Pittsburgh Steelers stun Arizona Cardinals with 25-13 win

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Landry Jones spent most of the first two-plus years of his career trying to prove he belonged in the NFL.

In one sensible and steady half, he answered them all.

Jones threw two touchdown passes to Martavis Bryant in relief of Michael Vick and the Pittsburgh Steelers rallied for a 25-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Vick left in the third quarter with a hamstring injury and Pittsburgh’s offense took off when Jones took over. Jones hit Bryant for an 8-yard score to give the Steelers the lead. The two hooked up later for an 88-yard strike as the Steelers (4-2) won their second straight.

Jones completed 8 of 12 passes for 168 yards and the two scores. Bryant caught six passes for 137 yards in his first action of the season. Le’Veon Bell ran for 88 yards and rookie Chris Boswell kicked three long field goals for the Steelers.

Carson Palmer threw for 421 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. John Brown caught 10 balls for 196 yards but the Cardinals collapsed in the second half to ruin a homecoming of sorts for coach Bruce Arians.

Arians was pushed out by the Steelers after the 2011 season, something he jokingly called a “refirement.” Nearly four years — and two NFL Coach of the Year Awards — later, Arians returned to Heinz Field with one of the best teams in football.

For a half, the Cardinals certainly looked like it.

Arizona dominated the opening 30 minutes, outgaining the Steelers 279-59 and doing whatever it wanted. All that dominance, however, only translated into a 10-3 lead.