Pittsburgh Steelers Stunningly Lose To Buccaneers In Final Minute
Final score: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 24
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers capitalized on a 29-yard punt from Brad Wing and scored a touchdown with 12 seconds left in regulation to win their first game of the season.
How it happened:
– A Steelers opening-drive fumble on their first drive set up the Buccaneers with a short field. Wide receiver Mike Evans made them pay with a 7-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Mike Glennon. Evans finished with four receptions for 65 yards before leaving with a groin injury.
– The Steelers went three-and-out on their next drive and a 25 yard punt return placed the Buccaneers on their own 45-yard line. A 15 yard face mask penalty helped contribute to a six play drive that resulted in a 50 yard Patrick Murray field goal to take a 10-0 lead.
– Pittsburgh went on a 10-play drive with the highlight being a 31-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Markus Wheaton. The play was challenged but confirmed. Ultimately the drive stalled and Shaun Suisham made a 25-yard field goal.
– Scoring in the first quarter ended when Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown for an 11-yard touchdown.
– In the second quarter, the Steelers produced the lone points as part of a 13-play, 93-yard drive. Antonio Brown made a highlight reel 27 yard touchdown catch to give the Steelers a 17-10 lead at halftime.
– Tampa Bay had the first drive in the second half and went 80 yards in eight plays to tie the game. Evans made a 40-yard reception and stayed in bounds that advanced the drive. This catch was challenged unsuccessfully by the Steelers. Running back Doug Martin ran for a 3-yard touchdown and Cameron Heyward of the Steelers was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct on the play.
– Heath Miller was the hero of the Steelers third quarter touchdown drive. Miller had two catches for 21 yards and the touchdown. Antonio Brown had a 27 yard reception the Buccaneers unsuccessfully challenged meaning Tampa Bay was out of challenges.
– Down 24-17 in the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay drove to the Pittsburgh 41 where Glennon found Louis Murphy for a 31-yard completion. The drive stalled and a field goal dropped the deficit to four points.
– The Buccaneers unsuccessfully ate up 5:22 of the game clock, coming up empty and leaving 1:49 left in the fourth quarter. They drove to the Steelers 14 but remained there after fourth down to turn the ball over on downs.
– The Steelers were unable to advance the ball but the Buccaneers had to burn both of their timeouts. With 50 seconds in regulation, punter Brad Wing punted the ball 29 yards where the ball was downed on the Steelers 46-yard line.
– On the second play of the drive, Glennon found Murphy for a 41-yard gain to the Steelers 5. Glennon quickly spiked the ball and with 12 seconds on the clock found Vincent Jackson for the go-ahead touchdown.
My take: The Steelers threw this game away. Maybe they overlooked the Buccaneers but this was a game for the new-look defense to figure out how to play together.
Instead, other than an interception, which only occurred due to a groin injury, the defense did not answer the call. Blame the referees all you want, but 125 penalty yards is unacceptable. The Steelers (2-2) have to do better and will have a chance Sunday at Jacksonville.