PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers (5-3-1) got the word last night they would be without Ben Roethlisberger and then about 20 hours later they were without a win.
Ending up tied with winless Detroit, 16-16.
"Tie's suck," said defensive captain Cam Heyward.
"Not enough plays made by us to win the game, offense, defense, special teams. I know it's a tie. If it's not a win, I don't think you can hang your hat on that."
"We are in this game to win."
"Just too sloppy to win," said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. "Core fundamental things. We didn't tackle well enough throughout the game defensively, and then in the most critical moments, we didn't maintain possession of the ball on offense. We didn't do enough to secure victory."
"Bottom line we have to take care of the football and get the football on defense more than we did today," said linebacker Joe Schobert. "A loss in the NFL, I mean a tie in the NFL always feels like a loss when you get to the locker room because you don't add one to the win column. This is a half-game that might make a difference at the end. To let it slip away because you are that close, definitely hurts."
Receiver Diontae Johnson said it didn't feel like a loss.
"But at the same time, I would say we should've won the game," Johnson said. "We gotta come back to work this week and we'll be fine."
"Just keep our heads up," said linebacker Alex Highsmith. "That's all we can do. If we hang our head low, if you don't want to be here, get out. We have to come together as a team and as a unit. We know we can be better and we will be better."
Johnson fumble
After stopping Detroit on the first possession of overtime, Mason Rudolph hit Diontae Johnson for 39 yards. Detroit's Mark Gilbert would punch the ball out thwarting an opportunity for the Steelers to win the game.
"I was just trying to make a play," Johnson said. "Like what everybody else would do in that situation: get the ball like that, you try to make a play for the team, get them in good field position. I didn't see the guy coming behind me. Just trying to make a play. Just gotta move on from it and get better. That's all I can do."
3 plays, no Najee
Steelers took their first possession of the second half, looking to answer the Detroit touchdown, and were first and goal from the five-yard line.
Three incomplete passes later, the Steelers settled for a 23-yard field goal. Why not give Najee Harris a shot?
"We had a run pass option on first down," Tomlin said. "They gave us a look. I think they had six defensive linemen in the game, and so we had an opportunity in the passing game. But when it's incomplete, it opens it up for that judgment, and so I own all of that."
Rudolph, who finished 30-50 for 242 yards with a touchdown and an interception, said they packed the box and he just needed to make a throw, especially when Ray-Ray McCloud was open in the end zone on third down.
"Yeah, the glove kind of grabbed it a little bit there at the end, and I've got to make that throw," Rudolph said. "He did a great job of getting open for us down there in the red zone. It's one I've got to make, and I don't want to make an excuse. I've got to make that throw."
AFC North
Here is how the AFC North stacks up after week 10 action
Baltimore 6-3
Steelers 5-3-1
Cincinnati 5-4
Cleveland 5-5
Getting a hat
Wasn't just Rudolph getting an opportunity on Sunday. Zach Banner dressed for his first game of the season. Same for back-up quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Tight end Eric Ebron returned after missing the last two games due to a hamstring injury.
Up Next
Steelers back on the road, at the Chargers for Sunday Night Football at 8:20.
