 |
| Getty Images |
Yesterday, Steelers’ quarterback Charlie Batch showed the world that he can still play the quarterback position. One week after his disappointing performance against the Tennessee Titans, Batch redeemed himself. His strong play at quarterback, helped lead the Steelers to a convincing 38-13 victory over the upstart Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The win keeps the Steelers perfect on the season, with only one game remaining, before the team’s bye week.
The game did not exactly start the way that Batch had hoped. On his very first pass attempt, he was intercepted by Buccaneers’ defensive back, Aqib Talib. The turnover resulted in a field goal for Tampa Bay. The field goal would be the Buccaneers’ only lead of the game. Two possessions later, Batch would ignite the Steelers’ offense by throwing a 46-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace. The touchdown gave the Steelers a 7-3 lead, and they would never look back. The quarterback would go on to throw two more touchdowns on the day. One being a 41-yard pass to Mike Wallace, and the other was an 8-yard strike to Hines Ward. Batch spread the ball around nicely throughout the game, finding six different receivers. The veteran quarterback’s final numbers were nothing short of impressive. He was 12 of 17 for 186 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Not bad for a guy who at one point this season, was the team’s fourth-string quarterback.
Charlie Batch may have stolen the headlines from yesterday’s game, but there were some performances that should not be overlooked. Rashard Mendenhall had a big game in his own right. The third-year halfback rushed for 143 yards, and had a rushing touchdown. Mendenhall’s play helped provide a healthy balance for the offense, as it kept the pressure off of Batch’s shoulders. Once again, the Steelers’ defense was masterful. They allowed only one touchdown on the day, and forced two turnovers. One of which, was an interception by Brett Keisel, who returned it for a 79-yard touchdown. The defense kept Tampa’s ground game in check, and had three sacks on Josh Freeman.
By M.C. Smith
0 comments:
Post a Comment