DENVER — Ben Roethlisberger heard loud jeers for the first time this summer, and Dennis Dixon did not get a warm reception either from the Denver Broncos as the Steelers moved within four days of wrapping up their preseason by losing for the first time this summer.
Roethlisberger made his second consecutive start at quarterback for the Steelers, who again failed to reach the end zone behind him. Dixon replaced him and two of his passes did reach the end zone, but not how the Steelers would have preferred. He was intercepted twice operating with the first-team offense, once in Denver’s end zone for a touchback with the other being returned 77 yards for a Broncos touchdown.
Denver won the third preseason game, 34-17, as the first teams for both clubs played into the third quarter of a game that did not please coach Mike Tomlin.
“It’s good this was a preseason football game,” Tomlin said. “Guys were presented with opportunities tonight, and, quite frankly, they didn’t take advantage of them.”
Roethlisberger will learn sometime after the final exhibition game Thursday if his six-game suspension will be reduced to four games. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Roethlisberger after he was accused of sexual assault in March but never charged with a crime.
“I still don’t know,” Roethlisberger said of any meeting with Goodell. “I’m waiting to hear the word.”
Until Sunday night, Roethlisberger heard nary a discouraging word from fans throughout training camp and preseason games, even the previous week when the Steelers played the New York Giants in the New Meadowlands.
That changed here. He was booed loudly when the Steelers’ offense took the field for the first time. He responded by completing his first pass on the first play of scrimmage, 47 yards to Mike Wallace and finished after 11 snaps with 4 completions in 6 attempts for 67 yards. His first series ended in a 33-yard field goal by Jeff Reed. Roethlisberger also guided the first-team offense to three points during 20 snaps against the Giants.
“I thought he was sharp,” Tomlin said. “He moved the ball and did some nice things.”
Roethlisberger’s second series against Denver ended with the expiration of the first quarter. Dixon replaced Roethlisberger in the middle of the second drive, and he did not have a good night in his first showing with the first-team offense. He completed 9 of 16 passes for 94 yards and was intercepted twice — once in Denver’s end zone on a play that started on the Broncos’ 9. Cornerback Andre Goodman returned the other interception for a touchdown.
Dixon played through the first series of the second half, leaving after he lost 6 yards rolling out on a fourth-and-1 at Denver’s 17.
“He didn’t play well, and a lot of guys didn’t,” Tomlin said.
“There’s a lot of ownership to go around in that [game] video.”
Byron Leftwich, the presumed starter in the regular-season opener, entered the game at 6:36 of the third quarter.
Operating with the second team, Leftwich was hit hard and often by the Broncos, bounced around even after he got rid of a pass. He was 0 for 4 and removed in favor of Charlie Batch with 9:59 left. Batch threw the Steelers’ only touchdown pass, finishing 3 of 4 for 44 yards.
The Broncos took the opening kickoff and drove 60 yards on eight plays to LenDale White’s 2-yard touchdown run on third down.
Two personal fouls against the Steelers aided that drive, the first of four against them. Cornerback Keenan Lewis hit a receiver out of bounds and linebacker Lawrence Timmons hit quarterback Kyle Orton late.
Dixon’s first drive ended on the third play when his pass was tipped near the line.
His next drive ended when cornerback Perrish Cox intercepted in the end zone.
It was not a good play by Dixon. He faked a handoff from the 9 and rolled right. He was not under pressure, and receiver Matt Spaeth was not open.
The Broncos drove 59 yards to a 39-yard field goal to put them back on top by seven, but the notable plays on that drive were two more personal fouls against the Steelers, giving them four in the first half.
James Harrison popped a player in a pileup late for one, and the other came when Keenan Lewis hit receiver Brandon Lloyd “with something extra at the end of the play,” referee Tony Corrente announced.
Tomlin immediately pulled Lewis from the game after his second personal foul. William Gay replaced him at left cornerback and remained in the game the rest of the way with the first-team defense. Lewis did not return.
“It’s not Steeler football,” Tomlin said of the fouls. “Guys who commit those penalties are going to suffer for it.”
About the Author Jim McMillen
The Editor & Chief, the brains so to say, behind Pittsburgh Blitz. Jim is a rabid sports fan who just loves his Stillers, Pens and Buccos. Feel free to contact us at steelerguy26[@]yahoo.com if you have any questions or comments or would like to join our staff and write for Pittsburgh Blitz.
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