2008 Woodie Awards
Steelers kick of NFL season with pasting of Dolphins
Juan Bernal
Issue date: 9/18/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
It seems like everyone came into the 2006 season doubting the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was out after having an emergency appendectomy performed four days before the game. He also escaped serious injury in July after riding a motorcycle without a helmet. Also running back Jerome Bettis, one of their catalysts to their 2006 Super Bowl run retired after playing 13 seasons. The club had also lost Antwaan Randle El via free agency to the Redskins.
The Dolphins also went some significant changes to their roster. They traded for quarterback, Daunte Culpepper, who came off a season ending ACL injury in October. Prior to his devastating injury, he had thrown for six touchdowns and 12 interceptions. They also acquired Joey Harrington, who was a huge bust in Detroit as one of their backups. Ricky Williams, who had a steady season after a one year retirement, was banned for one season by the NFL because he failed the league administered drug test for the third time. So there was plenty of hoopla surrounding this game. How would the new look Dolphins look? How would the defending champions look despite missing three of their catalysts from last season?
In the first quarter, the play was particularly sloppy, which is typical of many teams in their opening games. However, in the second quarter things began to pick up when fill-in Pittsburgh quarterback Charlie Batch threw a 27 yard touchdown pass to Nate Washington to put the Steelers up 7-0. Miami would respond after Ronnie Brown scored from two yards out to tie the score at 7. Just before halftime, the Steelers would strike again as Batch would hit Hines Ward from seven yards out to put the Steelers up 14-7. However, the Dolphins would cover 62 yards on eight plays and add an Olindo Mare to cut the deficit to four as the Steelers went up into halftime up 14-10.
In the second half, it was the Dolphins who would draw blood and take the three point lead after Ronnie Brown's second touchdown of the game. After three quarters, the Dolphins were up 17-14 and on the verge of getting out of Pittsburgh with a win. However, defending Super Bowl MVP Joey Porter would have his say in the fourth quarter. With a little over seven minutes remaining the Steelers ran a first down play to their tight end Heath Miller. Miller rumbled down the sideline for an 87 yard score, however, numerous replays said that he was clearly knocked out at the one or two yard line. But the referees called it a touchdown and Dolphins Coach Nick Saban was late in throwing out the red challenge flag. The play stood and the Steelers went up 21-17.
The Dolphins also went some significant changes to their roster. They traded for quarterback, Daunte Culpepper, who came off a season ending ACL injury in October. Prior to his devastating injury, he had thrown for six touchdowns and 12 interceptions. They also acquired Joey Harrington, who was a huge bust in Detroit as one of their backups. Ricky Williams, who had a steady season after a one year retirement, was banned for one season by the NFL because he failed the league administered drug test for the third time. So there was plenty of hoopla surrounding this game. How would the new look Dolphins look? How would the defending champions look despite missing three of their catalysts from last season?
In the first quarter, the play was particularly sloppy, which is typical of many teams in their opening games. However, in the second quarter things began to pick up when fill-in Pittsburgh quarterback Charlie Batch threw a 27 yard touchdown pass to Nate Washington to put the Steelers up 7-0. Miami would respond after Ronnie Brown scored from two yards out to tie the score at 7. Just before halftime, the Steelers would strike again as Batch would hit Hines Ward from seven yards out to put the Steelers up 14-7. However, the Dolphins would cover 62 yards on eight plays and add an Olindo Mare to cut the deficit to four as the Steelers went up into halftime up 14-10.
In the second half, it was the Dolphins who would draw blood and take the three point lead after Ronnie Brown's second touchdown of the game. After three quarters, the Dolphins were up 17-14 and on the verge of getting out of Pittsburgh with a win. However, defending Super Bowl MVP Joey Porter would have his say in the fourth quarter. With a little over seven minutes remaining the Steelers ran a first down play to their tight end Heath Miller. Miller rumbled down the sideline for an 87 yard score, however, numerous replays said that he was clearly knocked out at the one or two yard line. But the referees called it a touchdown and Dolphins Coach Nick Saban was late in throwing out the red challenge flag. The play stood and the Steelers went up 21-17.
Be the first to comment on this story