The Steelers dug themselves a huge hole and climbed all the way out of it last night, but the undermanned defense failed again, as the Los Angeles Chargers beat Pittsburgh, 41-37, in Sunday Night Football.
Trailing 27-10 entering the fourth quarter, the Steelers scored 27 points over the final 15 minutes, but after taking a 37-34 lead, the defense broke down on a blown coverage by Cam Sutton, allowing Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams to sprint to the end zone with the game-winning touchdown on a 53-yard reception.
The defense gave up a season-high 553 yards and 41 points as Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 382 yards and three scores and ran for 90 yards as well. Pittsburgh played without defensive stars TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Joe Haden.
The Steelers’ comeback featured a 36-yard field goal by Chris Boswell, a one-yard touchdown run by Najee Harris after a blocked punt by Miles Killebrew, two five-yard touchdown passes from Ben Roethlisberger, one each to tight ends Eric Ebron and Pat Freiermuth (with the second one coming off a Sutton interception of a pass tipped by Cam Heyward), and finally a 45-yard field goal by Boswell.
Roethlisberger rejoined the team before the game after sitting out the last week due to a positive test for covid-19. He threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns but was sacked three times, two of them on the final possession as he was trying to get the team down the field for a last score.
Coach Mike Tomlin says Herbert was good for the Chargers, but the Steelers have only themselves to blame.
With the Ravens, Browns, and Bengals all winning yesterday, Roethlisberger says the loss to the Chargers hurts, but the Steelers are not out of the AFC North race.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson was glad to have Big Ben back directing the offense after Mason Rudolph took the snaps last week against Detroit.
Next up for the Steelers is a key AFC North game at Cincinnati on Sunday. The Bengals beat the Steelers earlier this season. The Browns play the Ravens in Baltimore. After barely surviving the Bears yesterday, the Ravens top the division at 7-3. The Bengals are 6-4, the Steelers 5-4-1, and the Browns are 6-5.
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