Mendenhall rolls for overtime TD

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

For one game, Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension didn’t matter. Not with the Pittsburgh Steelers returning to their decades-long cornerstones for winning, defense and the running game.

Rashard Mendenhall ran 50 yards for a touchdown 2:35 into overtime and the Steelers overcame a shaky start by replacement quarterback Dennis Dixon and a missed field goal attempt late in regulation to beat the Atlanta Falcons 15-9 on Sunday.

“We’ve got to prepare for those type of games [without Roethlisberger],” defensive end Brett Keisel said. “We’ll take a win any way we can get it, anyhow we can get it.”

Mendenhall carried 22 times for 120 yards. A Steelers defense that was the NFL’s best two seasons ago before slipping a year ago held Atlanta (0-1) to 58 yards rushing — former All-Pro Michael Turner gained 42 yards — and three Matt Bryant field goals.

“In the run game, you’ve got to be patient,” said Mendenhall, who cut to his right, found the open field and took it in despite stumbling near the 10 on his game-winner. “You wait all day for something like that to open up. The run game, you’ve got to stick with it and stick with it.”

Pittsburgh (1-0) appeared ready to win it with 39 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but Jeff Reed, who has nine career game-winning kicks, was wide right on a 40-yard attempt. Reed had hit earlier from 52, 36 and 34 yards.

Reed’s 34-yarder in the fourth made it 9-6, following catches of 25 and 24 yards on successive pass plays by Hines Ward. Ward had 108 yards in his club record 26th career 100-yard game and surpassed 11,000 yards receiving in his career.

Atlanta tied it with 3:24 remaining on Bryant’s third field goal, a 23-yarder, after deciding against going for it on fourth and a long 1 at the Pittsburgh 5.

“I felt we needed to tie the game,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “It was relatively simple when you consider the percentages.”

Turner, despite averaging barely 2 yards per carry, felt they needed to run it.

“When Coach called it, I was getting ready, getting myself pumped up,” Turner said. “If we would have got that I think we would have probably finished the game off. But Coach changed his mind. We have to trust his decision.”

It was the third overtime game in as many Falcons-Steelers meetings. They played a 34-all tie in 2002 at Heinz Field, and Atlanta won 41-38 at home in 2006.

Predictably, the Steelers came out with a conservative game plan with Dixon making his second career start and Roethlisberger serving the first game of his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

What was surprising was the Falcons played similarly. Matt Ryan was 27 of 44 for an ineffectual 252 yards and was intercepted by Troy Polamalu with 1:45 remaining, giving Reed his failed opportunity to win it.

Roddy White made 13 catches for 111 yards, but the Falcons were within touchdown range only once while being outgained 354-295. Atlanta didn’t score until the final play of the first half, when Bryant made a 49-yarder to tie it at 3 after Reed missed from 55.

“I think it’s inexcusable, but they’re a good defense,” tight end Tony Gonzalez said.

Polamalu, injured most of last season, made a perceptible difference in a Steelers defense that gave up leads in the fourth quarter five times last season as Pittsburgh went 9-7.

“I think for the most part we shut them down,” Keisel said of a defense that has only three starters younger than 30. “Teams are going to test us. We’re old and washed up and teams are going to see if we can still play.”