PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 08: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers drops back to pass during the first quarter in the game against the Carolina Panthers at Heinz Field on November 8, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
The Carolina Panthers are getting handled on primetime, and now Eric Reid has been thrown out for taking a cheap shot on Ben Roethlisberger.
Coming into Thursday night, the Panthers were hoping to make a statement. Boy, did they.
In their first primetime appearance of the season, Carolina laid the proverbial egg against the Steelers in what turned into a beating at Heinz Field. Then things got ugly in the third quarter. With Ben Roethlisberger scrambling for a first down and then some, Big Ben punctuated the play by sliding to the ground, only to be met by a torpedoing Eric Reid. Reid came in late and low, making contact with Roethlisberger’s head.
The result was a personal foul and ejection, along with a bevy of Steelers players led by Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro rushing to Roethlisberger’s aid.
Ultimately, the play will almost assuredly result in a hefty fine for Reid if not a potential suspension. Reid was whistled for a personal foul earlier in the year when he tossed Carson Wentz to the ground, and then fended off a hard-charging Zach Ertz in response to the hit.
Reid, who went into the season unsigned after protesting during the national anthem last year, isn’t going to get ay favors from the league office.
The Panthers now limp back to Carolina after the shellacking, albeit as a 6-3 team with all possibilities ahead of it. Meanwhile, the Steelers continue to roll with what is their fifth consecutive win after beginning the year 1-2-1.