Steelers Comeback Efforts Fall Short Vs. Chargers 41-37
The Pittsburgh Steelers were 3:24 minutes away from an incredible comeback vs. the Los Angeles Chargers, but unfortunately, they would end up losing 41-37 in a Sunday Night Football game in front of a SoFi Stadium full of mostly Steeler fans.
Trailing 27-10 in the 4th quarter, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers to 27 unanswered points and had his team actually leading 37-34 after K Chris Boswell’s 45-yard FG, but unfortunately it was still enough time for Chargers QB to mount a comeback of his own on the next drive as he found a wide-open WR Mike Williams for a 53-yard TD pass to take back the lead and secure victory.
“Thankful for Ben coming back in the manner in which he did and getting on the moving train and contributing.” Said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin “We couldn’t get enough stops defensively. We couldn’t apply pressure with our four-man rush or keep them in the pocket. We weren’t good enough in coverage with less than seven.”
After missing the Detriot Lions game due to COVID protocols, Big Ben returned to start the game for the Steelers and passed for 273 yards and 3 TDs to show that he still has what it takes to put his team on his back.
“I saw the same thing as if he was at practice the whole week; consistency.” Said Steelers WR Diontae Johnson who finished the game with 101 yards and a TD “It just felt good to have him back out there and get the offense going. Not saying Mason [Rudolph] wasn’t doing his job or whatnot, but the offense was just playing well tonight. We just came up short tonight.”
But as good as the offense looked in the 4th quarter, unfortunately it was the opposite for the defense as they struggled to contain Chargers QB Justin Herbert as he lit up the Steelers for 382 yards, 3 TDs and an interception and even led his team with 90 yards rushing as he weaved around the Steelers defense.
“I think he identified what we were in early on and then, as soon as he saw when he was spreading out, he took advantage.” Said Steelers DT Cam Heyward “We’ve got to clean that up. Today, obviously, it wasn’t what we need to be in. We gave up a bunch of yards and we paid the price.”
The loss leaves the Steelers at 5-4-1 and in the thick of the playoff race. It also did not help that all three of the Steelers AFC North Division opponents (Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns) won, so with 7 games left the Steelers know they must continue to fight and prepare themselves to travel the Cincinnati to face the Bengals.
“Yeah, I thought we had them, but at the end of the day, it’s football. Stuff’s going to happen. We didn’t respond like we were supposed to, so we’ve just got to look forward to this week.”- Said Johnson.
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