Between calls by the referees, decisions by Mike Tomlin, and some of the plays committed by Steelers players, Pittsburgh fans have a lot to be furious about following the Steelers’ 23-16 loss to the Denver Broncos in the playoffs on Sunday.
The Steelers were up 10-9 at halftime, leading 13-9 in the third quarter, and they were going in for a score to extend their lead late in the fourth before a fumble changed everything. On top of that, a missed call by the officials also hurt them.
Let’s take a look at some of the plays, calls and decisions that should have Steelers fans upset.
Aqib Talib gets away with pass interference
In the third quarter, the Steelers were up 10-9 and had the ball at the Denver 10. On a 3rd-and-5 play Ben Roethlisberger passed to Martavis Bryant in the end zone. Bryant was covered by Aqib Talib, who made contact before the ball arrived. No pass interference was called.
Looks like PI to me…but what do I know? Ask Jay Feely. pic.twitter.com/Z6Gc3v5cXV
— Dave Dameshek (@Dameshek) January 17, 2016
Had that been called, the Steelers would have had a first down from the 1.
Mike Tomlin chooses to punt from Denver 34-yard line
Early in the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh was leading 13-12 and driving. A sack, facemask penalty and negative run made it 2nd (and eventually third) and 30 for the Steelers. They ended up with a 4th-and-20 from the Denver 34. They had three choices: go for it, which would have been difficult to convert; attempt a 51-yard field goal; or punt. Tomlin decided to take the delay of game penalty, move back to the 39 and punt. Kicker Chris Boswell only had three misses on the season: from 47, 41 and 48. He made both of his attempts from 51 this season. Field goal distance isn’t as much of an issue from the high altitude in Denver, but Tomlin still opted to punt.
Peyton Manning gives himself up
This was one of the biggest misses by the referees in the game. In the fourth quarter the Steelers were up 13-12. Denver had a 1st-and-10 at their 20. Manning felt the pressure and took a dive, essentially giving himself up. But realizing he hadn’t been touched, he got back up and completed a pass to Emmanuel Sanders who went 34 yards to the Steelers 46. Had the officials ruled Manning down (Tomlin tried to challenge but the judgement call wasn’t reviewable), Denver would have had a second and long from inside their 15, which would have potentially shifted field position, making it easier for the Steelers to score.
Peyton goes down, Peyton gets up, Peyton completes pass. Does not appear to be touched on the 2nd view pic.twitter.com/6eVqjZS3PU
— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) January 18, 2016
Fitzgerald Toussaint’s fumble
The Broncos wouldn’t have even had the ball on the aforementioned drive if it weren’t for a Fitzgerald Toussaint fumble. The Steelers were up 13-12 and driving on Denver. They had four consecutive plays for positive yards and seemed to be getting set to make it an 8-point lead. But Toussaint fumbled around the Denver 30 and lost the ball, giving it to the Broncos. The Broncos turned that into an eventual game-winning touchdown.
Fitzgerald Toussaint fumble recovered by Ware. pic.twitter.com/Zojr1km97B
— MarcusD (@_MarcusD_) January 18, 2016
Also questionable: Big Ben throwing to the end zone on a 4th-and-1 play from the Denver 32 early in the game.
Roethlisberger taking a sack on 4th-and-5 in the final minutes, which took away the team’s best chances of a comeback. Even if he just threw the ball away, Denver wouldn’t have had an easy shot at a field goal to go up 10.
