For a brief moment, The Pittsburgh Steelers appeared as if they might actually win their week 7 matchup versus the Tom Brady led New England Patriots.

The moment was very short-lived, but a pleasant surprise nonetheless.

Knowing that Pittsburgh would be without their quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, most people expected a near blowout this past Sunday.

But it wasn’t a blow out: by any means.

Backup quarterback Landry Jones and the offense gave the Steelers a legitimate chance to win, they just fell short. The final score read 27-16, Patriots – but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Pittsburgh won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. This was a curious decision by Mike Tomlin; maybe he wanted to keep the ball out of Tom Brady’s hands, or I guess he wanted to come out swinging.

They almost did… Unfortunately, this is not horseshoes or cigars.

After an uncharacteristic turnover by New England, Landry Jones struck. He fired a pretty pass over the middle for a 25 yard completion to Antonio Brown that electrified Heinz Field.

Despite man coverage, Brown easily opened up the field, and Jones was given plenty of time, in part to a play action fake, and the return of FB Roosevelt Nix throwing a key block (top of screen).

The Steelers were close to drawing first blood. Then, Jones decided to take a shot for AB throwing his way versus another one-on-one matchup with New England CB Malcom Butler.

Now, whenever AB is in single coverage, taking a shot his way is completely acceptable. However, the throw by Landry Jones left much to be desired, as he threw to the inside instead of the outside, resulting in Jones’ lone interception on the day.

Ben Roethlisberger noted on his weekly show, that he talked with Landry following the play, and said that looking off of the intended target works in the case of TE Jesse James, due to linebacker or safety coverage, but a cornerback, in this case Butler, isn’t as easily fooled.

Re-watch the clip as Jones stares left, then pulls the trigger right. He said earlier in the week Coach Tomlin wanted him to “cut it loose” and he did: without the intended outcome, unfortunately.

The play was a total momentum killer because Pittsburgh registered zero points off the turnover. When the Patriots make a mistake, you really have to capitalize (because it almost never happens).

That interception proved costly before we knew it, as the Patriots drove to take a 7-0 lead. Shortly after, Pittsburgh was forced to punt after an extremely questionable (to say the least) offensive pass interference called on Darrius Heyward-Bey. The call was awful, for lack of a better term. In the eyes of many, myself included, defensive pass interference should have been the call, not offensive. There is no use in crying over spillled milk, and New England would soon find themselves up 14-0.

Landry Jones and company needed to make something happen now or never.

And they did.

The ensuing drive would be a memorable one for Jones, as he may have thrown his best pass of his career to date. Landry loaded up a long ball for Antonio Brown, hitting him perfectly in stride for a 51 yard gain, over the head of Malcom Butler (who, by the way, is a Pro Bowl cornerback).

The 51 yard pass was the longest that the Patriots had given up all season.

AB had a very AB type of day, despite being without Big Ben. Brown caught 7 passes for 106 yards – not too shabby.

After a few short runs by Le’Veon Bell, Landry Jones once again threw for the endzone. This time, connecting with his receiver for six points! Jones found DHB in the corner of the endzone and all of a sudden, it’s 14-7 New England. (Watch as Jones goes through all of his reads, first to his right, then sailing it into single coverage, as AB pulls the safety help underneath.)

Speaking of Le’Veon Bell, the man played a great game. Fans wanted to see #26 with the ball plenty and often for this game, and boy did they. Bell registered 31 touches, rushing 21 times for 81 yards and catching ten passes for 68 yards. His skill set is so unique and addicting to watch. I have been saying this for a few seasons now but I can’t remember there being a more fun running back to watch in recent memory. He certainly has my vote for best running back in the league.

Back to film, 14-7 isn’t time for panic mode at all. At this point, I’m assuming fans felt like Pittsburgh had a chance, I know I did. But sometimes in a football game things can go from super positive, to cursed. I leapt from my couch with excitement because it looked as if Landry Jones had just connected with DHB for his second TD of the day.

But looks can be deceiving, as the would-be touchdown was called back due to a holding penalty committed by Chris Hubbard.

Or was it? New England LB Jamie Collins rushes off the edge, slipping and falling as he nearly beats Hubbard. The officials didn’t see it this way, and unfortunately, there’s not a good enough angle of game film to show that Hubbard simply made himself “bigger” rather than “hold” Collins.

Normally, I stay upbeat and look forward to the next opportunity, but the misfortune was not over yet. The usual clutch Chris Boswell trotted out for a routine 42 yard field goal… and missed. The Steelers were in the New England redzone and came away with 0 points for a second time.

That will get you beat playing most teams, especially the Patriots.

The score remained 14-7.

Time was dwindling away in the first half, and the offense was given one last opportunity to put together a scoring drive before halftime. Landry Jones really impressed me here. He led a drive highlighted by check down passes to Le’Veon Bell that were open for days. I loved seeing Landry take what the defense gave him – very mature QB play.

Jones actually took a deep shot for Cobi Hamilton on the drive, and Cobi almost came up with it one-handed. He only used one hand because that’s all he could use! Patriots CB Logan Ryan clearly had a hold of Hamilton’s arm, but there was no call for pass interference.

I don’t want to take time to complain about calls all over this post, but it was an atrocious no-call.

Luckily for us, Landry did not let that phase him. He found Bell for a first down, then threw a rather impressive pass along the sidelines for Jessie James and a 10 yard first down. James seemed to run an out route, and Jones fit it into #81 just before he stepped out of bounds to stop the clock.

After an incomplete pass, Boswell came out for redemption, and connected for 3. Jones ran the 2 minute offense to near perfection, and Pittsburgh entered the locker room down just 4 points to New England.

The second half was not as glamorous as the opening act. The Pats would extend their lead to 20-14 before Pittsburgh scored again. On this particular drive, Antonio Brown was forced to exit the game momentarily with what was later described as a “quad injury” of sorts.

Just the thing this team needed, another superstar hurt. (AB would later return to the game but I digress.)

However, have no fear, because Cobi Hamilton is here.

Cobi stepped up for a second straight week and has people (myself included) thinking he has earned himself a spot on the 53 man roster for a longer term than the average practice squad guy. Cobi hauled in 3 passes for 36 yards but two of those were crucial 3rd down conversions. That shows ability to make the catch in intense situations. Hamilton has all the intangibles you look for in a NFL wide receiver: tall, fast, and solid hands.

The Steelers might have just found another diamond in the rough at the WR position. It’s still early to tell, but Hamilton is certainly turning heads.

Two of those catches for first downs mentioned would be on this scoring drive.

Boswell would later connect from 44 yards out, once again shortening the Patriot’s lead, 20-16.

After the final touchdown by NE (scored by LaGarrette Blount) Pittsburgh didn’t have much time. They had to score fast, but their efforts would be stalled, and a decision awaited head coach Mike Tomlin, on 4th down and 2 yards to go. Keep in mind that Le’Veon Bell had been running through the New England defense with apparent ease, but Tomlin decides to send Chris Boswell out for a career long attempt (54 yards).

In fairness, a made field goal would have cut the lead to one score. Sadly, he did not make it, and Pittsburgh was forced to give the ball back to the Patriots.

It was basically over at that point.

I understand why Tomlin tried the kick, but I know that I would have made the call to go for it. Not JUST because you have arguably the best running back in football, but because Boswell’s confidence had already been shook. He missed earlier in the game, even though he made 2 kicks, I’m sure the first miss was on his mind when he jogged out for his last attempt.

Nobody knows if Pittsburgh would have even scored after converting (or scored again for that matter) so I don’t see the point in freaking out over that one particular decision.

Look at it this way: If Boswell makes the kick and The Steelers recover the onside kick, all of a sudden Tomlin made a great choice and the offense is 8 points away from a tie game. He was trying to keep hope alive but he failed. His kicker failed. I am a huge Chris Boswell fan, but he missed two kicks. (It happens.)

On top of the missed kicks, The Steelers committed 4 false start penalties… at home… versus the Patriots.

That is absolutely inexcusable.

Pittsburgh left the New England redzone without scoring points not once, but twice.

I’m telling you, this game was Pittsburgh’s for the taking. Landry Jones missed a few passes here and there, but if you think there is another backup QB in the league who can throw a 62% completion percentage on nearly 50 throws, and give his team a chance to beat the Patriots, you’re wrong.

Landry played about as good as you could have asked him to, knowing he isn’t a franchise caliber quarterback. He spread it around to 8 different pass catchers and kept AB happy with his usual 100 yard performance: something Michael Vick couldn’t do last year.

Like any game, sometimes it comes down to a one call, or one play, that makes the difference. The Steelers took 6 points (and maybe 7 or 8 with a PAT or 2 point try) off the board with the Hubbard holding call negating DHB’s 2nd TD. Boswell’s miss may have been the difference in Tomlin going for it later in the game on 4th and 3.

Perhaps even the other pass interference call (DHB) or non-call (Hamilton) may have kept this game even closer.

Regardless, there’s still a lot to feel positive about even in defeat; should these two teams meet again, we should all feel confident about how the Steelers might fare with a healthy team, given how the reserves played against what many consider the best team in the league.