Steelers defense shuts down Big Blue 24-14 en route to third win in a row

The Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants entered Week 13 with something to prove. For Pittsburgh, it was the fact they were better than their 6-5 record, and were actually contenders, and not pretenders, in the AFC Playoff Picture. For New York, to prove their 6-game winning streak wasn’t a fluke against sub-par teams, but the sign of things to come for Big Blue.

Either way, at Heinz Field, a score would be settled between these two teams and the Steelers would be the recipients of the opening kickoff. Although the team was able to move the ball, Jordan Berry would be called on early to help flip field position. After the Giants, and Brad Wing, sent their share of punts, it was James Harrison who got the Steelers on the board.

After being held in their own end zone, Harrison’s safety gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead. Wing’s ensuing punt gave Pittsburgh good field position, and they turned it into a Randy Bullock, filling in for Chris Boswell, 44-yard field goal to add to their lead, giving them a 5-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Eli Manning and company took their next possession into the red-zone, but it ended with a Lawrence Timmons interception and 58-yard return to set up Ben Roethlisberger well in New York territory. Three plays later Roethlisberger hit Antonio Brown for a touchdown to give Pittsburgh a 11-0 lead. The Steelers went for the two-point conversion, and failed.

After another New York three-and-out, Ben Roethlisberger orchestrated a tremendous scoring drive taking up over 5:00 and ending in another Bullock field goal to give Pittsburgh a 14-0 lead at the halfway point of the game.

New York received the ball to start the third quarter, and after teams exchanged possessions, the Giants were stopped on a 4th and 1 deep in the red-zone. Pittsburgh, running the ball out of their own territory with Le’Veon Bell, gave the ball back to the Giants by a fumble. Manning wasted little time turning the turnover into a touchdown by a screen pass to Rashad Jennings.

Pittsburgh’s offense came storming back as Roethlisberger hit Ladarius Green for his first touchdown as a member of the black and gold. Manning and company would continue to move the ball, but with nothing to show for it. Manning threw his second interception of the game when Sean Davis jumped in front of Sterling Shepard on a 4th and 13 play in the fourth quarter. However, the Steelers offense was unable to put together a scoring drive, giving the Giants hope only down 14 points.

Nonetheless, the Pittsburgh defense stood tall again, sacking Manning on 4th down, giving the ball back to their offense on downs. The Steelers turned to Le’Veon Bell to ice the game, and that is exactly what he did. Pittsburgh iced the game with another Bullock field goal giving the Steelers a 24-7 lead.

A garbage time touchdown from Eli Manning to Sterling Shepard cut into Pittsburgh’s lead, making the score 24-14, and that would stand as the final score.

The Steelers victory advances their record to 7-5, their third win in a row, and prepares them for a road game in Week 14 when they travel to play the Buffalo Bills.