Roethlisberger throws for 3 TDs as Steelers beat Redskins

After an off-season filled with so much promise, the Redskins found the same frustration in their season opener that has plagued them in year’s past as they lost at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers 38-16 their fourth straight season-opening loss.

Roethlisberger and Brown have connected on 500 passes in their careers, and some things they run, particularly by the sideline, are hard for any corner to cover. Williams had everything working, including a backbreaking 15-yard touchdown run as he split two defenders like a point guard. Williams converted a two third-and-1s with two runs of 3 yards on the second scoring drive. Redskins coach Jay Gruden and two members of his staff worked with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under Jon Gruden. “I know we were missing some pieces tonight, but we had “7.’ And when you got ‘7″ you got the chance to put together performances like that”.

Washington led 6-0 and appeared to have another scoring opportunity late in the first quarter when linebacker Ryan Kerrigan sacked and stripped Roethlisberger deep in Pittsburgh territory.

Roethlisberger, who finished 27 of 37 for 300 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, also threw in Breeland’s direction on Pittsburgh’s second score – though the Steelers got pretty lucky. “That’s why I played it the way I played it”. It was just a freak play, and he made the play. “That’s all I can say”.

The next time he got the ball, Big Ben took the Steelers 67 yards on 14 plays to make it 14-6. Give the ball to Jordan Reed and let him do the rest. Pittsburgh is 4-1 when opening the season on Monday night, and the Steelers’ 44-24 record on MNF is third-best in the National Football League behind Seattle (23-6) and San Francisco (47-25).

Monday night’s game between the Steelers and Redskins was billed as a matchup between Antonio Brown and Josh Norman. Washington drove inside the 15 before having to settle for a 31-yard Dustin Hopkins field goal.

Think about it: The Steelers were without several key offensive players on the road against a 2015 playoff team and still posted 437 offensive yards and five touchdowns. He made up for it by catching six passes for 59 yards and his first National Football League touchdown.

On second-and-10, Roethlisberger fumbled the snap, picked the ball up and heaved it down the left sideline where Sammie Coates hauled it in for a 42-yard gain.

The Steelers’ most important number from Monday might be 143: DeAngelo Williams’ rushing yards total after a 26-carry, two-touchdown night. Shazier left the game with a right knee injury and was being evaluated after the game.