Steelers move closer to bye with easy win over Panthers

Ben Roethlisberger threw for 320 yards and a touchdown and the defense turned in a Scrooge-like effort Thursday night as the Steelers beat the Carolina Panthers, 27-3, in front an announced crowd of 61,748.

Roethlisberger spread the ball around in dissecting the Panthers’ secondary at Heinz Field. The Steelers’ defense, by contrast, made life miserable for Jimmy Clausen, Roethlisberger’s counterpart.

Carolina (2-13) never really threatened to spring a seismic upset on a bone-chilling night despite moving the ball with some success early in the game.
Yesterday marked the 38th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, the iconic play that served as a turning point for the Steelers’ franchise.

The Steelers did not need any last-second heroics to beat the overmatched Panthers.

The defense largely redeemed itself four days after free safety Ryan Clark said it had “stunk� in a 22-17 loss to the New York Jets.

The Steelers sacked Clausen four times, intercepted the rookie quarterback once and allowed just 72 passing yards.

One of those sacks came at the beginning of the second quarter after the Panthers had driven to the Steelers’ 32-yard line.

With the Steelers leading 3-0, lame duck Panthers coach John Fox opted to go for it on fourth and five. Clausen never had a chance on the play as Farrior dropped him for a 4-yard loss.

That set the tone for a quarter in which the Steelers dominated the Panthers.

Bryant McFadden intercepted Clausen later in the quarter and that led to the first touchdown of the game.

Roethlisberger, anticipating a blitz, hit wide receiver Mike Wallace with a pass just off the line of scrimmage.

Wallace split a pair of Carolina defensive players with his breathtaking speed, and his 43-yard touchdown catch gave the Steelers a 10-0 lead.The Steelers built their lead to 20-0 by halftime, but they only came away with 10 points from the three drives that probed inside the Panthers’ 20-yard line.

Roethlisberger directed a seven-play, 35-yard drive, and he capped it with a one-yard touchdown run on third down. A 22-yard pass interference call on Carolina had given the Steelers the ball at the 1-yard line.