The Steelers have worked on putting together a shot at a seventh by withstanding the loss of Bell, center Maurkice Pouncey, left tackle Kelvin Beachum and four-plus games without Roethlisberger.
Advertisement
After recovering a fumble on Pittsburgh’s first drive of the game, Cleveland was unable to capitalize on the takeaway and turned the ball over on downs.
“We’re excited because after we knew we had this one”, said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “If we don’t turn the ball over, that’s us and that’s been us”.
The Texans would claim the AFC South title and a first playoff spot since 2012 with a Week 17 win and they made short work of the Jaguars in Houston.
Pittsburgh was just as clueless to yet another Fitzpatrick interception – this time with the Jets down by 5 – just before Pittsburgh’s final competitive offensive possession, when the Steelers took the field up by 16 with 4:27 to play.
“We need DeAngelo”, said Brian Stouffer, a fan.
A group Pittsburgh believes it belongs in. Timmons’ sacks were part of seven collected by the Steelers.
Despite two turnovers, a missed field goal and Williams’ injury, the Steelers led 14-6 at halftime.
And here’s the thing: he’s hardly satisfied.
“It’s been a tough, 16-week fight for us, but we’re where we want to be”, coach Mike Tomlin said.
Squint hard enough and he might be right.
After finishing with a record of 3-13, Cleveland now owns the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. But that’s not it. I wish that team was going in somebody’s place.
Few in the league make more than Brown. Brown possibly reclaimed the job full-time after sprinting 71 yards for the fourth punt return score of his career. We have a lot to play for, too, because it’s another game. While they did put 12 points on the board, they could not stop the Steelers from scoring more than double that, winning the game 28-12. Six Pittsburgh players had at least one gain of 20 yards or more on Sunday night.
An odd and embarrassing string of events that consisted of a false start and a delay of game while Cleveland was already inside the two-yard line, backed them up to about the one-inch-line. In fact, 2 of them were great throws that probably should’ve been caught by Darrius Heyward-Bey and Bryant respectively. Also, just past year, on January 3, the Steelers were eliminated in the wild card round by Baltimore, in a 30-17 beat-down at Heinz Field.
Advertisement
Roethlisberger warmed up for the finale by playing catch in the hallway outside Pittsburgh’s locker room before the game. The Bills had to become temporary frenemies – and of course, the Steelers had to win against the hapless Browns – but the stars aligned on Sunday for Pittsburgh to get the chance to play postseason football.
