Steelers crush San Francisco 49ers, 43-18

PITTSBURGH Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes and DeAngelo Williams tied a franchise record by rushing for three more, all in short yardage, as the Steelers crushed the San Francisco 49ers 43-18 at Heinz Field on Sunday.

Williams scored on dual two-yard runs and Roethlisberger threw touchdown passes of 2 yards to Heath Miller and 35 yards to Darrius Heyward-Bey as the Steelers scored four touchdowns in the first half to run out to a 29-3 lead.

Williams added a third TD in the fourth quarter from one yard away as the Steelers abandoned the Jumbo-I they used in the opener with Roosevelt Nix and Will Johnson near the goal line. And Roethlisberger passed for his third touchdown of 7 yards to Antonio Brown in the fourth quarter.

Roethlisberger completed 21 of 27 passes for 369 yards, no interceptions and no sacks. Brown caught nine passes for 195 yards.

Williams third TD staked the Steelers to a 36-10 lead, responding to San Francisco’s first touchdown of the day with another of their own.

Roethlisberger, hitting on five deep pass plays, connected with Markus Wheaton on a 48-yarder on third down to the 49ers’ eight to set up that third score by Williams.

San Francisco did not score a touchdown until early in the fourth quarter when Colin Kaepernick threw a fourth-down, 14-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin.

They scored again in quick fashion after the Steelers’ fifth touchdown. Kaepernick threw deep to Torrey Smith, who beat Will Allen to haul in a 75-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion closed the gap to 36-18.

The Steelers maintained a 29-3 lead after a scoreless third quarter.

The Steelers’ defense bent and did not break in the third quarter when they allowed San Francisco to drive 82 yards on 18 plays, and then stuff the 49ers at the one.

San Francisco had six cracks from the three and could not put it in the end zone. Their final chance, on fourth down at the one, went awry when Lawrence Timmons broke up a pass in the end zone.

The Steelers scored four touchdowns in the first half, including three in the second quarter, to run out to a 29-3 halftime lead.

Williams scored on two short touchdowns and Brown caught five passes for 128 yards in the first two quarters.

As he has done so often, Brown ignited their first scoring drive of the second quarter that ended with Williams’ first of two, 2-yard touchdown runs. Brown caught a third-down pass for 12 yards and on another third down, he ran right past the double-coverage the 49ers put on him to haul in Roethlisberger’s deep pass at the San Francisco 22. After catching it, he darted to his right, then twisted around and ran to the left and picked up another 20 yards to the two.

After Williams scored from there, Roethlisberger flipped a pass to Miller for two points and the Steelers led 16-3.

The Steelers’ next touchdown seemed even easier.

Shazier sacked Kaepernick for a 17-yard loss back to the 49ers’ 4. After a good 16-yard punt return by Brown, the Steelers had a first down at San Francisco’s 35. Roethlisberger next faked a handoff to Williams and threw deep, where Heyward-Bey was wide open in the middle of the end zone. Josh Scobee missed the PAT, and the Steelers led 22-3.

Ryan Shazier recovered a fumble by Carlos Hyde to put the Steelers’ offense back in business at the San Francisco 42.

It took them six plays before Williams ran up the middle for a 2-yard touchdown. Scobee made the PAT this time, and the Steelers left the field with a 29-3 halftime lead.

The Steelers made the 49ers earn their first score, a 47-yard field goal early in the second-quarter after they had reached the Steelers’ 10.

A holding penalty and then three big defensive plays pushed the 49ers back to the 29. Cam Heyward blew up one play when he bulled through and tackled Hyde for a four-yard loss. Heyward then sacked Kaepernick for a seven-yard loss.

The first quarter ended with the Steelers ahead 8-0.

After a confusion-filled first drive on offense, the Steelers drove 83 yards for a touchdown on their second try of the game. Roethlisberger completed a perfect pass to Heyward-Bey on third down for 41 yards to keep things going.

Roethlisberger then found Miller for the two-yard touchdown pass. Brown caught the two-yard conversion pass, and the Steelers led 8-0.

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