Steelers roll over Bucs

Dec 4, 2006, 1:55 GMT

Pittsburgh, PA - Ben Roethlisberger completed 12-of-25 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, as the Pittsburgh Steelers coasted to a 20-3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Heinz Field.

Nate Washington caught three balls for 78 yards, Heath Miller had two catches for 27 yards and one touchdown, Jerame Tuman also caught a pass for a TD, and Willie Parker rushed for 61 yards on 22 carries for Pittsburgh (5-7), winners in three of its last four games.

Bruce Gradkowski had a poor outing in his first start in his home city, throwing for 175 yards on 20-of-34 passes, no touchdowns and three interceptions for Tampa Bay (3-9), which has lost two straight and five of six.

Michael Clayton led the receiving corps with 57 yards on four catches, while Earnest Graham collected 35 yards on four rushes.

'I'm not getting into that tonight,' Bucs head coach Gruden said when pressed about Gradkowski's performance. 'We have to play a lot better than we did. To win in this league, it's not just the quarterback. We will take a look at every avenue we can to try and put our team in a better position.'

The Steelers broke through with 29 seconds left in the first quarter when Roethlisberger rolled out on a play-action, and hit Tuman in the back of the end zone for a two-yard score. Larry Foote set up the touchdown by picking off a Gradkowski pass at Tampa's 38, and returning it to the 27.

Late in the second quarter, after a 48-yard march left the Steelers stuck at the Bucs' 32, Jeff Reed hit from 50 yards with 1:56 left in the half, to give Pittsburgh a 10-0 lead at the break.

Gradkowski and the Bucs showed some life on their first possession in the third quarter, but that drive was interrupted when Cadillac Williams fumbled and James Farrior recovered for Pittsburgh.

With two minutes left in the quarter and the Bucs driving once more, Gradkowski tried to hit Maurice Stovall on a fade route in the back left corner of the end zone, but Bryant McFadden came up with the pick.

Pittsburgh turned around after the change of possession and stretched the lead to 17-0 on a lightning-quick five-play, 80-yard drive. Roethlisberger connected with Washington for a big 36-yard strike on the last play of the third, and the following play after the break featured Miller making a leaping catch on a post route for a 16-yard score.

The Steelers shifted to a ball-control mindset, but were still able to move downfield against a tired Buccaneer defense. However, Reed pulled a 32-yard attempt wide left with 4:37 left in the game, after another drive stalled at the Tampa 14-yard-line.

Reed got a chance to redeem himself, connecting on a 39-yard attempt just after the two-minute warning, and it was 20-0. The kick was set up by Clint Kriewaldt's theft and return of Gradkowski's pass intended for Ike Hilliard down to the Bucs' 27.

Although the Steelers defended Tampa Bay's final drive with the hopes of maintaining a shutout, Matt Bryant came on to make a 27-yard field goal as time expired.

'It was a good win and I thought our defense did a really good job setting the tone early,' Steelers head coach Bill Cowher said. 'With a little adversity off the interception, I thought we did an excellent job.'

Game Notes

The game marked only the second time both teams have met in the Steel City, the last time coming in 1983.

The Steelers are 1-1 against the NFC South, with one more game at Carolina.

Gruden is 0-3 lifetime against the Steelers, and Cowher improved to 3-1 against Tampa.

Pittsburgh is 114-13-1 all-time under Cowher when leading at halftime.

Tampa Bay collected 16 first downs, Pittsburgh just 13, and the Bucs only posted 13 fewer yards of total offense (267-254) than the Steelers.

© 2006 The Sports Network