A week after losing one of the more disappointing regular season games in recent memory, the Pittsburgh Steelers flipped the script and in doing so, kept their hopes of repeating as AFC North champions very much alive.
The Steelers left San Diego with a miraculous 24-20 comeback win over the Chargers courtesy of a “walk-off” 1-yard touchdown run by Le’Veon Bell. The Steelers overcame oppressive heat, and two late fourth quarter deficits, and the challenge of converting what essentially was a make or break play to get a crucial conference win on the road.
Three up:
• How about that gutsy call?
Forced with a the choice of sending the game to OT with a chip shot field goal or going for the win, Mike Tomlin chose to go for it knowing that there was a huge risk of running out of time if the play failed.
After being stagnant for most of the game, the Steelers offense, led by Michael Vick had one last possession get a score with 2:56 left and trailing 20-17. Vick would save his best for the final possession. After two Bell runs and three short completions moved the Steelers past midfield, a 24-yard scramble that was vintage Vick moved the ball well within field goal range.
A picture perfect 16-yard connection to Heath Miller and subsequent targeting call would place the ball at the 1-yard line with five seconds left and the Steelers possessing a final time out, setting up Tomlin’s decision to go with Bell out of the wildcat.
If the play fails, Tomlin gets destroyed. However, win or lose, it was the right call and kudos to Tomlin for having the guts to understand the situation and take a shot.
With temperatures surging into the 90’s (second hottest in team history) and the Chargers having a definitive advantage with Phillip Rivers at quarterback, taking a shot to win from a yard out was the no-brainer call of the century.
• Although the Steelers defense gave up nearly 400 yards through the air and struggled to contain Antonio Gates through much of the night, give them credit, they did more than enough to help the Steelers win. The Steelers limited the Chargers to 52 yards rushing and despite only being credited with two sacks, spent much of the night pressuring Rivers.
Antwon Blake came up with a huge interception on one of the few mistakes made by Rivers all night. Blake was able to take the pick to the house for 70 yards, giving the Steelers a early third quarter lead.
Sean Spence once again proved his value for the second straight week, subbing for the injured Ryan Shazier. Spence chipped in with eight tackles and was solid throughout.
I hate to sound like a skipping record, but Cameron Heyward once again was dominant. Credited with only one tackle, Heyward was a force and spent much of the evening driving the Chargers interior lineman into their own backfield. He also forced two pivotal holding calls late in the game when San Diego was forced to settle for a field goal instead of potentially crippling touchdown.
Though far from perfect, credit Robert Golden and Shamarko Thomas for stepping in and contributing at safety last night. Golden was forced into action after an early ankle injury to Will Allen and Thomas made the most of his first action on defense this season recovering a fumble forced on a sack by Jarvis Jones.
•New kicker Chris Boswell nailed a 47-yard field goal straight down the middle and converted all three PAT’s. Considering the nightmare that has been the Steelers placekicking situation, it was noted.
Finally, I have to give a shout out to Roosevelt Nix. Nix was a pile driver at fullback when given the opportunity and had several key blocks for Bell during the game. He’s playing well enough that he might command more playing time on offense. Nix’s open field tackle on return specialist and Steeler-killer Jacoby Jones may have prevented a score late, and should not be overlooked.
Three down:
•The injuries continue to pile up for the Steelers. The loss of Allen puts even more pressure on the secondary and if it’s a long term injury, the onus will be on reserves Golden and Thomas to fill in as starters. The Steelers simply can’t afford to lose more starters to injury considering how many key players have been lost so early in the season.
Thomas will now have one final opportunity to prove he can play safety in the NFL at a high enough level to keep his job, and the test won’t be easy next week against an Arizona Cardinals passing game that is among the best in the league.
•Special teams have been a real area of concern all season long. The obvious issues at kicker have been at the forefront, but last night the Steelers were called for four penalties on punt returns. It’s understood that the Steelers are desperately trying to get Antonio Brown going, but the penalties were killer last night, and have to stop.
Dri Archer continues to do little to command a roster spot. With another roster move likely to happen when the Steelers reinstate Martavis Bryant, it will be interesting to see if Archer holds onto his job. Jordan Todman might be another candidate to be cut, his hold on a solid Brown return did not help his cause.
•Lost in the afterglow of a comeback win orchestrated by Vick, was the fact that outside of a dazzling 72-yard TD pass to Markus Wheaton, Vick managed to pass for only 131 yards the rest of the night and only converted 5 of 14 third down opportunities. It seems clear that for better or worse, Todd Haley is going to have to open the offense up and let Vick be Vick.
As soon as he was able to run a more high tempo offense that suits his skill set late in the game, Vick thrived. Sure, there might be some mistakes and a few more turnovers than you might want, but at some point Haley has to let Vick play the way he knows how, regardless of some of the risks and shortcomings that come with it.
Photo credit: Getty Images
