CLEVELAND (93.7 The Fan) – It was a call that altered the second half of the game Sunday and Mike Tomlin admitted it was his mistake.
Chris Boswell lining up for a 28-yard field and Tomlin called for the fake, as Boswell rolled out and threw an incompletion. The veteran kicker clobbered by a Browns 300-pound defensive lineman, suffered a concussion and lost for the second half.
"The fake field goal was a bad call because we poorly executed it, so I take responsibility for that," Tomlin said. "I appreciate the guys backing my play and fighting for 60 minutes and delivering a victory and making it a side note."
In a 3-3 game where those three points might be huge, let alone risking your kicker to injury, why make that call?
"We were just playing to win," Tomlin said. "We were playing aggressively. The ball was on the left hash. We had a look that we liked. We just didn't execute it very well. The ball wasn't snapped in a timely manner and it allowed them to take a picture of it. When that happens, you're not going to be successful."
"Again, I take responsibility for it. I shouldn't have called it unless we were ready to run it with detailed execution and it's obvious that we weren't."
"That's on me."
Overcoming no kicker
Now the offense had to execute knowing they had to go for everything as Pressley Harvin only attempted one kick in high school, let alone college.
Ben Roethlisberger is the emergency holder and found out Harvin hasn't kicked. He was concerned about exposing his right hand to an inexperienced kicker.
"There was a lot of discussion at halftime, Mike (Tomlin) said he is not kicking so let's just get ready to go," Roethlisberger said
"We were just thinking about converting on third downs and just keep playing our ball," said tailback Najee Harris. "Making sure we had short third downs, short second downs, so we would be behind the sticks and have them play a different coverage. Obviously losing Bos was bad, but we just worried about finishing out the game."
Steelers attempted a pair of two-point conversions, actually three. The first one, a sneak by Roethlisberger, worked. But a holding penalty negated it. Then Roethlisberger would miss Diontae Johnson with the plays that counted.
Not everyone realized the situation, that Boswell was unavailable.
"It was weird because when we scored-when Harris scored-I was like. 'Why are we going for two? It was 10-9'," said tight end Pat Freiermuth. "Then we backed up. We got the penalty. We backed up and I was still like, 'why are we still going for two?'. I came off of the sideline, and they said we do not have a kicker and that make sense. Yeah, I was confused."
Better ground game
Could have won some money betting the Steelers would outrush the Browns and Najee Harris (91 yards) would have 30 more yards than Nick Chubb.
"We are just trying to keep stacking bricks," Harris said. "Obviously, we are going to run the ball, pass and RPOs. We are just trying to find our identity and what we do. Just keep pushing forward and stacking bricks."
"He just keeps growing," Roethlisberger said of Harris. "His pass pro, catching out of the backfield, running the ball and at the end of the game protecting the ball kind of being smart, he is just going to keep getting better. He is a special talent."
Sack Leaders
A half sack of Baker Mayfield as Cam Heyward (60.5) passed Joey Porter for fifth on the Steelers all-time list. Heyward has work to do to get into the top four. Jason Gildon is next with 77. Joe Greene with 77.5, LC Greenwood with 78 and James Harrison is the leader with 80.5.
TJ Watt had the other half of the sack and tied LaMarr Woodley for eighth all-time with Keith Willis next at 59.
Banner inactive
Brought back from injured reserve a couple of weeks ago, projected starting right tackle Zach Banner inactive for the second straight week. Banner suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the season opener last year and then a setback late in training camp. Joe Haeg, BJ Finney and JC Hassenauer dressed as reserve linemen.
Corner Ahkello Witherspoon continues to not get an opportunity along with 2021 fourth round pick, linebacker Buddy Johnson. QB Dwayne Haskins has yet to be activated for a game this season. Steelers announced previously TE Eric Ebron and OLB Melvin Ingram would not play due to injuries.
Ebron active with teammates on the sidelines. Ingram was not spotted. He doesn't have to be with the team.
Quote of the Day
An Ohio State star, Heyward able to get a dig on Penn Stater Freiermuth after the Buckeyes beat the Nittany Lions Saturday night.
"Our offense came to work," Heyward said. "Freiermuth got a win in Ohio, does not happen often."
Up Next
Prime-time football for the Steelers hosting Chicago for Monday Night Football on November 8. Bears lead the all-time series 19-7-1. Chicago has won three straight, last meeting 23-17 in overtime at Soldier Field in 2017.
