The Steelers seemed to have all in order Sunday, leading the Cowboys 24-17 and getting the ball back to possibly put the game away to get to 8-6.
Instead, a team that has put the ball on the ground did it again, as Antonio Brown fumbled what looked to be a solid punt return, and the Cowboys recovered.
A few plays later, they scored to tie it up at 24, and then eventually after a series of “what ifs” the Cowboys got another turnover in OT on a Ben Roethlisberger pick, and Dan Bailey hit a chip-shot field goal for a 27-24 win.
Roethlisberger put up 339 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-40 passing, but his costly interception to Brandon Carr on the Steelers first OT possession triggered the Steelers second straight loss and fourth setback in five games.
The Steelers playoff hopes will come down to next week, as they now trail fellow AFC North member Cincinnati by one game for the AFC’s second Wild Card berth heading into next weekend’s showdown between the teams in Pittsburgh.
Both Brown and Heath Miller recorded touchdown catches for the Steelers, with Miller amassing 92 yards on seven receptions. Mike Wallace totaled 95 yards on four catches in a losing cause.
The bottom line is once again this team had chances, and should have won, yet again gave it away.
The season comes down to next week when they host the Bengals. They win, they will basically for sure be the AFC #6 seed. Lose, and the finale vs the Browns the week after is likely useless.
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Pingback: Dallas Outlasts Pittsburgh 27-24 in OT - Unofficial Network
Jalen
December 16, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Bb not in category of Brady or manning or Bree’s or Rodgers; not when u throwing picks to lose games and I get that Wallace didn’t come back for the ball but I expect that fom Wallace- to not get his fingernails dirty; I expect more from bb. Our receiving corps should be called the three burritos- soft, cheesy and like most everything from Mexico, they don’t work right!
Dave B.
December 16, 2012 at 10:24 pm
For everyone screaming , burn Todd Haley at the stake , lets take a breath and regroup for a second . Im as disgusted as anyone with the way this team has played this year . The Cowboys had one game plan coming into this game and they executed it to perfection . Attack the Steeler corners , and they did it repeatedly . Youre not going to defend Miles Austin and Dez Bryant with second an third string corners . It aint gonna happen . At the end of the day , there is no way to fairly judge this team or to know for certain just how good they are , when every week you have at least three or four starters standing in street clothes . This team has been destroyed with injuries the entire season and how can you be expected to compete at a playoff level when you dont even know till Friday before the game , whos going to take the field . With that being said , Im not sitting here saying Todd Haley is completely innocent in this because he isnt . His run first mentality , when you have subpar running backs and a subpar offensive line makes no sense . However , Haley wasnt late on an out route that Dallas intercepted in overtime , Ben Roethlisberger was . Bottom line , theres enough blame to go around for everyone , from the head coach , to the assistants , to the players . I think we all know the Steelers are not a playoff team and thats just the way it is . Even if this team wins its last two games and manages to slide in the playoffs , what happens when they run into Houston or New England with a secondary thats torn apart by injury ? I think we all know the answer to that one .
DrGeorge
December 17, 2012 at 11:12 am
Well said, Dave B. Those who have coached or played any team sport at any level know how crucial injuries can be to team success. Against Dallas, Ben R. played hurt and lacked his usual accuracy, limiting the passing attack. Redman played hurt and reinjured his ankle, limiting the running attack. Our O-line changes weekly. K. Lewis joined Taylor on the sidelines, and now our defense is using taxi squad players and safeties at CB (Romo picked on Victorian all day).
We started the season with inadequate talent on D; the injuries only made it worse. We started the season with adequate talent on Offense, but injuries made that unit average, too. And the aging veterans aren’t getting any younger.
In other words, the coaches are getting the most they can from the talent they have. They simply don’t have enough healthy talent left. Those who saw the 49ers-Patriots game that followed ours could readily see how far we’ve fallen from first tier status in terms of talent. Not only could we not beat those two teams if we met them in the playoffs, we couldn’t even beat Dallas if we played them again. Our 7-7 record is not an aberration; injuries have made us an average team right now.
Rather than criticizing the coaches and players, we should be commending them for courage and perseverance; after all, we almost stole a win yesterday in a game Dallas should have won easily. What this team is going through now is far more difficult than playing a Super Bowl. The guys are going into battle with one hand tied behind their backs and doing the best they can, knowing the odds are against them. It isn’t fun for them, and it isn’t fun for fans to watch, but the experience will pay dividends down the road.
DS
December 17, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Please tell me why they picked up Plex and they don’t utilize him? And why was he on the sidelines yesterday????? Unbelievable!