Lack Of Running Game/Offense Snaps Giants 6 Game Win Streak
On Sunday Evening, the Pittsburgh Steelers ended the New York Giants 6-game winning streak 24-14. The Giants lack of offense really hurt the Giants chances with 234 yards to the Steelers 389. There barely was a running game for Big Blue in this one with the team only gaining 56 rushing yards.
The top performer for the Giants was wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. who caught 10 passes for 100 yards. The top performers for the Steelers were running back Le'Veon Bell and tight end Ladarius Green. Bell rushed for 118 yards. Meanwhile, Green caught 6 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.
Green lead the Steelers to a 24-14 win over the Giants.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Steelers defense got the scoring going first. Late in the first quarter, the Giants were pinned back to their own 9. Beckham then got called for an offensive pass interference putting the Giants back to their own 5. On third down, the Giants got called for offensive holding in the end zone by Eric Flowers which resulted in a safety to give the Steelers a 2-0 lead.
The Giants would then free kick it to the Steelers who returned the ball to their own 36 yard line. On a 3rd and 7, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger found Green at the Giants 24 yard line on a deep pass. However, the drive stalled and the Steelers settled for a Randy Bullock 44 yard field goal to put the Steelers up 5-0.
The Giants would start the next drive on their own 29. At the start of the 2nd quarter, the Giants would muster up a little drive. First quarterback Eli Manning would find Sterling Shepard for 10 yards. On 2nd and 5, the Steelers' cornerback Ross Cockrell got called for a pass interference putting the ball at the Steelers 41. The Giants drive seemed to stall when guard John Jerry got called for holding. However, Manning found tight end Will Tye on a short pass which Tye took for 15 yards to set up 3rd and 5. Manning would then find Beckham to the Steelers 15 and a first down. However on 2nd and 4 from the 9, linebacker Lawrence Timmons picked off a Manning pass intended for Larry Donnell and returned it for 58 yards to the Giants 40 yard line.
Manning's 2nd quarter interception proved to be a turning point for the game
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On the next play, Roethlisberger found tight end Jesse James for 11 yards to the Giants 29. Bell then ran for 7 yards on the next play. Roethlisberger then found wide receiver Antonio Brown for the 22 yard touchdown to put the Steelers up 11-0. The two point conversion failed.
Antonio Brown caught another touchdown today.
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
After a quick 3 and out, the Steelers took over at their own 20 yard line. After a couple of first downs, Roethlisberger found wide receiver Coby Hamilton for 12 yards to get the Steelers into Giants territory. The Giants seemed to have possibly stopped the Steelers drive when Green got called for an offensive pass interference. On a 3rd and 17 at the Giants 42, Roethlisberger found wide receiver Eli Rogers for 18 yards to the Giants 24. On the same play, defensive lineman Jason Pierre-Paul got hurt and never returned for the rest of the game. The Giants defense did tighten up, but Bullock would kick a 34 yard field goal to put the Steelers up 14-0 at halftime.
After both teams traded punts to start the 3rd quarter, the Giants would start off at their own 40 yard line. Manning then found Beckham on a deep pass play for 23 yards to the Steelers 37. On 2nd and 3, Paul Perkins ran for 18 yards to the Steelers 12. The Giants then got to the Steelers 3 and faced a 4th and 1. However, Manning's pass to Tye fell incomplete and the Giants turned the ball over on downs.
On the next drive, Bell was carrying the ball. However, linebacker Jonathan Casillas forced the ball out of Bell's hands which was recovered by Giants' cornerback Eli Apple at the Steelers 17. On 2nd and 6 from the 13, Manning found running back Rashad Jennings for the touchdown to cut the lead to 14-7.
On the next drive, the Steelers started at their own 12 after an offensive holding on the kickoff. On first down, Roethlisberger threw a deep ball to Green who caught it at the Steelers 45 for 33 yards. Bell then ran for 12 yards on the next play to the Giants 43. On 2nd and 6, Roethlisberger hooked up with Brown for 13 yards to the Giants 26. Then on 3rd and 4, Roethlisberger found Green for the 20 yard touchdown pass to put the Steelers up 21-7.
After the Giants went 3 and out, the Steelers got the ball on their own 32. On 2nd and 20, Roethlisberger threw a deep pass which was intercepted by Apple at the Giants 47. Manning then found tight end Jerell Adams for 10 yards to the Steelers 43 to end the 3rd quarter.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the Giants drove down to the Steelers 30. However, a false start penalty set up a 4th and 13 at the Steelers 35. The Giants went for it again and again turned the ball over when Manning threw an interception to safety Sean Davis.
After the Steelers punted, the Giants got the ball on the 50 yard line. On the first play of the drive, Manning found Beckham for 25 yards on a short pass. However, the drive stalled again and the Giants turned the ball over on downs again when Manning was sacked by defensive end Ricardo Matthews.
The Steelers took over at their own 32. Bell then had to big runs for 19 and 12 yards to get the Steelers down to the Giants 35. However, the drive stalled at the Giants 20 and the Steelers settled for a Bullock 38 yard field goal to give the Steelers a 24-7 lead with 1:39 to play.
Le'Veon Bell contributed to the Steelers win.
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
On the ensuing kickoff, kick returner Bobby Rainey returned the ball 38 yards to the Giants 48. The Steelers were called for an unnecessary roughness penalty that put the Giants at the Steelers 37. On the next play, Manning found Beckham for 14 yards to the Steelers 23. After another first down and a defensive pass interference, Manning found Shepard in the end zone to cut the lead to 24-14 with 26 seconds left. However, the Steelers recovered the onside kick to end the Giants slim hopes.
The Giants loss puts them 3 games behind the NFC East leading Dallas Cowboys. Both teams face off next Sunday night with the Cowboys win pretty much icing the division crown. The Giants still hold the upper wild card spot, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win has the Giants up by only a game. Meanwhile, the Steelers remain tied wit the AFC North leading Baltimore Ravens who hold the tiebreaker by virtue of a head-to-head victory over the Steelers. The Steelers face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon in Buffalo.
