Ben Roethlisberger played like the elite quarterback he is against one of the league’s worst pass defenses. Roethlisberger’s 367 passing yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions showed that the trade rumors leading up to Week 11 had no effect on his game.
Grade: A
Once again, Pittsburgh’s running game couldn’t get going. One big reason was the fact that the Steelers had to resort to the passing game after trailing by 10 points at halftime. Rookie running back Le’Veon Bell led the team with a minuscule 36 yards on 18 carries. However, he once again showed his versatility in the passing game by catching four passes for 52 yards.
Grade: C
The comparison between Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson and Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown was a pleasant surprise for Pittsburgh. Brown proved he could stand toe-to-toe with the best pass catcher in the league by snagging seven balls for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow receiver Jerricho Cotchery caught a touchdown for the third straight game, and now has five touchdowns in the last three games. Tight end Heath Miller even broke out of his funk with eight receptions (game-high) for 67 yards.
Grade: A
Defensive end Ziggy Hood did a good job of stepping in for the injured Brett Keisel. Hood finished the game with five tackles and a sack. Fellow defensive end Cameron Heyward didn’t get a sack for the third consecutive game, but he did have six total tackles, and put his share of pressure on Stafford.
Grade: B
Even without LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh’s corps of linebackers did a good job in both defending the pass and the run. Jason Worilds stepped in with seven tackles and a sack, while Lawrence Timmons had five tackles of his own to go along with his fumble recovery. For the second week in a row, the Steelers found a way to contain an explosive running game.
Grade: B
Johnson’s explosion in the second quarter would have demoralized just about any opposing secondary, but not Pittsburgh’s. Cornerback Ike Taylor was torched by Megatron for 179 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. Taylor was also flagged for two penalties, and did drop two potential interceptions. However, Taylor and the rest of the secondary showed their poise and found a way to shut down the Lions’ passing game, and allowed Stafford to complete only 19 of his 46 pass attempts.
Grade: B
The start of the second half of this season is going as planned for head coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers. Tomlin proved that despite off-the-field rumors and sudden meltdowns on the field, he's able to find a way to get his players focused on the matter at hand. This is the reason why Pittsburgh is surprisingly still in the hunt for the AFC North title.
Grade: A
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