SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 28, 2012
Steelers 27, Redskins 12: Ben Roethlisberger threw three short touchdown passes and Pittsburgh hassled Robert Griffin III to his worst day as a pro in a decisive win over visiting Washington.
Third-string running back Jonathan Dwyer posted a second-straight 100-yard game (107 yards on 16 carries) for Pittsburgh (4-3), which has won consecutive games for the first time this season. The Steelers earned its ninth straight win over an interconference opponent and Roethlisberger improved to 15-1 at home against the NFC.
Santana Moss had a touchdown catch and Kai Forbath kicked two field goals for Washington (3-5), which has lost two straight.
The Steelers' defense, which was without All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu (calf) for the fifth time in the last six games, held Griffin to just 16-of-34 for 177 yards and a touchdown. Griffin entered as the league's most accurate passer but was let down by his receivers, who had 10 drops - the most by any team this season.
While Griffin was held in check, the Steelers scored on four of their five first-half possessions and led 20-6 at the break. After Forbath kicked a 48-yard field goal early in the third quarter, Roethlisberger capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard pass to little-used fullback Will Johnson that made it 27-9.
Roethlisberger finished 24-of-33 for 222 yards.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Griffin was called for offensive pass interference on a failed trick play that saw wide receiver Josh Morgan throw a deep pass down the left sideline. Griffin took a big hit from safety Ryan Clark on the play. ... To celebrate their 80th anniversary, the Steelers wore throwback uniforms from 1934, which featured black and yellow horizontal stripes and tan pants. ... Already missing Polamalu, Pittsburgh's secondary took another hit when Clark left with a head injury early in the third quarter. ... Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall was ejected late in the fourth for arguing with an official.