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| A HUGE gold star thank you goes out to Barry Blyler for generously contributing the 2013 season for the rest of us to enjoy. Kudos, Barry!
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2013 Steelers 37 vs Lions 27
I was fortunate enough to attend this rainy game in Pittsburgh with my kids. Big Ben is at his best, running no huddle and calling his own plays for most of the game and torching Detroit for 367 yds and 4 TDs; 2 in the 1st quarter to Antonio Brown, and 2 in the final 5 minutes to rally the Steelers for a come-from-behind win. After Pittsburgh jumps out to a 17-3 lead, the Lions explode for 27 points in the 2nd quarter, highlighted by a pair of Calvin Johnson TD catches. But following a botched a fake FG attempt by Detroit early in the 4th quarter, Roethlisberger regains the lead for Pittsburgh after a marathon 17-play, 97-yd scoring drive, capped by a short TD pass to Will Johnson to give the Steelers a 30-27 edge with 4:46 remaining. Will Allen picks off Matthew Stafford on Detroit’s next possession, and Roethlisberger immediately pump-fakes and lofts a 20-yd TD to WIDE open Jerricho Cotchery to seal the victory, extending the Lions' streak of not winning in Pittsburgh to 58 years.
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2013 Steelers 27 at Browns 11
Big Ben hits Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders for TDs while the defense, despite missing several starters, collects 4 turnovers (2 forced by Troy Polamalu) and 5 sacks. William Gay has a fantastic day, knocking QB Jason Campbell out of the game on a sack that forces a fumble to set up a short Pittsburgh TD in the 3rd, then jumping a Weeden pass for a beautiful 21-yd pick-6 in the 4th quarter to turn it into a laugher at 27-3. Game also features a snappy 4th quarter pooch punt by Roethlisberger to pin Cleveland at their own 1.
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2013 Steelers 38 at Packers 31
With the score tied 31-31, 2 minutes left and the Packers pinned deep in their own territory, Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu the play of the game when he tracks down scrambling Packers QB Matt Flynn and punches the ball out, recovered by Brett Keisel at the Packer 17. But Mike Tomlin makes a bizarre clock management decision and instead of kneeling down three times to kick a chip-shot FG as time expires, the Steelers hand the ball off and score on a LeVeon Bell 1-yd TD run, leaving 1:28 on the clock. The Packers return the ensuing kickoff 70 yds to the Steelers 31 and Flynn hits two quick passes to the Steelers 1 with a chance to tie the game in the final seconds. Fortunately, a false start pushes Green Bay back to the 6, and Flynn's pass into the end zone on the final play falls incomplete to preserve the win for Pittsburgh.
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2013 Steelers 20 vs Browns 7
After their 0-4 (then 2-6) start, the Steelers go 6-2 down the stretch but fail to make the playoffs when San Diego beats the Chiefs in OT. The Steelers aren't spectacular, but open up a 20-0 lead while shutting the Browns out for over 57 minutes. Ben hits Jericho Cotchery for a 12-yd TD on Pittsburgh's opening drive, and LeVeon Bell rushes for 90 yds and scores a TD with a sweet spin move in the backfield and a power move to muscle into the end zone. Cleveland is never really in the game and first year coach Rob Chudzinski is fired after the loss.
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