Roethlisberger throws 3 TD passes in return, but Conner, O-line suffer injuries in Steelers' win over Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ben Roethlisberger overcame a long layoff and some early rust to get the Pittsburgh Steelers off to a good start Monday night in their season opener.

Playing for the first time in 365 days because of right elbow surgery, the 38-year-old quarterback threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions to lead the Steelers past the New York Giants, 26-16, at an empty MetLife Stadium.

Roethlisberger shook off a slow start to complete 21 of 32 passes for 229 yards with two touchdown passes to JuJu Smith-Schuster and one to James Washington as the Steelers overcame an early deficit.

Benny Snell, filling in after starting running back James Conner left with an ankle injury, rushed for 113 yards on 19 carries. Conner, who was dogged by injuries the past three seasons, exited after gaining just 9 yards on six carries.

Smith-Schuster had six catches for 69 yards, and Diontae Johnson had six receptions for 57.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Steelers won their opener for the first in three seasons and did so while playing before an empty stadium that typically seats 82,500 fans.

“I’m excited we won the game, I’ll tell you that,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s not about me, individually. The reason I came back was for these guys, this team. It’s a special group of guys. I’m thankful to be a part of it.”

A year after the Steelers, playing without Roethlisberger for the final 14 games, had the worst red-zone offense in the NFL, they scored touchdowns on three of four trips inside the Giants 20-yard line. Smith-Schuster had touchdown grabs of 10 and 8 yards, and Washington pulled away from three defenders to complete a 13-yard touchdown with 7 seconds left in the first half to give the Steelers the lead for good.

“I never saw a part of Ben being timid,” said Smith-Schuster, who had only three touchdown receptions in 2019. “Once we picked it up and Ben figured out what (plays) he liked, we started executing.”

So did the Steelers defense, which intercepted two passes and sacked Giants second-year quarterback Daniel Jones three times.

Jones had 279 yards passing and threw two touchdowns to Darius Slayton, but he was hurt by the pair of interceptions: one into the arms of T.J. Watt in the first half and a floater in the third quarter that Cameron Heyward pulled down in the end zone.

The Steelers, who led the NFL with 38 takeaways last year, got 10 points off the Watt and Heyward interceptions. Stephon Tuitt, Vince Williams and Mike Hilton had sacks, and the defense, which yielded an average of 146 rushing yards late in the season during a three-game losing streak, held Giants star Saquon Barkley to 6 yards on 15 carries.

“We just wanted to smash the run first and foremost,” Watt said. “By the time you got to the ball, it seemed like three or four guys got there before you.”

The Steelers did suffer three injuries in the game, including a potentially serious one to right tackle Zach Banner, who left in the second half with a knee injury. Banner was in tears as he was helped to the locker room.

Stefen Wisniewski, making his first start for his hometown team, also left in the second half with a pectoral injury. He was starting in place of All-Pro David DeCastro, who was inactive with a knee injury.

At one point of the second half, Roethlisberger stood on the sideline with a heavy sleeve on his elbow while backup Mason Rudolph started throwing warmup tosses. But Roethlisberger’s return never was in doubt.

“I wasn’t trying to scare anybody,” Roethlisberger said. “I didn’t know he was (warming up).”

Roethlisberger then led the Steelers on a drive that produced their first lead.

Trailing 10-9, the Steelers took possession at their 22 with 1 minute, 52 seconds left before halftime. Roethlisberger completed 5 of 7 passes on a drive that resulted in his 13-yard touchdown to Washington. Washington also had a 21-yard reception on the drive, Smith-Schuster had two catches for 31 yards and Roethlisberger had an 11-yard scramble that preceded the touchdown.

“It was a good drive for us,” Roethlisberger said. “The guys were protecting up front, and my job is to get the ball out of my hands to the playmakers.”

The Giants threatened to retake the lead on their first drive of the second half before Heyward snuffed out the threat with his first career interception, a pick at the goal line.

The drive consumed 19 plays and 87 yards, with Jones methodically moving the Giants downfield and converting six third downs. On second down from the Steelers 4, Jones rolled to his left and was chased by Bud Dupree, forcing an off-balance throw. Heyward pulled it down at the goal line with 3:17 left in the quarter.

Chris Boswell’s 36-yard field goal on the next possession increased the Steelers’ lead to 19-10 early in the fourth quarter.

Roethlisberger hiked the lead to 26-10 when his second touchdown pass to Smith-Schuster capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive that took 7 minutes off the clock.

“I feel great right now,” Roethlisberger said. “I’m going to be sore tomorrow. There are bumps and bruises. But my elbow, I feel really good.”