Plays That Changed the Games – Week 2
By Todd
The Mighty Black and Gold traveled to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans in week 2 last year and walked away with their second win to start the season.
The Titans are usually a tough out for the Steelers and seem to match up well, but on this day, the Steelers managed to win on the foot of “Skippy” Reed, a great time for a little trickery, and one play Citizens are coming to expect from one of the best in the game.
Special Teams are Special
The game was changed early on. In fact, the Steelers took the lead before their offense even set foot on the field.
On the opening kickoff, Mewelde Moore handed a reverse to Antonio Brown. Brown dashed up the field for an 89-yard touchdown. It would be the only touchdown by the Steelers on the day as their offense struggled to move the ball.
Denis Dixon was injured in the second quarter which brought Charlie Batch into the game. Between the two of them, they managed only 43 passing yards on 11 of 17 passing. Who said we weren’t missing Big Ben?
Jeff Reed was perfect in this game hitting all four field goal attempts and the single extra point. The longest kick he had was 36 yards.
Defense on point. What else is new?
The Steel Curtain controlled the game, as they so often do, while the offense tried to find its way.
The D only allowed 215 yards through the air and 46 yards on the ground. They sacked the Titans’ quarterback duo of Kerry Collins and Vince Young four times. One of those was a sack that Silverback James Harrison put on Vince Young and which he would be fined for, a suplex from the top turn-buckle. (I have your back, wrestling fans)
As if that weren’t enough, the defense forced seven, that’s right, seven turnovers, three picks and four fumbles. It could have been worse. The Titans actually fumbled seven times in all, but managed to recover three of them themselves.
The Play
Troy Polamalu would eventually be named Defensive POY and this play is one of the reasons.
Not many guys have the mind to time the snap this well, and have the athleticism to leap over the entire offensive line and sack the QB before he can dive through the pile.
What a great play by a great player.
Courtesy youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DyzASDVpwU&feature=related