The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) were one of three AFC North teams to win in Week 15, remaining on top of the AFC Wild Card standings with a 27-20 victory at the Atlanta Falcons (5-9).
After the Steelers settled for two field goals in the first quarter, William Gay set the tone and gave his team a 13-0 lead with an interception of Matt Ryan returned 52 yards for a touchdown. It was Gay’s third such play of the season, the most by any Steelers defensive player in any season in franchise history.
Atlanta finally got on the board with just over four minutes left in the first half on a touchdown pass from Ryan to Devin Hester, though the play came after a controversial roughing the passer penalty that aided Atlanta in getting down into the red zone. The flag was thrown on Jason Worilds but appeared to be a clean, albeit hard hit.
Pittsburgh had an answer though before the intermission, as Le’Veon Bell completed a 12-play, 80-yard drive by punching it in from the one with just 27 seconds left. With a 20-7 lead, the Pittsburgh offense was not productive in the third quarter but Atlanta only could manage two field goals by Matt Bryant, cutting the lead to 20-13 heading into the final quarter of play.
Bell would score again, this time from 13 yards out to complete another 80-yard scoring drive. Atlanta scored on the ensuing drive on a four-yard throw to Roddy White, but the Steelers defense held up the rest of the way and the offense put the game away late, highlighted by a third-down conversion completion to Heath Miller inside the two-minute warning. Had they not converted on that play, Atlanta would have gotten the ball back and had a chance to drive to tie the game.
Gay’s interception was the only turnover forced by either team and it proved to be the difference in the game. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 360 yards and completed 27 of 35 passes, with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He was sacked just once, a credit to the pass blocking by his offensive line. That same line, though, was unable to open up much space for Le’Veon Bell, who managed just 47 yards on 20 carries. He was nonetheless productive, though, scoring the Pittsburgh offense’s two touchdowns. Antonio Brown was, again, the team’s leading receiver with ten grabs for 123 yards. Bell caught five passes for 72 yards and Markus Wheaton had five for 66 yards.
For Atlanta, Matt Ryan was an efficient 26 of 37 for 310 yards and two touchdowns, but his one mistake proved very costly for the Falcons, who despite a poor record entered the day in first place in the NFC South. If New Orleans loses on Monday night, the Falcons will retain an advantage over the Saints, but both teams would be behind Carolina (5-8-1), winners on Sunday.
Ryan’s top target was Harry Douglas, who caught ten passes for a game-high 131 yards. White caught seven for 58 and a touchdown and Hester reeled in five for 85 yards. The Atlanta running game was not successful either, as Steven Jackson managed just 46 yards on 11 attempts.
Cincinnati (9-4-1) defeated Cleveland (7-7) in QB Johnny Manziel’s debut as a starter, winning in a 30-0 rout, so they maintain sole possession of first place in the division. Baltimore (9-5) won against Jacksonville, so the AFC North is the only division in the league with three teams that have nine or more wins. Pittsburgh remains ahead of Baltimore in the Wild Card standings due to a better record within the division. Each team has one game remaining against division opponents, both at home in the final week of the season. Baltimore hosts the Browns that week and Pittsburgh hosts the Bengals. Prior to that though, the Steelers next face Kansas City (8-6) at Heinz Field on December 21 at 1:00 pm. The Chiefs are battling for a Wild Card spot, as well.
