PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Alright, who had Najee Harris rushing for 65 more yards than Ben Roethlisberger threw for in his final game at Heinz Field?
Anyone with your hand up, stop it. No one saw that of all the pregame scenarios of how the game with the Browns would play out.
"This was a better game for rushing," Harris said plainly. "We just need to keep this going on into Baltimore. Not every game is going to be perfect. Shout out to the offensive line. They did their job with the change in coaching staff. They really focused up and executed their assignments. A big shout out to C-Mo (Chris Morgan) and the whole O-line for doing what they do."
Considering the offensive line lost it's lead coach a week ago and they played without starting center Kendrick Green for the first time and without starting guard Kevin Dotson and lost guard Trai Turner and briefly tackle Chukwuma Okorafor in-game due to injuries. Pretty impressive performance as Mike Tomlin said they really took advantage of what Cleveland was showing them.
"They stayed in a lot of two-high safeties," Tomlin said. "I think they had respect for our passing game and understood the gravity of the moment. You know, they were playing a bunch of two-high safeties, and so the pile fell forward and we did what we needed to do in the run game."
"Man, I'm so proud," Roethlisberger said. "He was still sitting there when I came over here and I just told him thank you. I said, I'm so proud of you. He's a heck of a football player.
Tonight, it's like he ran possessed tonight. Some of the things he did was just special, and he gave us this victory."
Harris rushed for a career best 188 yards and sealed the game on a 37-yard touchdown run. Harris laughed after that he defied orders to get down after getting the first down with one-minute left in the game. He said Roethlisberger and others were yelling at him to get down and is said 'nah'.
Najee Harris became the ninth Steelers player to ever rush for 1,000 yards, doing so in the second series of the game. Harris would then bust past the Steelers rookie record of 1,055 set by Franco Harris in 14 games in 1972. It's Harris' third 100-yard game of the season. The Alabama All-American now with 1,172 yards in 16 starts, 93 or more yards in three of the last four games.
Other Steelers to have over 1,000 years in a season-Harris seven times, Jerome Bettis six times, Willie Parker and Le'Veon Bell three times, Rashard Mendenhall and John Henry Johnson twice and Rocky Bleier once.
"It's a pretty old record," Harris said. "It's always an honor. For me to go up and say I did it all by myself. I think that's too selfish. I really appreciate what the line did, and the receivers and Ben. They all played a part to make me ultimately get that record."
"I think I appreciate them more than anything. Franco was a great Steeler, great football player and great person."
Harris then said something that should make Steelers fans excited. Asked if he took a moment to soak up all that was going on with the fans and Roethlisberger's last game at Heinz Field.
"I didn't take it in the way Ben did," Harris said. "He's on his way out and I'm here. I looked at it in a different way. What can we do to get better as a team to keep this energy going here, to keep these smiles on the fans faces and to keep going as a team."
