Steelers Overcome Slow Start To Bury Cardinals
Ryan Williams continued his strong rookie campaign with another pair of touchdowns in the win.
ScoringSummary
| Team | Q | Time | Play | Pittsburgh | Arizona |
 | 1st | 3:28 | DK Metcalf, 4 Yd Pass From Anthony Richardson | 7 | 0 |
| 2nd | 2:23 | Ryan Williams, 52 Yd Pass From Anthony Richardson | 14 | 0 |
 | 2nd | 1:12 | Marvin Harrison Jr, 6 Yd Pass From Kyler Murray | 14 | 7 |
| 2nd | 0:01 | Brandon Aubrey, 29 Yd FG | 17 | 7 |
| 3rd | 8:11 | Quinshon Judkins, 7 Yd Run | 24 | 7 |
| 4th | 9:20 | Zachariah Branch, 3 Yd Pass From Anthony Richardson | 31 | 7 |
| 4th | 9:09 | Elijah Sarratt, Returned Kickoff 92 Yds (Failed 2PT) | 31 | 13 |
| 4th | 2:39 | Ryan Williams, 10 Yd Pass From Anthony Richardson | 38 | 13 |
Glendale, AZ - The Pittsburgh Steelers overcame a turnover-plagued first half to roll the Arizona Cardinals 38-13 on Sunday, moving to 4-0 on the season despite a start that threatened to derail their perfect record.
It wasn't pretty early. But by the time the final whistle blew, the Steelers had delivered another statement win on the road.
Pittsburgh's offense looked uncharacteristically sloppy in the first quarter. Running back Kaleb Johnson fumbled on the opening drive, handing Arizona prime field position. Then, on the Steelers' next possession, receiver Zachariah Branch dropped what would have been a 51-yard touchdown pass in the end zone, leaving points on the board.
Four plays later, Anthony Richardson threw a red-zone interception, his sixthof the season, as the Cardinals defense stiffened and kept Pittsburgh's potent offense off the scoreboard.
But despite the Cardinals' best efforts, Pittsburgh still managed to rally for a 17-7 halftime lead, scoring a a late touchdown before a Brandon Aubrey field goal cemented the halftime lead.
Any hopes of an Arizona comeback evaporated early in the third quarter. A 44-yard reception by DK Metcalf on the opening drive of the half set up Quinshon Judkins' 7-yard touchdown run, pushing the Steelers' lead to 24-7 and sucking the energy out of State Farm Stadium.
Johnson fumbled again later in the third quarter — his second lost fumble of the day — but the Cardinals were unable to take advantage. Arizona's offense, already struggling to move the ball consistently, completely stalled in the fourth quarter.
Back-to-back turnovers by Kyler Murray in the final frame set up two more Richardson touchdown passes, effectively putting the game out of reach. Elijah Sarratt provided the home crowd with a brief spark late in the fourth quarter with a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, but by then the outcome was long decided.
Despite his production — 15 carries for 130 yards — Johnson's ball security issues have become a growing concern for the coaching staff. The fumbles marked his third and fourth lost fumbles through four games, an alarming trend for a player expected to be the featured back in Pittsburgh's offense.
Head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the issue after the game, making it clear that Johnson's role could be in jeopardy if the turnovers continue.
"Until Kaleb eases concerns about ball security, Quinshon [Judkins] is going to continue to get opportunities inside the red zone," Tomlin said. "We can't afford to give teams extra possessions, especially in tight games."
Judkins, signed in the preseason after being a cut day causality in Cleveland, has proven to be a reliable option near the goal line. His physicality and sure hands make him a natural fit for short-yardage situations, and Tomlin's comments suggest he may see an expanded role moving forward if Johnson can't clean up his ball security.
The Steelers are 4-0, but the road hasn't been as smooth as the record suggests. Richardson's interception total is now at six through four games, and Johnson's fumbling issues are becoming impossible to ignore. Pittsburgh has won despite these flaws, but the margin for error shrinks considerably once they face tougher competition.
Pittsburgh returns home in Week 5 to face the Cleveland Browns before entering their bye week. A win would give the Steelers a 5-0 record heading into the break and firm control of the AFC North.
Anthony Richardson | 27/35, 355 Yds, 4 TD, INT; 3 Att, 31 Yds
Kyler Murray | 11/21, 127 Yds, TD, INT; 4 Att, 44 Yds
Kaleb Johnson | 15 Att, 130 Yds
Trey Benson | 8 Att, 21 Yds
Ryan Williams | 9 Rec, 153 Yds, 2 TD
Marvin Harrison Jr | 4 Rec, 34 Yds, TD
CB Marlon Humphrey | 6 Tkl, 2 TFL
DT Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (R) | 2 Tkl, 2 TFL, Sack
EDGE TJ Watt | 2 Tkl, 2 TFL, Sack
SS Budda Baker | 12 Tkl, TFL, INT
EDGE Aidan Hutchinson | 7 Tkl, 2 TFL
MLB Ben Roberts (R) | 5 Tkl, 2 TFL
