Ben being Ben: It was a night when Ben Roethlisberger seemed to be able to do no wrong. Yes, he threw an interception, but that was quickly forgotten with his performance in the Steelers opening night 38-16 win over the Washington Redskins.
Game action from Week 1 against the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football.
"When you have No. 7 you have the chance to put together performances like that," said Coach Mike Tomlin.
Roethlisberger completed 27 of 37 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Antonio Brown and one to Eli Rogers.
"I want to complete every ball," said Roethlisberger. "I want to convert every third down. That is the expectation.
"We hold ourselves to a high expectation. We have guys that can make plays and they showed it tonight."
Roethlisberger also became the first player in NFL history to complete 500 passes to three different teammates, those being Heath Miller, Hines Ward and Brown.
**
Williams on fire:**
The Redskins defense couldn't stop running back Le'Veon Bell, who carried the ball 26 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Williams also caught six passes for 28 yards.
"I have to give all of that credit to the o-line," said Williams. "The o-line, they do a great job up there opening holes. I was running through a lot of holes tonight."
It was the 23rd 100-yard game for Williams, and his fifth with the Steelers.
"You can't say enough about DeAngelo Williams and his performance," said Tomlin. "We have come to expect that from him. That is why we are completely confident in his ability to deliver in the time that (Le'Veon) Bell is out. We will continue to ride with him."
Dialing up AB: He has been called a 'pinball machine,' a 'video game,' and more than anything, 'the best receiver in the NFL.'
And against the Redskins, Antonio Brown showed all of that off.
Brown bounced off defenders, made incredible moves, and was there when Roethlisberger went to him.
"When you have one of the best in the business, if not the best, you are going to find a way to get him the ball," said Roethlisberger.
Brown had eight receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns, many of those catches coming in clutch situations. It's his 26th 100-yard receiving game, the second-most 100-yard games by a Steelers player.
"It's always pretty good to dial his number," said Tomlin. "He is Antonio Brown. He lived up to it tonight."
