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49ers unable to stop 3-0 Steelers
By Pearl Allison Lo September 23, 2007 |
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In a matchup of a surprising defense versus a noted defense, the stalwart defense in the form of the Pittsburgh Steelers won out today 37-16 against the San Francisco 49ers, and under new head coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers are now 3-0. San Francisco offense again was almost missing in action with nine of their points coming from field goals by Joe Nedney and one touchdown finally against the Steelers defense at 2:22 in the fourth quarter. On the Steelers side of the ball, they had two touchdowns by half, and broke things open once and for all in the fourth quarter with two touchdowns and two field goals. The highlight of the 49er’s first drive was a 31-yard screenplay to Vernon Davis, but failure to connect in the end zone resulted in a field goal. However, Pittsburgh came right back when Allen Rossum ran 98 yards on the kickoff return at 9:12 in the first, and the it was 7-3 Pittsburgh. A sack of Ben Roethlisberger loosened the football and gave the 49ers the ball. However, the Steelers’ defense was able to force SF to kick another FG at 3:01 in the 1st quarter. The 49ers could not stop Pittsburgh on several runs, including Willie Parker on a 23-yard run, which ended in another score, a 9-yard pass to Jerame Tuman with 0:37 left in the first half. The Steelers probably would have scored again had not SF Coach Mike Nolan thrown a challenge flag. Pittsburgh would have had the ball on the SF 2 but it was ruled that Heath Miller did not have both feet on the field when he completed the catch. Nolan had another challenge again almost right away as he challenged an interception on the grounds that Davis was down before the ball popped out. However for some reason the ruling was that it was an incomplete pass giving the 49ers 4th down. Davis left after with a right knee sprain. Joe Nedney then converted his third FG, a 50-yarder at 4:46 in the third, 17-9 Steelers. Jeff Reed almost equaled that at the start of the 4th quarter, when he hit a 49-yarder. SF quarterback Alex Smith made a mistake and threw an interception to Bryant McFadden, Smith’s 1st interception that lead to the Steelers first touchdown of the 4th quarter, and the score was 30-9 Steelers. Smith recovered well though, throwing a 17-yard pass to Darrell Jackson, scrambling for 25 yards, and then avoiding a sack before a 21-yard score to Taylor Jacobs and the Niners were at 30-16 Steelers. The 49ers couldn’t tackle Steelers’ players when they got loose and it happened again when Najeh Davenport ran 39 yards for a touchdown, at 1:51 left in the fourth, and the score was 37-16. Roethlisberger was 13-20 for 160 yards, 1TD and two sacks. Smith was 17-35 for 209 yards, 1TD, two sacks and one interception. Game Notes: SF’s 3-0 lead was the first time the Steelers were behind. It was also the first time Pittsburgh gave up points in the 1st half. Troy Palatal was the leading defender for the Steelers with five tackles and three assists. Parker had his fourth straight 100-yard game. Hannibal Navies turned out to be Manny Lawson’s replacement and forced a fumble, had a sack, one tackle, and three assists. Marques Douglas was the leading defender for the 49ers with seven tackles, one assist and ½ sacks. |
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