Second Quarter Outburst Lifts Steelers Past Houston
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Justin K. Aller/Getty Images(PITTSBURGH) — The Pittsburgh Steelers scored 24 points in the second quarter, including three touchdowns in less than 90 seconds, to pick up a 30-23 win over the Houston Texans on Monday night. It was the 16th straight victory for the Steelers on Monday Night Football.
Trailing 13-0 halfway through the second quarter, the Steelers (4-3) got on the board with a Shaun Suisham field goal at the 3:08 mark. Less than two minutes later, Ben Roethlisberger found Martavis Bryant for a 35-yard touchdown pass that brought Pittsburgh within three at 13-10.
What happened next changed the course of the game. Two plays after the touchdown, Houston’s Arian Foster fumbled deep in his own territory to give the Steelers perfect field possession. Wide receiver Antonio Brown then delivered a three-yard pass to Lance Moore on a reverse, putting Pittsburgh ahead 17-13. Things only escalated for the Texans (3-4) when Ryan Fitzpatrick’s pass was tipped an intercepted on the very next play.
That set-up another scoring drive for Pittsburgh, capped off by a Roethlisberger two-yard strike to Le’Veon Ball, making it a 24-13 ball game at halftime.
“You stand on the sidelines long enough, you will see explosions such as that,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “It was good to be on the good side of it.”
The Steelers only mustered a pair of second-half field goals and had to hold off a late rally by the Texans. Houston pulled within a touchdown when Fitzpatrick and Foster connected for a touchdown pass with 1:31 remaining in regulation. However, the ensuing onside kick was recovered by Pittsburgh, who ran out the clock.
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