Sep 29, 2014 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – While much of the focus following the Steelers’ 27-24 loss to previously winless Tampa Bay Sunday centered on penalties, there was an underlying current of other issues.

An ill-timed turnover, missed tackles and a lack of pressure on the quarterback also were at fault for the Steelers’ second loss of the season.

“We definitely don’t need the penalties,” said linebacker James Harrison, who played 29 snaps in his first game back with the team after being signed last Tuesday.

“We shouldn’t get the penalties. It’s being undisciplined. But at the same point in time, it’s not the whole reason why we lost this game. We had (mental errors); just real inconsistent, not playing up to the level you’re capable of playing.”

The Steelers, who play at Jacksonville (0-4) Sunday, were penalized a season-high 13 times for 125 yards, helping to negate a 40-yard advantage they had in total yardage and a nearly 10-minute advantage in time of possession.

But Pittsburgh also suffered through another lull in offensive production, just as in its opener against Cleveland, a 30-27 win in which the Steelers led 27-3 at halftime. After putting up 253 yards and 17 points in the first half, the Steelers managed only 137 yards and seven points over the final two quarters.

Running back Le’Veon Bell, who entered the week leading the AFC in rushing with 315 yards, was held to minus-four yards on four carries in the fourth quarter. He finished with 63 yards on 19 carries after having 52 yards on 10 first-half attempts.

With the Buccaneers focused on slowing Bell, more pressure was put on the Steelers’ passing game to deliver. But the Steelers had some key mistakes. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sacked five times in the first half and missed several open receivers. Those same receivers dropped passes when they did have a chance to catch them, most notably Antonio Brown on a perfectly executed flea-flicker early in the fourth quarter.

“I think every man in the locker room feels like we could have done something different to affect the outcome of the game,” said Brown, who had seven receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns. “We are going to weigh in on this one and find a way to produce victory, be better and produce wins.”

The offensive struggles coincided with the defense, which had limited Tampa Bay to 64 yards in the first two quarters, suffering a letdown. Tampa Bay finished with 350 total yards and scored on three of five second-half possessions, coming up short only when quarterback Mike Glennon was intercepted when wide receiver Mike Evans pulled up with a groin injury while running a route, and on a turnover on downs late in the game at the Pittsburgh 14-yard line.

The Steelers sacked Glennon only one time. Outside linebackers Jason Worilds, Arthur Moats and Harrison combined for two tackles and two quarterback hits.

“We have to get more pressure,” said defensive end Cameron Heyward, who had the Steelers’ lone sack. “As much as we can get pressure, sometimes you just have to get him on the run.”

That didn’t happen nearly enough and Glennon, Tampa Bay’s starter last season as a rookie, was comfortable enough to throw for a career-high 302 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which was the game-winner to Vincent Jackson with seven seconds remaining.

Glennon’s first and last passes went for touchdowns. The first was a 7-yard strike to Evans. It came after the Steelers turned the ball over on fumble by Roethlisberger on their first possession.

The Steelers have to put this loss behind them and move on to the next game.

That might not be easy.

“We just lost to one of the worst NFL teams in our house,” said Brown. “We feel embarrassed. We feel ashamed.”

Tight end Heath Miller, who caught a career-high 10 passes, has 5,470 career receiving yards, passing Lynn Swann for fourth place on the team’s all-time list. … Roethlisberger threw for 314 yards. It was the 30th 300-yard game of his career. Only 13 other quarterbacks in NFL history have that many with one team.