PITTSBURGH — For one game, Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension didn’t matter. Not with the Pittsburgh Steelers returning to their decades-long cornerstones for winning — defense and the running game.
Rashard Mendenhall ran 50 yards for a touchdown 2:35 into overtime, and the Steelers overcame a shaky start by replacement quarterback Dennis Dixon and a missed field-goal attempt late in regulation to beat the Atlanta Falcons 15-9 on Sunday.
“We’ve got to prepare for those type of games (without Roethlisberger),” defensive end Brett Keisel said. “We’ll take a win any way we can get it, anyhow we can get it.”
Mendenhall carried 22 times for 120 yards. A Steelers defense that was the NFL’s best two seasons ago before slipping last year held Atlanta (0-1) to 58 yards rushing — former all-pro Michael Turner gained 42 yards — and three Matt Bryant field goals.
“In the run game, you’ve got to be patient,” said Mendenhall, who cut to his right, found the open field and took it in despite stumbling near the 10 on his game-winner. “You wait all day for something like that to open up. The run game, you’ve got to stick with it and stick with it.”
Pittsburgh (1-0) appeared ready to win it with 39 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but Jeff Reed, who has nine career game-winning kicks, was wide right on a 40-yard attempt. Reed had hit earlier from 52, 36 and 34 yards.
Reed’s 34-yarder in the fourth made it 9-6, following catches of 25 and 24 yards on successive pass plays by Hines Ward. Ward had 108 yards in his club- record 26th career 100-yard game and went over 11,000 yards receiving in his career.
Atlanta tied it with 3:24 remaining on Bryant’s third field goal, a 23-yarder, after deciding against going for it on fourth- and-a-long-1 at the Steelers’ 5.
“I felt we needed to tie the game,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “It was relatively simple when you consider the percentages.”
