The 49ers (2-0) travel to Heinz Field for a 10:00 PT kickoff against the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0).
Ben Roethlisberger starts at quarterback for the Steelers. Willie Parker runs the ball. Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes lead the receivers. Alex Smith starts for the 49ers; Frank Gore at running back; Darrell Jackson at receiver.
A cross-conference road game against an AFC contender.[1][2][3]
Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) host the 49ers Sunday morning at Heinz Field. The kind of cross-conference road game where a 2-0 49ers team, off the Sunday Night Football division win, faces an AFC team with championship pedigree.
Alex Smith stays the starter. Frank Gore the lead back. Darrell Jackson the WR1. The Steelers come in with Roethlisberger healthy and Willie Parker as one of the league's most productive backs.
Favored by Pittsburgh by 7.5 at home. The kind of cross-conference road game where 3-0 would put the 49ers on the national NFC map and 2-1 just confirms the AFC team is what they are.
Week 3 across the NFC sees the early-season contenders sorting. The Bears (2-0), Cowboys (2-0), Seahawks (1-1), Eagles, and Saints lead the conference. The 49ers (2-0) lead the NFC West. Around the AFC the Patriots (2-0), Steelers (2-0), Colts (2-0), Chargers (2-0), and Bengals (2-0) are perfect or near-perfect. The Sunday road game is the kind of week where a 49ers upset would be the year's signature.
Through two games the 49ers are 2-0 with a +4 point differential. Alex Smith averages 5.6 yards per attempt with no TDs or INTs. Frank Gore averages 68 rushing yards a game with three TDs. The defense produces multiple sacks per game. The Steelers are 2-0 with Roethlisberger averaging 230 passing yards a game and 4 TDs/2 INTs. Willie Parker averages 110 rushing yards a game. Hines Ward leads the team in catches. Vegas opens Pittsburgh as 7.5-point home favorites; total 39.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 2-0 | W2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-2 | L2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0-2 | L2 |
| New York Jets | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2-0 | W2 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 1-1 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1-1 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1-1 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Texans | 2-0 | W2 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2-0 | W2 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 1-1 | W1 |
| Tennessee Titans | 1-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 2-0 | W2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 1-1 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 0-2 | L2 |
| Oakland Raiders | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 2-0 | W2 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1-1 | -- |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1-1 | L1 |
| St. Louis Rams | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 2-0 | W2 |
| Washington Redskins | 2-0 | W2 |
| New York Giants | 0-2 | L2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | 2-0 | W2 |
| Green Bay Packers | 2-0 | W2 |
| Chicago Bears | 1-1 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Panthers | 1-1 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-1 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 0-2 | L2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 0-2 | L2 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Joe Nedney 32 yard field goal | 3-0 |
| Steelers | Allen Rossum 98 yard kickoff return ( Jeff Reed kick) | 3-7 |
| 49ers | Joe Nedney 22 yard field goal | 6-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Steelers | Jerame Tuman 9 yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger ( Jeff Reed kick) | 6-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Steelers | Jeff Reed 36 yard field goal | 6-17 |
| 49ers | Joe Nedney 49 yard field goal | 9-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Steelers | Jeff Reed 49 yard field goal | 9-20 |
| Steelers | Jeff Reed 35 yard field goal | 9-23 |
| Steelers | Bryant McFadden 50 yard interception return ( Jeff Reed kick) | 9-30 |
| 49ers | Taylor Jacobs 21 yard pass from Alex Smith ( Joe Nedney kick) | 16-30 |
| Steelers | Najeh Davenport 39 yard rush ( Jeff Reed kick) | 16-37 |
Ben Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the 49ers 37-16 at Heinz Field. Willie Parker ran for 133 yards on 24 carries. Roethlisberger finished 13-of-20 for 160. Alex Smith threw a touchdown but added an interception. Darrell Jackson caught four for 69. Frank Gore ran for 39 yards. The Steelers scored 24 unanswered points. The 49ers fell to 2-1 with the loss.[1][2][3]
The Pittsburgh Steelers crushed the 49ers 37-16 Sunday morning at Heinz Field. Willie Parker ran for 133 yards and the Steelers' running game controlled the line of scrimmage. The kind of cross-conference road loss where the 49ers' 2-0 start ran into an AFC team that played like an AFC contender.
Alex Smith threw a touchdown and an interception. Frank Gore was held to 39 rushing. Darrell Jackson caught four for 69. The defense surrendered 37 points and could not get Roethlisberger off the field on third down. Patrick Willis with double-digit tackles.
2-1. The kind of road loss that, against an AFC contender, was the kind of result the line predicted. The Seattle Seahawks come to Candlestick next Sunday. The kind of division home game where a 49ers win moves them to 3-1 and back atop the NFC West conversation.
Steelers 37, 49ers 16. Margin: -21. Three-game record: 2-1, -17 differential.
* Ben Roethlisberger: 13-of-20 for 160, 1 TD, 0 INTs.
* Willie Parker: 24 carries for 133.
* Alex Smith: 17-of-35 for 209, 1 TD, 1 INT.
* Frank Gore: 14 carries for 39.
* Darrell Jackson: 4 catches for 69.
* Steelers scored 24 unanswered.
* 49ers 2-1; Steelers 3-0.
A 37-16 cross-conference road loss at Heinz Field. The 49ers fall to 2-1.
How it unfolded
Pittsburgh scored on its opening drive with a Roethlisberger touchdown to make it 7-0. The 49ers answered with a Joe Nedney field goal. The Steelers added another touchdown to push the lead to 14-3. Pittsburgh scored 24 unanswered points across the second and third quarters to push the lead to 31-3. The 49ers added a touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it 31-10, then another to close it 37-16.
The turning point
The Steelers' 24-point unanswered stretch in the second and third quarters. With the 49ers down 14-3 and the offense looking for rhythm, Pittsburgh's complete-team execution of three touchdown drives turned a one-score game into a complete blowout.
By the numbers
Smith 209 passing on 35 attempts with a TD and an INT. Gore 39 rushing on 14 carries. Darrell Jackson 69 receiving on 4 catches. Vernon Davis 1 catch for 14. Roethlisberger 160 on 20 attempts with a TD. Willie Parker 133 rushing on 24 carries.
Personnel watch
Willie Parker's 133-yard rushing day, the kind of opposing back the 49ers' front had not faced yet. The kind of road loss where the AFC's physical style exposed the 49ers' run defense. Patrick Willis still producing tackles. Alex Smith's first multi-attempt-INT day of the year.
What it means
2-1 with the Seahawks at home next Sunday. The kind of cross-conference road loss that, against a real AFC team, was the kind of result the line predicted. The Seattle home division game next Sunday is the kind of week where the 49ers' competitive identity, three weeks in, gets its first real divisional test.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Alex Smith | 17/35 | 209 | 1 | 1 | |
| PIT | |||||
| Ben Roethlisberger | 13/20 | 160 | 1 | 0 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Frank Gore | 14 | 39 | 0 | 11 |
| Alex Smith | 3 | 32 | 0 | 25 |
| Arnaz Battle | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Michael Robinson | 2 | 8 | 0 | 7 |
| Zak Keasey | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| PIT | ||||
| Willie Parker | 24 | 133 | 0 | 23 |
| Najeh Davenport | 5 | 47 | 1 | 39 |
| Ben Roethlisberger | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| Hines Ward | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Charlie Batch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cedrick Wilson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Darrell Jackson | 4 | 69 | 0 | 20 |
| Vernon Davis | 4 | 56 | 0 | 31 |
| Arnaz Battle | 2 | 27 | 0 | 16 |
| Taylor Jacobs | 2 | 26 | 1 | 21 |
| Delanie Walker | 3 | 19 | 0 | 13 |
| Frank Gore | 2 | 12 | 0 | 7 |
| PIT | ||||
| Heath Miller | 4 | 82 | 0 | 29 |
| Santonio Holmes | 3 | 49 | 0 | 18 |
| Willie Parker | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Carey Davis | 3 | 9 | 0 | 10 |
| Jerame Tuman | 1 | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Hines Ward | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Find or start the canonical thread for this game on r/49ers. The thread title is deterministic so anyone running this Rewatch lands on the same place.
Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 2007 W3 - 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers - Game Thread
