Steelers loss to Saints a heart-breaker in final seconds
So many things went the right way for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they went head-to-head with the NFC’s top team in the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon, but so many things went wrong, too. No excuses to be made, but the officiating truly had an impact on the outcome of a big part of the game, but in the end, it was the Steelers trying to recover from a late Saints drive that, with a successful field goal, had Pittsburgh down by three points. And as a loose ball was recovered by New Orleans, Pittsburgh’s hold on the AFC North and playoff hopes completely reset.
Although the Steelers were unable to do much with their opening offensive drive, Sean Davis got things started off well for the defense when he made an interception in the end zone, got up un-touched, ran it out of the end zone and was subsequently horse-collared by the Saints defender. The penalty got Ben Roethlisberger and the offense on the field where they marched deep and drew first blood with a successful Chris Boswell field goal.
When Joe Haden was called for pass interference, something that on review showed he was making a play on the ball, the Saints took advantage by rushing the ball into the field goal from within the three-yard line. Although Vance McDonald would grab a 49-yarder, the end of the first quarter saw the Steelers down 7-3 with the ball still in their possession.
Boswell would kick another successful field goal to close the gap in the score to one point.
After making some adjustments, the Steelers’ defense was able to settle down and forced a Saints punt. Big Ben then utilized Antonio Brown heavily before finding JuJu Smith-Schuster who was interfered with by Eli Apple. Roethlisberger then called a smart play, having Jaylen Samuels get out of the backfield and in the flat where the Saints had no coverage for a touchdown. Boswell’s successful PAT tied the score at 14-all with just 40 seconds left in the first half.
Drew Brees would orchestrate some magic and Alvin Kamara benefitted from a tip-toe along the sidelines that set up a Saints field goal to send both teams into the locker room at the half with New Orleans up 17-14.
The game then became a back-and-forth affair with a mix of more head-scratching officiating that went against both teams. Brees and Roethlisberger showed why they’re veterans, leading their offenses to scores (Kamara on a jump into the end zone and a Brown touchdown reception). While the Saints held on to the three-point lead, T.J. Watt, Stephon Tuitt, and Bud Dupree dialed things up to sack Drew Brees twice on three plays.
Roethlisberger would find Brown for another touchdown reception – threading the ball between two Saints defenders who had bracketed A.B. The Steelers went ahead, 28-24, with the Boswell PAT.
A Steven Ridley fumble after Morgan Burnett broke up a key play that forced a punt was deflating. Typical Brees-style, the Saints were able to drive down the field and get into the end zone to make the score 31-28.
New Orleans left plenty of time on the game clock for Roethlisberger and company, though, and making smart plays, the Steelers were driving and nearly within range for a Boswell field goal that would have tied the game and sent things into overtime. Unfortunately, Smith-Schuster – who’d been having a good game despite being double-teamed as often as Brown was in the final quarter – caught a Roethlisberger pass and came down on top of one Saints defender as another hit the football in his hands. Not considered “down” due to being on top of an opposing player, the loose ball was ruled a fumble, recovered by the Saints.
With the heart-breaking loss, the Steelers now have to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17 and hope the Cleveland Browns also beat the Baltimore Ravens (who shocked the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday night) in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The naysayers will likely be all over social media saying, “I told you so,” but as a fan, I am nearly as angry with them as I am with the officials after the loss. After all, who claims to be a “fan” and spends the entire season talking about how the sky is falling, how everyone needs to be fired, and how terrible the team they supposedly love is? It’s not over, folks. The Steelers aren’t done. And if you feel that strongly already that this season is over, maybe go bowling next week so the rest of us can enjoy the final game of the 2018 NFL regular season?
As a post-script: Thank you to all the defibrillator companies that “followed” me on Twitter after I said I needed “assistance”. Next time I need a jump-start because I’m heartbroken, maybe send me a medic instead of just promoting your product?
