On a night that Ben Roethlisberger got back to playing football, the Pittsburgh Steelers showed they have a chance to survive the start of the season without their suspended star.
Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon combined to lead three long touchdown drives after Roethlisberger made his preseason debut and the Steelers defeated the Giants 24-17 on Saturday night, spoiling New York's first home game in its new $1.6 billion stadium.
Roethlisberger will be suspended for the opening six games of the regular season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, leaving the Steelers without the quarterback who has led them to two Super Bowls.
Roethlisberger completed six of eight passes for 76 yards and an interception and led the Steelers on a 13-play, 58-yard drive that lasted seven-plus minutes and ended in a 26-yard field goal by Jeff Reed.
This was a quarterback mismatch. The Steelers (2-0) had three good ones while the Giants (1-1) had only third-stringer Rhett Bomar , with starter Eli Manning (stitches) and backup Jim Sorgi (shoulder) sidelined.
New York's offense was nonexistent until the fourth quarter, and the defense wasn't much better.
Leftwich (3 of 6 for 95 yards) gave the Steelers the lead for good at 10-7, tossing a 68-yard touchdown pass play to Mike Wallace with 2:49 left in the half.
Dixon took over in the third quarter and led Pittsburgh on touchdown drives of 78 and 82 yards to push the lead to 24-7. Isaac Redman capped the first one with a 12-yard run up the middle and Dwyane Wright finished the second one with a 2-yard run.
Dixon finished 7 of 8 for 82 yards, along with five runs for 27 yards.
New York's best drive came early in the second quarter when Steve Smith outjumped cornerback Bryant McFadden for a spectacular 45-yard catch to the Steelers 30. Ahmad Bradshaw made a great move to the left corner to score on a 9-yard run six plays later.
Andre Brown got the Giants' other touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run that survived a review. Lawrence Tynes made the score respectable with a 43-yard field goal with 5:49 to go.
Bomar, who has never taken a snap in a regular-season game, finished 13 of 26 for 167 yards and one interception.
Coach Tom Coughlin said after the game that Manning had his stitches removed and he probably will practice this week. The Giants play the Ravens in Baltimore on Saturday.
Sorgi tore a muscle in his shoulder throwing a touchdown pass to Victor Cruz in the fourth quarter. He is expected to be sidelined 2-3 weeks.
The game had a feisty start. Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor were ejected after the fourth play from scrimmage for throwing punches after a running play.
Giants running back D.J. Ware and safety Sha'reff Rashad left the game with concussions.
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