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SPORTS Saturday 18 November 2017

Roethlisberger throws 4 TDs, Steelers drill Titans 40-17

By WILL GRAVES goals and the Steelers ap-
AP Sports Writer peared on the verge of an-
PITTSBURGH (AP) — An- other prime-time blowout
other uninspiring half in the at home.
books in a season littered The blowout did eventually
with them for a team that arrive, just not quickly.
expects to play deep into The offense ground to a
January and beyond, Ben halt for the rest of the half,
Roethlisberger decided he held in check by former
had seen enough. defensive coordinator Dick
So the Pittsburgh Steelers LeBeau. The Hall of Famer
quarterback decided it spent 12 years building a
was time to speak up. The defense that helped Pitts-
defense had kept the Ten- burgh to two Super Bowl
nessee Titans and star Mar- victories before being ush-
cus Mariota in check, yet a ered out in favor of protege
game that had the makings Keith Butler in January 2015.
of a blowout didn’t feel like The 80-year-old is in the
one mostly because the middle of his latest project
offense kept squandering with the steadily improving
chance after chance. Titans.
No more. Yet the gap between Ten-
“He didn’t call anyone out, nessee and Pittsburgh re-
he called all of us out,” mains significant. The proof
guard David DeCastro said. came after Mathews’ long
“Linemen. Receivers. Him- Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) comes down with a touchdown reception as catch-and-run appeared
self. Running backs. Purely Tennessee Titans cornerback Logan Ryan (26) defends during the second half of an NFL football to give the Titans momen-
positive. It was a challenge. game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. tum.
He challenged us. The guys Associated Press The Steelers reeled off three
responded.” batic grab in the back of winning streak to five. play of the second half to straight touchdown drives.
None better than the the end zone in which he Though Mariota ran for a get to 16-14. Roethlisberger found a
35-year-old Roethlisberger. pinned the ball to his hel- touchdown and threw for Then Roethlisberger and leaping Brown for a 5-yard
Running the no-huddle of- met before bringing it in to another, he was also picked the NFL’s highest-paid of- score restored a nine-point
fense to near perfection, put Pittsburgh up 20 in the off a career-high four times fense got going. Finally. Ro- lead, executed a perfect
Roethlisberger threw for fourth quarter as the Steel- as the Titans (6-4) saw their ethlisberger dropped some play-action fake at the goal
299 yards and four touch- ers set a season-high for four-game winning streak very not subtle hints that line before flipping it to a
downs, three to Antonio points and margin of vic- come to a crashing halt. he wanted the freedom wide-open Jesse James for
Brown, as the Steelers tory. Mariota finished 22 of 33 provided by the no-huddle a 1-yard strike and put the
pulled away for a 40-17 vic- “We’ve talked so much for 306 yards but was under after the Steelers used it to Titans away with a lob to
tory. about having the potential pressure much of the night. pick the Colts apart during the back corner of the end
“I don’t care if you’re old or in this room, but we can still “When you play teams that the winning drive last Sun- zone that Brown somehow
young, just someone has to strive for more,” said de- are this caliber that are day in Indianapolis. hauled in from 10 yards out
step up and make a play fensive end Cam Heyward, contenders, that win week Offensive coordinator Todd that made it 37-17.
for this team or else we are who had two of Pittsburgh’s in and week out, that’s the Haley appeared to be lis- Pittsburgh rookie JuJu
going to keep relying on five sacks. “We’re a hungry blueprint,” Mariota said. tening. Pittsburgh opened Smith-Schuster knelt down
our defense,” said Roeth- group that still has a lot to “We’re going to learn from in the no huddle and need- and bowed to Brown dur-
lisberger, who went 20 of prove. it. We’re going to get bet- ed just six plays to take the ing the giddy celebration.
23 for 185 yards and three We’re chasing ghosts. ter from it and hopefully lead as Roethlisberger took Hard to blame the 20-year-
touchdowns in the second We’re trying to be the best we’ll see them again.” advantage of a free play old. For the first time all sea-
half. “It is time that we step defense. That’s what we There’s plenty to work on. and hit Brown with a 41- son, the Steelers put it all
up and do something.” strive for.” Tennessee appeared to be yard rainbow. Mike Hilton together and looked every
Brown caught 10 passes For long stretches, the in it when Mariota found then returned Mariota’s in- bit like a team with a legiti-
for 144 yards and the three Steelers (8-2) looked the Matthews with a 75-yard terception to set up the first mate threat to live up to its
scores, including an acro- part while extending their touchdown pass on the first of Chris Boswell’s four field own hype.q