It seems as though the Buffalo Bills find new ways to lose every week. This week, Steve Johnson dropped a pass while wide open in the endzone in overtime. Pittsburgh went down the field and kicked a field goal and won 19-16 in overtime.
The game started out great for Pittsburgh. They started the game on a 7 minute 54 second drive resulting in a 1 yard touchdown run by Rashard Mendenhall. Pittsburgh dominated the entire first half.
The Steelers had the ball for 24 minutes compared to 6 minutes for Buffalo and had over 230 yards compared to 51 yards for Buffalo. Yet, they had to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns. Pittsburgh entered the half up 13-0.
Then momentum changed in the second half. Although Lee Evans fumbled the ball at the Pittsburgh 19, the Buffalo offense showed signs of life. They followed a 60 yard drive with a 4 play 80 yard drive that was capped by a 65 yard touchdown reception by Fred Jackson on a screen pass.
The Bills then managed to stop the Steelers again and they kicked another field goal to make it 13-10 Steelers. Pittsburgh fumbled the ball in their own territory on their next drive and Buffalo capitalized kicking a field goal to tie the game at 13-13.
The Steelers offense got into Buffalo territory on their next drive on a huge Rashard Mendenhall run but holding was called on Pittsburgh taking the run back. Pittsburgh got itself into a long 3rd and 17. Ben Roethlisberger made a miraculous play avoiding a sack and ran for 19 yards getting the first down. The next play, Mendenhall went off for a big run putting Pittsburgh in field goal range. Suisham hit the 48 yarder and Pittsburgh went ahead by 3 with 6:19 left in the fourth.
On the ensuing possession, the Bills drove all the way inside the redzone but threw an interception to Troy Polamalu with slightly over 2:00 minutes remaining. It looked like the game was over but the Bills didn't give up. They forced Pittsburgh to punt the ball with 1 minute left in the fourth quarter giving them a chance to tie the game.
Ryan Fitzpatrick led the Bills into field goal possession on the drive. Then, Ryan Lindell hit a 49 yarder with 2 seconds left in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime tied at 19-19.
In overtime, Leodis McKelvin almost clinched the game for Buffalo as he returned the opening kickoff to the Pittsburgh 48 yard line. He tripped over his own Buffalo player which prevented a possible touchdown. The Bills didn't do anything on there drive and were forced to punt. The Bills quickly got the ball back after they sacked Big Ben to force a 3 & out. Roethlisberger was close to coming down in the endzone for a safety but came down at the half yard line.
On the Bills next drive, they thought they won the game. Ryan Fitzpatrick connected to Steve Johnson in the endzone for a 40 yard touchdown but their was one problem. Steve Johnson dropped the ball. He was wide open and had nobody near him. The ball fell right in his arms but just fell to the ground.
The Bills drive stalled when Fitzpatrick got sacked at the Steelers 40 yard line. Pittsburgh got the ball back at their own 20 and drived down the field. Suishame made a 41 yard field goal with 2 minutes 14 seconds left in overtime to win the game for the Pittsburgh Steelers 19-16
Attendance: 69,642
Buffalo's Record: 2-9 (4th in AFC East)
Interesting Note: Rashard Mendenhall's 151 yards was the most he's rushed for this season
Key Facts:
-Fred Jackson had over 100 yards receiving
-Fitzpatrick had over 250 yards passing
-Steve Johnson had 7 receptions but also had 4 drops
-Johnson dropped pass in endzone that would've won the game for the Bills
-Hines Ward had over 100 yards receiving
-Rashard Mendenhall had a season high 151 yards rushing
-The Bills made a 13 point comeback to tie the game before losing in OT
Bills Stats:
Ryan Fitzpatrick- 23-45, 265 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 67 rating
Fred Jackson:- 12 carries, 59 yards, 5 receptions, 104 yards, 1 touchdown (65 yards)
Steve Johnson- 7 receptions, 68 yards
David Nelson- 6 reception, 58 yards
Kyle Williams- 2 sacks
Jairus Byrd- Recovered Fumble
johnson had 6 drops...
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