Pittsburgh Steelers vs Carolina Panthers Match Player Stats On Sep 21, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 21, 2014

Steelers 37, Panthers 19: Ben Roethlisberger threw a pair of third-quarter touchdown passes to Antonio Brown as Pittsburgh pulled away to snap Carolina's eight-game home winning streak.

Roethlisberger finished 22-of-30 for 196 yards and Brown had 10 receptions for 90 yards, including the two 7-yard scoring passes that ended an eight-quarter touchdown drought for the Steelers (2-1). Le'Veon Bell rushed for a career-high 147 yards while LeGarrette Blount added 118 and a touchdown as Pittsburgh rolled up 264 yards on the ground to post its fifth straight double-digit win over the Panthers (2-1).

Cam Newton threw for 250 yards and a touchdown on 24-of-35 for Carolina, which was seeking its first 3-0 start since 2003. Rookie Kelvin Benjamin had eight catches for 115 yards and a touchdown and Greg Olsen hauled in a 37-yard scoring pass for the Panthers, who registered only one sack in their second game without defensive end Greg Hardy.

Three field goals by Shaun Suisham, including a 45-yarder as time expired in the first half, put the Steelers on top 9-3 before Jarvis Jones forced a fumble by Newton at the Panthers' 17 early in the third. Carolina held to force a field goal but was whistled for encroachment to give Pittsburgh a first down and Roethlisberger capitalized on the next play, floating a pass to Brown in the back right corner of the end zone for a 16-3 lead.

After Graham Gano booted his second 40-yard field goal, Bell broke loose for an 81-yard run before Roethlisberger found a cutting Brown to extend the lead to 23-6 with 2:22 left in the third. The Panthers answered with an 80-yard drive capped by the 37-yard strike from Newton to Olsen, but Philly Brown fumbled a punt that Pittsburgh's Robert Golden recovered in the end zone to make it 30-13 with 11 minutes to play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Brown had his 19th consecutive game with at least five receptions and 50 yards, tying the NFL record set by Laveranues Coles (2002-03). ... Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart (right knee contusion) rushed for 31 yards on five carries before exiting in the third quarter, leaving Carolina thin in the backfield with starting RB D'Angelo Williams (hamstring) inactive for his second straight game. ... Pittsburgh's defense was hit hard by injuries with three starters - CB Ike Taylor (arm) and LBs Ryan Shazier (right knee) and Jarvis Jones (wrist) - knocked out of the game. Taylor's injury appeared the most serious after teammate Lawrence Timmons accidentally drilled him in his right forearm.