33˗23

Rams defeat 49ers 13˗10

Seahawks defeat Raiders 30˗24

Colts vs. Giants (8:30, Monday Night Football)