Steelers shut down Bradford-less Vikings in 26-9 victory

 Ben Roethlisberger took a knee in prayer then sprinted to midfield holding the flag honoring the man who helped guide the Pittsburgh Steelers from irrelevance into a dynasty. Five months after longtime president and chairman Dan Rooney's death, the Steelers won a game like so many during his tenure.

Their 26-9 victory over short-handed Minnesota during an emotionally draining home opener on Sunday was an awful lot like Rooney himself. Workmanlike. Pragmatic. Decidedly unflashy. Relentlessly effective.

Afterward the players presented the game ball to current team president Art Rooney II, Dan's son, who promised it would find its way to his mother Patricia.

"It was special," Roethlisberger said.

Even if the current on-field product in Pittsburgh remains very much a work in progress. Wearing a patch featuring a black shamrock with the initials "DMR" on their jerseys, the Steelers (2-0) used a pair of first-half touchdown passes by Roethlisberger to take control, and its rapidly improving defense kept Vikings backup quarterback Case Keenum in check to improve to 10-1 in home openers under head coach Mike Tomlin.

The Steelers managed only 335 yards and converted only 3 of 13 third downs, hardly the kind of firepower expected out of its star-laden offense. Pittsburgh is unbeaten anyway. The style will come. For now, the substance of their play is fine.

"We're just winning football games," Roethlisberger said. "We're 2-0, we did what we had to do, we won the football game."

Roethlisberger finished 24 of 35 for 243 yards and the two scores, a 27-yard strike to Martavis Bryant in the first quarter and a 4-yard flip to JuJu Smith-Schuster in the second. Bryant caught three passes for 90 yards and drew a 51-yard pass interference penalty that set up Smith-Schuster's first NFL touchdown that put the Steelers up 14-0. Bryant feigned rolling dice during his end zone celebration, his first touchdown since returning from a year-long drug suspension.

"I came a long way," Bryant said. "My whole year I put a lot of work in. I'm just focused on getting better as a team and just going out and playing hard on Sunday."

Minnesota (1-1) played without quarterback Sam Bradford, who sat out with a left-knee injury. Case Keenumstruggled to get anything going in Bradford's absence, throwing for just 167 yards on 20 of 35 passing. Vikings rookie Dalvin Cook ran for 64 yards, but Minnesota failed to generate any sustained momentum.

Some of the Steelers didn't even realize it was Keenum behind center until the game was underway. It didn't occur to linebacker Bud Dupree until he found himself chasing after Keenum on Minnesota's second possession.

The offense that hummed at home with Bradford at the controls operated in only fits and starts, thanks in large part to 11 penalties for 131 yards.

"I thought we showed some good things but obviously didn't get off to a great start and kind of shot ourselves in foot quite a few times," Keenum said. "When other things aren't clicking, It's unfortunate."

Bradford was spectacular against the Saints but was slowed all week with an achy left knee. Enter Keenum, who went 9-15 as a starter with Houston and the Rams before signing on with Minnesota. The Vikings offensive line had trouble giving Keenum time in the pocket, and the results were often checkdowns that went nowhere.

Minnesota's only touchdown came on a 1-yard plunge by fullback C.J. Ham that drew the Vikings within 17-9 early in the third quarter. Kai Forbath missed the extra point and Pittsburgh responded with a 10-play, 74-yard drive that ended with the second of Chris Boswell's four field goals with 4:59 left in the third. The Vikings never threatened again.

BELL TOILS

Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell finished with 89 total yards on 30 touches (27 rushes, three receptions) in his second game since ending a summer-long sabbatical due to a contract dispute. Bell's longest play was an 11-yard run, though Minnesota's front seven did an excellent job of clogging rush lanes and making sure Bell didn't get loose in the passing game.

"I'm due for an explosion play," Bell said. "It hasn't happened yet. I think I had almost three today but those guys, they made a couple tackles on a screen or a run where I almost broke out."

PAYING TRIBUTE

Before kickoff, Steeler Hall of Famers Mel Blount and Rocky Bleier raised a flag honoring Rooney over the south end zone at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra played the national anthem while the capacity crowd, including NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, held a moment of silence as the Steelers began their first season in more than 50 years without Dan Rooney as part of the day-to-day operations.

INJURIES

Steelers: Rookie linebacker T.J. Watt left in the second quarter with a groin injury and did not return. Watt called the injury "minor." Left tackle Alejandro Villanueva exited in the third quarter with "heat-related issues" but returned in the fourth. Right tackle Marcus Gilbert sat out most of the fourth quarter with cramps.

UP NEXT

Vikings: Host Tampa Bay next Sunday.

Steelers: Travel to Chicago to face the winless Bears.

Brown's clutch catch gives Steelers 21-18 win over Cleveland

For Pittsburgh's first road game, Antonio Brown wore a bow tie and purple and black suit embroidered with fire-breathing gold dragons. He completed his outlandish outfit with ruby red-sequined sneakers.

The flashy look was both dazzling and jaw-dropping - just like Brown's game.

The All-Pro wide receiver made a crucial, leaping catch with less than three minutes left and Ben Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes to tight end Jesse James as the Steelers, with minimal help from Le'Veon Bell, opened the season by holding off the Cleveland Browns 21-18 on Sunday.

Roethlisberger improved to 21-2 in his career against the Browns, who led by rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer gave their rivals all they could handle - a positive sign for coach Hue Jackson and Cleveland fans after a horrid 1-15 season.

But the Browns couldn't stop Brown. With the Steelers clinging to their 3-point lead, he somehow caught and held onto Roethlisberger's throw in traffic for a 38-yard gain with 2:26 left to seal Pittsburgh's win. Brown finished with 11 receptions for 182 yards.

"I've watched him make unbelievable plays like that from the stands," said Steelers rookie running back James Conner, who played at Pitt and grew up rooting for Pittsburgh. "So to be out there with him when he does it is crazy. He's an amazing football player."

Kizer, who ran for a TD and threw a scoring a scoring in an impressive debut, had pulled the Browns within three on a 3-yard TD pass to Corey Coleman followed by a 2-point conversion with 3:36 left.

With Pittsburgh needing a big play, Brown delivered one - as usual.

Roethlisberger rolled left to buy some time and lobbed his deep pass near Pittsburgh's sideline toward Brown, who went up over defensive back Jason McCourty and hauled in the game's biggest catch. Jackson challenged the call, but it held up after a video review and the Steelers improved to 32-6 against the Browns since 1999.

"It's not our first rodeo," said Roethlisberger, who passes for 263 yards. "I see AB go and I'm going to take that shot. I've got all the trust in the world in him, he's got it in me. I don't think there are any two guys who have worked together more than him and I do.

"So, it's fun to watch him play and be on the same team with him."

The Browns have lost 13 straight openers, but they showed some promise, especially with Kizer and a vastly improved defense that played well despite not having top overall pick Myles Garrett, who injured his ankle earlier this week.

Bell, who skipped training camp in a contract dispute, ran tentatively and gained just 32 yards on 10 carries. He rejoined his teammates last week and signed his $12.1 million franchise tag, far less than he feels he deserves.

MORE WATTAGE

The Steelers sacked Kizer seven times, two by rookie T.J. Watt, the younger brother of Houston star J.J. Watt. The first-round pick also had an interception in a memorable debut.

With the Browns driving late in the third, Watt picked off Kizer.

"I was dropping back in coverage and it came right to me," Watt said. "Once I caught it, I just tried not to fumble it."

HADEN'S HOMECOMING

Steelers CB Joe Haden began the day looking for the visitors' locker room. He ended it holding the game ball.

Released recently by Cleveland, Haden faced the team he played with for seven seasons. He exchanged jerseys with Browns LB Christian Kirksey at midfield following the game and got some good-natured kidding by his new teammates for finally winning an opener.

Haden said he doesn't hold a grudge with Jackson.

"Me and the coach have a really good relationship. "It's strong."

PREGAME UNITY

In a show of unity, the Browns ran from their tunnel and onto the field before the game accompanied by Cleveland police officers, firefighters, military personnel and emergency workers.

After being criticized for kneeling in prayer during the national anthem before an exhibition, several Browns players, who felt their gesture had been misinterpreted, met with owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam to discuss ways to help Cleveland - and the nation - heal during a time of division. As part of better connecting to the community, the Browns asked to be joined by the public servants.

They all stood together for the national anthem and were joined on the sideline by the Haslams and Cleveland police chief Calvin Williams.

"We love our police department and our military and everything they do for us, and we respect what they do," Jackson said. "We showed that today, and we showed that we are all together in this."

UP NEXT:

Steelers: Host Minnesota on Sunday.

Browns: Travel to Baltimore on Sunday.

Blount, Patriots pull away from Steelers 27-16

 Their momentum gone and the Pittsburgh Steelers surging behind backup quarterbackLandry Jones, the New England Patriots needed something to get them going.

They found inspiration in the usual places: LeGarrette Blount's churning legs, Tom Brady's accurate right arm andRob Gronkowski's massive hands.

Twice the undermanned Steelers needed one stop to give their offense the ball with a chance to take the lead on Sunday afternoon.

And twice the Patriots instead went right down the field instead, pulling away for a 27-16 victory that left little doubt as to where the balance of power in the AFC sits as the season reaches its halfway point.

The Steelers were within 14-13 when Blount broke runs of 11 and 25 yards to set up a 36-yard touchdown from Brady to Gronkowski early in the third quarter.

When another Pittsburgh field goal brought Pittsburgh within four, the Patriots responded with another long touchdown drive fueled by a 37-yard catch-and-run by Gronkowski that set up Blount's second touchdown of the game.

"It was good to score like that and good to make plays in the second half that we needed to," Brady said. "They certainly made it tough on us."

Maybe, but the Steelers (4-3) also made it tough on themselves. Pittsburgh scored one touchdown in four trips to the red zone and was flagged 10 times for 85 yards, including a holding call in the second quarter that wiped out a touchdown pass that would have tied the game.

Instead, Chris Boswell missed a 42-yard field goal and Pittsburgh never legitimately came close to evening the score again.

"You can't waste red zone trips, you have to come off blocks and make tackles in the run game, you can't give up explosion plays, we did," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "That's why we lost."

Brady, Blount and Gronkowski had plenty to do with it too. Brady completed 19 of 26 for 222 yards and two touchdowns to improve to 9-2 against Pittsburgh. Gronkowski caught four passes for 93 yards and his 68th touchdown catch, tying Stanley Morgan for the most in club history. Blount finished with 127 yards rushing and two scores against the team he walked away from 2014 .

"His runs were able to settle us down," New England coach Bill Belichick said of Blount.

New England (6-1) remained perfect since Brady returned from his four-game "Deflategate" suspension and while the Patriots lost a pair of fumbles they also didn't throw an interception, making them the third team since 1960 to get through the first seven weeks of the season without throwing it to the other team, joining the 1960 Browns and 2008 Redskins.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley hardly limited the playbook with Jones under center. The fourth-year quarterback did what Roethlisberger likes to do, particularly getting the ball to running back Le'Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown.

Bell finished with 149 yards of total offense and Brown caught seven passes for 106 yards, but too often Pittsburgh settled for field goals (or field goal attempts) when touchdowns were required.

"We just got to the red zone a lot of times and turned the ball over, you can't have that," Bell said. "I mean, it is a small margin for error against a team like that."

FLEET FEET

The 39-year-old quarterback who once ran the 40-yard dash at the combine in a not-so fleet 5.28 seconds can still run away from the bad guys. Brady ran for three first downs in the first half, mashing his way on a quarterback sneak and twice escaping pressure and outrunning defenders a decade or more younger for the necessary yardage.

NOT-SO RELIABLE

New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed a regular season extra point during his rookie year in 2006 and then didn't miss another one until last week against Cincinnati, an NFL record streak of 479 attempts between misfires (though there was that costly missed kick in last year's AFC championship game ). Gostkowski didn't have to wait nearly as long until watching a second one go astray. Gostkowski misfired on a third-quarter extra point that kept the Steelers within seven.

"This is a tough place to kick," Belichick said. "I'm not making any excuses. The kicker on the other side of the field had trouble too."

In addition to the 42-yarder he missed, Boswell misfired on a 54-yarder with the Steelers down two scores in the fourth quarter.

QUOTABLE

"We're looking like garbage right now. This is terrible right now." - Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier on his team's run defense.

UP NEXT

Patriots: visit Buffalo next Sunday. The Bills beat the Brady-less Patriots 16-0 in New England on Oct. 2.

Steelers: off next week then visit AFC North rival Baltimore on Nov. 6.

Dolphins stop Big Ben and beat Steelers 30-15

The Miami Dolphins left Ben Roethlisberger limping, and the rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't look much better.

Roethlisberger missed one series because of a left knee injury and was held to 189 yards passing, and Miami won 30-15 Sunday.

Jay Ajayi rushed for 204 yards and two scores on 25 carries for the Dolphins (2-4).

"No need to sugarcoat," Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. "We got beat soundly."

The Steelers (4-2) had scored 74 points in their previous two games, but were outgained 474-297. Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill said he was buoyed to see two Pittsburgh defenders become sick to their stomach late in the first half as players dealt with the 80-degree heat.

"It's definitely a glimpse of what we can do," Tannehill said. "Now we just have to show up every week like this."

Roethlisberger finished 19 for 34 with two interceptions. He hobbled to the locker room and missed one series late in the second quarter when he hyperextended his knee scrambling on a play that resulted in an interception by Reshad Jones.

After the game, Roethlisberger had ice on both knees and a bruise in the middle of his back. An MRI on his knee was planned.

"It happened before I threw the ball," Roethlisberger said. "I felt something funny in my knee. We'll pray it's nothing too serious."

Roethlisberger also tweaked his right knee on the Steelers' final play.

He had only 83 yards passing with 5 minutes left before he drove Pittsburgh 97 yards for a touchdown that made it 23-15. Miami recovered the ensuing onside kick, and on the next play Ajayi scored on a 62-yard run.

Pittsburgh's only other touchdown came in the first quarter when Darrius Heyward-Bey scored on a 60-yard end around. Antonio Brown, the NFL's leading receiver, was held to four receptions for 39 yards. TeammateSammie Coates, playing with a hand injury, didn't have a catch.

The Dolphins were one-touchdown underdogs at home, but the score could have been more lopsided had they not repeatedly squandered chances in the red zone. They had a 13-minute advantage in time of possession in the biggest win yet for first-year coach Adam Gase.

"I think what today proved to a lot of our guys and coaches what you possibly could be," Gase said. "But this league is week to week. Once we hit next Sunday, nobody is going to care about what we did this week."

GOOD BLOCKING

The Dolphins started the game with their top five offensive linemen on the field together for the first time this year. How much difference did that make?

"You tell me," Gase said. "A lot, right? It makes a big difference when we have holes and the quarterback is not on his back."

The Steelers failed to sack Tannehill after he was taken down six times a week earlier against Tennessee. Second-year pro Ajayi took advantage by surpassing 100 yards rushing for the first time.

TANNEHILL'S DAY

Tannehill, booed by fans a week ago, drew only cheers while going 24 for 32 for 252 yards, including a pair of long throws.

He slipped from the grasp of 352-pound Daniel McCullers to throw a 53-yard pass to MarQueis Gray that set up a field goal. Tannehill's 39-yard pass to Jarvis Landry set up Miami's first touchdown with 21 seconds left in the first half for a 16-8 lead.

DIVIDED ALLEGIANCES?

The crowd appeared evenly divided early, with many fans waving yellow towels for every play that went the visitors' way. But as Miami pulled away in the second half, it seemed the entire stadium was singing the Dolphins fight song.

MISSED CHANCES

Twice Miami settled for a field goal after it appeared Tannehill had thrown a touchdown pass. DeVante Parkerdropped a throw in the end zone, and a TD catch by Dominque Jones was negated by a penalty for illegal formation.

Andrew Franks kicked three field goals, but missed a 50-yarder and had a 24-yarder blocked.

INJURY REPORT

Dolphins: CB Tony Lippett left with a hamstring injury. TE Dion Sims was evaluated for a possible concussion.

Roethlisberger throws for 4 TDs, Steelers blow by Jets 31-13

Gaining Ben Roethlisberger's trust can be a difficult process for any new Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver. Once it's earned, however, it's unshakeable.

Drops. Busted routes. Mental miscues. Roethlisberger can live with the mistakes as a receiver finds his way, particularly when the highs like the ones Sammie Coatesprovided in Pittsburgh's clinical 31-13 win over the New York Jets on Sunday are so giddy.

Coates sandwiched a pair of touchdown receptions around a very visible case of nerves as the Steelers (4-1) pulled away from the Jets (1-4) in the second half. The second-year wide receiver hauled in a 72-yard catch-and-run for a score on Pittsburgh's first possession and cradled a 5-yard score late in the fourth quarter. In between were a handful of grabs of varying difficulty Coates couldn't quite corral and a cut on his left hand that required stitches.

Yet Roethlisberger kept coming back to Coates again and again.

"He hurts as bad as anybody when he drops a ball," Roethlisberger said. "But I want him to know ... I'm going to come back to you. I believe in you. I believe in everybody on this team and he showed why I have that faith in him."

Coates finished with six receptions for a career-high 139 yards and the two scores. He is averaging 23.2 yards per reception this season and is just the second player in team history with a 40-yard reception in five straight games while becoming the deep threat the Steelers needed with Martavis Bryant serving a yearlong suspension for violating the league's drug policy. Not that Coates is ready to relax. As gaudy as his numbers were, he knows they could have been even better.

"I still left a lot on the field," he said. "I'll worry about what I left on the field and work on that grow from that, not what I've done because that's part of my game, that's what I'm supposed to do."

Ben Roethlisberger finished with 380 yards passing and four touchdowns against a New York defense missing star cornerback Darrelle Revis . Running back Le'Veon Bell added 158 yards of total offense, including a career-high nine receptions. Roethlisberger's 15 touchdowns through Pittsburgh's first five games are a club record. He did it on Sunday behind an offensive line that didn't miss a step with right tackle Marcus Gilbertsidelined. Roethlisberger was sacked just once and rarely pressured while dropping back 48 times.

"Our guys were just phenomenal," Roethlisberger said. "They are the catalyst for us. They drive us."

NO REGRETS

New York's Ryan Fitzpatrick avoided the interceptions that have plagued him this season, completing 25 of 38 for 265 yards and a touchdown to Brandon Marshall. Yet the Jets also mustered little offense in the second half and couldn't keep up as the Steelers put together clinical scoring drive after clinical scoring drive.

New York also punted twice in the fourth quarter while down 11, once on fourth-and-1 at its 34 and again on fourth-and-2 at midfield, though coach Todd Bowles believes he made the right call both times. Pittsburgh finally put New York away following the second kick, going 79 yards in 12 plays to improve to 10-1 all-time at home against New York.

"Time travel doesn't work in life," Bowles said. "It was a mistake if you look at it that way."

Marshall, who finished with eight receptions for 114 yards, wasn't in the mood to second-guess his coach.

"We have a good defense with star players on it and (Bowles) thought we could get a stop," he said. "It didn't work out the way we wanted, but you can't fault him for the decisions."

DE-CLEATED

Brown planned to wear cleats honoring boxing great Muhammad Ali, just as he did the week before in cleats that featured a sketch of golfer Arnold Palmer. Brown was told before the kickoff he needed to switch shoes or face a fine.

"I thought I was OK but it turned out I wasn't," he said. "I made an adjustment."

Brown also toned down his hip-gyrating (and fine inducing) TD celebrations, opting to simply hand the ball to a fan after catching a 5-yard score in the fourth quarter.

"Wasn't time to really put the pumps in," Brown said. "Got to save them for when it's a great moment."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Jets: Linebacker David Harris (hamstring), center Nick Mangold (knee), cornerback Darryl Roberts (shoulder) left and did not return.

Steelers: Defensive end Cam Heyward, whose three sacks lead the team, underwent an MRI on his hamstring after leaving in the first half. Heyward indicated afterward he miss time.

UP NEXT

Jets: travel to Arizona to take on the Cardinals on Monday Night Football on Oct. 17.

Steelers: continue their three-game swing against AFC East teams when they visit the Dolphins.

Roethlisberger has 5 TD passes, Steelers thump Chiefs 43-14

 Ben Roethlisberger threw five touchdowns passes for the fifth time in his career and the Pittsburgh Steelers throttled the Kansas City Chiefs 43-14 on Sunday night.

A week after suffering the franchise's worst loss in 27 years, the Steelers (3-1) responded by overwhelming the erratic Chiefs (2-2).

Roethlisberger hit Antonio Brown - wearing cleats featuring the profile of golf great and western Pennsylvania native Arnold Palmer - for a pair of scores.

Roethlisberger also found Markus Wheaton, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jesse James for touchdowns as the Steelers emphatically rebounded from a 31-point meltdown in Philadelphia. The quarterback finished 22 of 27 for 300 yards and a rating of 152.5, just shy of a perfect 158.3 rating.

Le'Veon Bell ran for 144 yards on 18 carries and caught five passes for 34 yards in his return from a three-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Bell's return brought Pittsburgh's high-powered offense back to full strength for the first time this year, though he spent most of the first half watching Roethlisberger go to work.

The Steelers scored a franchise-record 22 points in the first quarter as their defense forced a pair of turnovers Roethlisberger quickly converted into touchdowns. Pittsburgh reached the end zone three times in a span of six offensive snaps in the quarter and added a two-point conversion on top of it while the Chiefs floundered in the rain.

Smith was 30 of 50 for 287 yards and two inconsequential fourth-quarter touchdowns after things were well out of hand. Spencer Ware ran for 82 yards but also fumbled in the first quarter that kick-started Pittsburgh's record-setting run. The Chiefs allowed four sacks to a team that came in with an NFL-worst one on the season and could do little right.

Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles ran one time for 6 yards in his first game since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last October. It was perhaps the lone bright spot in a loss that played in stark contrast to a romp over the New York Jets last week in which the Chiefs forced eight turnovers.

They didn't force one against the Steelers and instead watched Pittsburgh cross the goal line six times. Pittsburgh's 43 points were the most allowed by Kansas City in a regular season game since Andy Reid took over in 2013.

INJURIES

Chiefs: Running back Knile Davis was evaluated for a concussion

Steelers: Right tackle Marcus Gilbert went down with a left ankle injury late in the first half and did not return. Linebacker Anthony Chickillo (knee) and Jarvis Jones (ankle) and Heyward-Bey (shoulder) all left in the second half and did not return.

UP NEXT

Chiefs: are off next week before traveling to take on the suddenly dangerous Oakland Raiders on Oct. 16. Kansas City is 5-1 against the Raiders under Reid.

Steelers: Begin a three-game swing against AFC East teams next Sunday when they host the New York Jets.

Wentz impresses again, Eagles beat Steelers 34-3

Carson Wentz threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, a fierce defense shut down Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-3 on Sunday to remain unbeaten.

The rookie No. 2 overall pick connected with Darren Sproles on a 73-yard, catch-and-run TD and tossed a 12-yard TD pass to Jordan Matthews.

"Everyone has confidence and high expectations for themselves," Wentz said. "We're playing inspired football."

After beating the Browns and Bears in the first two games, the Eagles (3-0) proved they could compete with the big boys.

The Steelers (2-1) averaged 31 points the first two weeks and are considered Super Bowl contenders.

Pittsburgh was 19-2 against rookie quarterbacks since 2004. But Wentz is no ordinary rookie.

Everyone is jumping on the Wentz wagon in Philadelphia. And he was the No. 3 quarterback until Sam Bradford was traded to Minnesota just eight days before the season opener.

"What he's doing is special and it's a testament to his preparation and demeanor," Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said of Wentz.

Sproles finished with six catches for 128 yards and Kenjon Barner and rookie Wendell Smallwood each had their first career rushing TDs.

Roethlisberger had 257 yards passing, one interception and no TDs after tossing six in the first two games. Brown caught 12 passes for 140 yards, most of which after the outcome was decided.

"This is a very good NFC team," Roethlisberger said. "They got after us and made us one-dimensional."

THEY SAID IT: Steelers coach Mike Tomlin: "We lost just about every aspect of that one. It was a poor performance by us, and I mean all of us. It starts with me. They outcoached us. They outplayed us. They were better fundamentally. We were highly penalized. We didn't get it done and they did."

FAST START: The Eagles scored on their first drive for the third straight game. Caleb Sturgis' 29-yard FG put them up 3-0. Wentz tossed a TD pass to Matthews on the next possession to make it 10-0. Sturgis kicked a 38-yard FG on Philadelphia's third drive for a 13-3 lead.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY: After Pittsburgh's Markus Wheaton dropped a TD pass in the back of the end zone on the game's opening drive, Bennie Logan blocked Chris Boswell's 36-yard FG attempt.

INJURIES: Steelers LB Lawrence Timmons injured his left shin in the first half and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. He returned to the locker room after the game with a huge bandage on his shin. SS Robert Golden(hamstring) and LG Ramon Foster (chest) also didn't return in the second half for Pittsburgh. WR Eli Rogers injured his toe in the third quarter and didn't return. ... The Eagles were missing two starters for the second straight game: TEZach Ertz (rib) and CB Leodis McKelvin (hamstring).

BOTHERING BIG BEN: Fletcher Cox had two sacks, including one that forced a fumble recovered by Brandon Graham. Logan and Graham also had sacks as the Eagles put plenty of pressure on Roethlisberger. The Steelers allowed only two sacks in the first two games combined.

NIFTY MOVES: The speedy, elusive Sproles left Artie Burns on the ground by zig-zagging his way into the end zone after catching Wentz's pass down the right sideline near the Philadelphia 48, cutting to the middle of the field, back to the right and then scoring down the middle.

STATS: Wentz is the first rookie in NFL history without an interception in his first 100 pass attempts to begin a career. ... The Steelers are 0-9 in Philadelphia since their previous win here in 1965. ... Eagles RB Ryan Mathews carried only two times for minus-5 yards. ... Barner had 42 yards rushing, including an 8-yard TD. ... Smallwood had 79 yards rushing, including a 1-yard TD.

ANTHEM PROTEST: Jenkins and CB Ron Brooks were the only players to raise their fists during the national anthem. Last week, they were joined by DEs Marcus Smith and Steven Means.

Steelers grind their way past Bengals 24-16

No chaos this time. No meltdowns either.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals stuck to football this time.

And Ben Roethlisberger's sharp second half gave the Steelers an early leg up in the race for the AFC North title by shaking off a pair of first-half interceptions to finish with 259 yards and three scores and Pittsburgh held on for a 24-16 win on Sunday.

DeAngelo Williams churned out 94 yards on a career-high 32 carries and added a 4-yard touchdown grab with 6:48 remaining to give the Steelers (2-0) all the breathing room they would need.

Tight ends Jesse James and Xavier Grimble also caught scoring passes from Roethlisberger as Pittsburgh kept Cincinnati in check at rainy Heinz Field.

The rematch of the Steelers' ugly 18-16 win in the wild-card round in January was downright tame by comparison. The teams combined for just 10 penalties and only one personal foul, a marked departure from that messy night in Cincinnati nine months ago that included more than 220 penalty yards and a series of nasty hits that cost the players involved thousands in fines and Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict the first three games of the 2016 season.

"I think they're all civil," Williams said with a laugh. "Sometimes you have civil disputes. We just didn't have any of those."

Andy Dalton passed for 366 yards and a touchdown but needed 31 completions to reach that total, working almost exclusively on dump offs to running backs and tight ends while Pittsburgh clamped down on star wide receiver A.J. Green, who finished with just two receptions for 38 yards.

"We were able to take (Green) out of the game," Steelers safety Mike Mitchell said. "We knew if we could minimize his impact, the outcome was going to be good for us and it was."

Pittsburgh controlled the tempo throughout and after Roethlisberger shook off a so-so first half in which he tossed two interceptions and the Steelers pulled away.

Roethlisberger hit Sammie Coates with a pretty 53-yard pass to set up a 9-yard toss to James. The quarterback later used a 14-yard scramble - his longest run in three seasons - to set up a flip to Williams that put Pittsburgh up 24-9.

SLOPPY FINISH: Dalton found Giovanni Bernard for a 25-yard touchdown with 3:25 left, but each of Cincinnati's last two drives ended in turnovers. Tyler Boyd fumbled after getting hit by James Harrison in Pittsburgh territory with 1:50 to play even though replays appeared to show Boyd - who grew up in suburban Pittsburgh and played collegiately on the same field for Pitt - was down well before the ball came out.

"I should have done a better job with ball security," said Boyd, who finished with six catches for 78 yards. "I still believe I was down but the call didn't say so. All I can do is go out there and keep playing."

Cincinnati's second turnover came on a last-ditch lateral by Bernard that ended up in Pittsburgh defensive end Cam Heyward's hands after time expired.

NO SHOW: Maybe it was the weather. Maybe it was the relatively conservative game plans or maybe it was just pretty solid defense. Whatever it was, the expected duel between superstar wide receivers Antonio Brown and A.J. Greennever materialized .

Brown caught just four passes for 39 yards and even had a rare drop while running free in the middle of the field in the first half.

Green, guarded almost exclusively by Pittsburgh cornerback Ross Cockrell at the line, struggled to find much room to move. The only impact play Green made came on drawing a pass interference play against Cockrell that set up Mike Nugent's field goal. A week after dominating Darrelle Revis for 12 catches and 180 yards and a touchdown against the Jets, Green was a nonfactor and one of the reasons Cincinnati went just 4 of 16 on third down.

"We converted one or two, but not enough of them that mattered," Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said.

THEY SAID IT:

"We were never planning on our role being diluted down, but we feel good about where we are now." James on the contributions of the reserve tight ends following the retirement of Heath Miller and a lingering injury to free-agent signee Ladarius Green.

"There were times when A.J. Green would catch 12 balls and there are other times when other guys will get involved. That's just how it is." - Dalton on Green's lack of production.

UP NEXT

Bengals: Welcome Denver to Paul Brown Stadium in their home opener.

Steelers: Travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles.