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To start the second quarter, after each team punted for the first time in the game, the Steelers started with the ball at their own 8-yard line. Roethlisberger was near perfect the entire drive as the offense marched 92-yards and finished the drive with a dart from Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown.
Yo, it's about that time.
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 16, 2018
To bring forth the rhythm and the rhyme.#TouchBrown pic.twitter.com/NI7vKtgZop
The Boswell extra point was good, giving the Steelers a 14-7 lead. The overall highlight of the drive was none other than Eli Rogers, who was recently taken off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and activated this week.
But the story of this game was always about the Steelers’ defense, and they continued to stand tall against Brady and company throughout the game. But when the Patriots pinned Pittsburgh at their one-yard line, Stevan Ridley and Jaylen Samuels burst the team near midfield and poised to strike again. However, an errant Roethlisberger pass sailed into the arms of a Patriots’ defender giving the ball right back to New England.
The Steelers’ defense held strong and forced a three-and-out giving the ball back to Roethlisberger with 5:13 left in the first half, but they gave the ball back to New England after their drive stalled around midfield. Pittsburgh’s defense stood tall and went into halftime with a 14-7 lead.