Le’Veon Bell’s first playoff start was worth the wait, as the Steelers avenged an early season loss to the Dolphins, propelling them into the divisional round of the playoffs against Kansas City.
After missing out on the last two playoff appearances, Le’Veon Bell made up for lost time. He rushed for a new Steelers postseason team-record 167 yards on 29 carries, scoring two touchdowns. The Steelers dominated the Dolphins up front and had TD drives of 83, 85 and 90 on the first three possessions. The line was letting Ben Roethlisberger and Bell do whatever they wanted. The Steelers ran Bell on TEN straight plays at the end of the first quarter into the second quarter, ending in Bell’s first touchdown.Bell had 99 yards on 17 carries in the first half alone and ran all day.
Ben Roethlisberger, had a terrific game connecting on his first ten passes and finishing with 197 yards. He made the plays he needed to make. He connected with seven different receivers, with Antonio Brown leading the way with two touchdowns, 124 yards receiving on only five catches. Brown’s first touchdown was sprung by a great block by Jesse James on a screen play. In a cool moment, James watched the big screen after the block as Brown scored.
The defense was looking for redemption after getting gashed by Jay Ajayi for 200 yards back in Oct. They got it! The defense held Ajayi to 33 yards on 16 carries and the Dolphins never established the run. Ajayi’s longest run was eight yards and he was pummeled by the defensive line on every carry.
James Harrison put together a monster performance and it is hard to say it was vintage as he continues his winning battle with Father Time. He had the biggest play of the day on defense forcing Matt Moore to fumble at the Steelers 17 as the Dolphins were about to cut the lead down to one score. Harrison had 10 tackles, 1½ sacks and nailed Ajayi on his first run setting a tone. As great was Harrison was, Ryan Shazier was an absolute difference maker. He was all over the field and picked off one of Moore’s passes. He finished with six tackles and the interception. He was flying all over the field. Steady veteran Lawrence Timmons, who puked on the field during the first meeting, led the Steelers in tackles and had two late sacks.
It wouldn’t be a Steelers post season game without some type of special team’s disaster. The coverage teams were terrible and the return team gets flagged on nearly every play now. But the Steelers only punted twice the whole day and Jordan Berry did a nice job. Little Bos missed his first Extra Point but also drilled a 34-yard field goal.
In the end the Steelers redeemed one of their worst performances of the season and had the answers for Miami. It is onto Kansas City!
BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!
My “GAME BEER” goes to: Le’Veon Bell, you play your first postseason game and set the Steelers rushing record, you have done something. He chipped in with two touchdowns as well. He was a work horse back! Also Considered: James Harrison, we are of course partial to Harrison as he is the BWG guy, but his performance warranted a game beer as well, he absolutely dominated the Dolphins. Jesse James, for throwing a huge block and the entire O-Line, you wouldn’t have known Ndamukong Suh was playing until the fourth quarter!
Where I watched the game: The Janick was at the game, drinking Eddie Harkins’ trademark “Playoff Punch”, which is a derivative of “Riot Punch”, which if you drink too much of…you go blind! I stayed at the house and we had leftover hero sandwiches from the night before, from a great place called Citarellas. The “tailgate kids” and KGB received new jerseys on Friday night for playoff luck. The beer of choice was again, IC Light! RATIONING my beer as we are on a winning streak!
My Stat of the week: 167 Yards for Le’Veon Bell, breaking the Steelers record, Bell now holds the regular season and the postseason single game record for the Steelers. Two bonus stats, 35 post season wins, which is the most in NFL history also 2-2 which is the Steelers record in the postseason v. the Dolphins, Chuck Noll was 1-2 against his mentor Don Shula!
My Thoughts on next week: Pretty simple, play the football we have been playing and we will beat Kansas City. The Chiefs are tough and Arrowhead is a great home field advantage. But the Steelers can beat them if they play their best game.
This week’s Jersey: Pomara #74, 1967 Throwback, KGB and the Kids got this for me. My feeling is this will be the throwback next year, now that the Bumble Bees are retired.