Steelers’ playoff chances take big hit with loss
Brook Ward / For the Observer-Reporter Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell lunges for a third-quarter touchdown Sunday against the Saints.
Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu (43) pressures New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) in the first quarter of the NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Brook Ward / For the Observer-Reporter Wide receiver Antonio Brown makes a touchdown catch in the waning seconds of the Steelers' 35-32 loss to the Saints Sunday.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roelisberger (7) sits on the bench next to long snapper Greg Warren (60) during the final minutes of a 35-32 loss to the New Orleans Saints in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
PITTSBURGH – With members of the 1974 Super Bowl IX team on hand for a halftime ceremony celebrating the 40th anniversary of Pittsburgh’s first NFL championship, the Steelers might have severely hurt their chances of adding a seventh Lombardi Trophy.
New Orleans took care of that Sunday as Drew Brees threw five touchdown passes, the Saints picked off Ben Roethlisberger twice and handed the Steelers a 35-32 defeat at Heinz Field.
The loss dropped the Steelers’ record to 7-5. Though Cleveland and Baltimore also lost to fall to 7-5 in the AFC North, the Cincinnati Bengals eeked out a 14-13 win at Tampa Bay to improve to 8-3-1.
The Steelers play at Cincinnati next Sunday and have two games remaining against the Bengals.
“You can be mad that we lost this game,” said Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward. “But all you can focus on is these next four games. We’re not worried about what other people do. We’re not worried about what our standings are. We’re just trying to win game after game. And we didn’t win today.”
Brees, who was 19 of 27 for 257 yards, had a big hand in that.
After a slow start in which the Saints managed just two first downs on their first three possessions, New Orleans (5-7) scored touchdowns on five of its next six possessions. Each score came on a Brees pass.
“With a future Hall of Fame quarterback like Drew Brees, you have to be on your Ps and Qs,” said Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor, who started for the first time since suffering a fractured forearm Sept. 21 at Carolina.
“If he sees something, he’s going to hit it. He doesn’t miss a lot.”
He certainly didn’t against the Steelers, who didn’t get a similar game from Roethlisberger. The Steelers’ quarterback was erratic early, then banged his throwing hand on the helmet of New Orleans linebacker Curtis Lofton late in the first quarter.
Despite Le’Veon Bell rushing for 71 yards in the first quarter, the Steelers managed just a 6-0 lead as Roethlisberger completed 8 of 22 passes for 115 yards and an interception in the first half.
“It was one of those days where the balls were coming out high,” said Roethlisberger, who was 32 of 58 for 435 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
“I have to make throws early on that I didn’t make and I usually do.”
After punting on their first three possessions, the Saints finally scored midway through the second quarter after running back Mark Ingram started finding some openings against the Steelers’ defense. Ingram, who had gained 14 yards on his first five carries, broke off runs of 13 and 12 yards on New Orleans’ fourth possession and Brees threw a TD pass to tight end Ben Watson to put the Saints ahead, 7-6.
“As soon as they started to get their run game going, it opened up a whole different aspect,” said Steelers linebacker James Harrison. “It led to play-action passes, double routes. He made great connections.”
With the Steelers shutting out All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham – who did not have a reception and was not targeted with a pass – Brees found his other options. His five touchdown passes went to five different players.
“Even when (Graham) has zero catches, it is like he has 100 catches,” said Ingram, who finished with 122 yards on 23 carries. “He takes up two people so the defense needs to know where he is and respect where he is.”
When the Steelers’ defense did get a stop, as it did on the opening possession of the second half, the Saints came up with a big play.
Defensive end Cameron Jordan batted a Roethlisberger pass into the air and intercepted it at the Pittsburgh 15-yard line. Two plays later, Brees threw a TD pass to receiver Nick Toon.
“We have to step up there and get the necessary stop defensively and put the fire out,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “If we hold them to a field goal there, do the math. That affects the end of the game, the outcome of the game.”
The Steelers got a touchdown on their next possession from Bell, who had 95 rushing yards to top 1,000 for the season, cutting the Saints’ lead to 21-13. Brees, however, threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Stills to make it 28-13.
Stills finished with a career-high 162 receiving yards on five catches.
After Brees threw his final touchdown pass, a three-yard score to Marques Colston to put the Saints ahead, 35-16, the game was effectively over.
A pair of Roethlisberger touchdown passes to Antonio Brown in the final 2:34 were only window dressing.
“We have a four-game schedule,” said Roethlisberger, who had called the game a must-win earlier in the week. “It was five and we lost. You can say we’re 0-1, but have a four-game schedule.”
Defensive end Brett Keisel (triceps) and cornerback Brice McCain (hamstring) suffered injuries and did not return. Keisel’s injury is believed to be serious. … Bell is the first Steelers running back to gain 1,000 rushing yards since Rashard Mendenhall in 2010. … Bell also had five catches for a career-high 159 yards and became the first Pittsburgh running back with 500 receiving yards in a season since 1958. … Brown had eight catches for 97 yards, and tight end Heath Miller had eight for 92. … The Steelers are 2-4 in games that started at 1 p.m. All of their remaining games are scheduled for 1 p.m.