Steelers lose key game, Bell
Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is carted from the field after injuring his right knee during the second quarter against Cincinnati Sunday at Heinz Field.
The Bengals defense gave Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger plenty of problems following opening drive. Roethlisberger threw two fourth-quarter interceptions.
Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green scored the go-ahead touchdown as Steelers defensive back Ross Cockrell defends in the fourth quarter Sunday.
PITTSBURGH – Despite losing running back Le’Veon Bell to a knee injury in their regular season finale last season, the Steelers still held on to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals and win the AFC North title.
They didn’t experience a full-blown case of déjà vu against the Bengals at Heinz Field Sunday, but it was close.
Bell suffered what is believed to be a serious knee injury in the second quarter against the Bengals yesterday.
Unlike last season, when Bell injured the same knee against Cincinnati, the Steelers couldn’t overcome it. The Bengals intercepted Ben Roethlisberger two times in the closing minutes and rallied for a 16-10 victory.
Cincinnati improved to a franchise-best 7-0 and the Steelers fell to 4-4, 3 ½ games behind the Bengals in the AFC North standings.
“It’s tough. He’s the best back in the NFL, the best back,” said Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant of Bell. “Those guys took him out last year. I don’t know if it’s a, ‘I’m going to go for Le’Veon-type thing,’ or if it’s just something that happened. All I can do is pray for my brother and pray he gets better.”
The play on which Bell was injured appeared to be unintentional. After catching a pass from Roethlisberger, Bell was tackled from behind by linebacker Vontez Burfict, and his right leg was trapped at an awkward angle beneath Burfict’s body.
“It was tough to see him lying on the ground hurt,” said running back DeAngelo Williams, who replaced Bell. “My heart is out to him.”
The Steelers fear Bell, who entered the game leading the AFC in rushing, might have suffered ACL and MCL damage to his knee, though initial reports suggest the ACL is intact. The team will know more following a complete exam.
Without its star running back, Pittsburgh’s offense struggled as Cincinnati adjusted to take away the deep threats of Bryant and Antonio Brown.
“They were definitely concerned with keeping the top on it and not allowing the big plays to our outside receivers,” said Steelers tight end Heath Miller, who caught 10 passes for 105 yards while working the middle of the field.
“They did a good job of that the majority of the game.”
Roethlisberger, playing in his first game in five weeks after suffering a sprained MCL, was intercepted three times while throwing for 262 yards and a touchdown.
“We turned the ball over more than we normally do,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “You do that against good people, against undefeated people, that’s going to minimize your chances of winning.”
Despite that, the Steelers had an opportunity to win the game, thanks to a defense that gave quarterback Andy Dalton fits.
Dalton entered the game having been sacked just six times and having thrown two interceptions.
The Steelers sacked him three times and intercepted two passes, both of which came in the fourth quarter and could have sealed the win for Pittsburgh.
The first came when Antwon Blake picked off a pass intended for Marvin Jones in the end zone and returned it to the Pittsburgh 40 with 9:12 left to play and the Steelers clinging to a 10-6 lead.
But the Steelers failed to get a first down and punted. Dalton mishandled a shotgun snap and fell on the loose ball at the Cincinnati 9. Two plays later, he attempted a deep pass to A.J. Green that was intercepted by safety Mike Mitchell with 6:27 remaining.
But Roethlisberger, on a scramble to his left, tried to hit fullback Will Johnson along the Bengals’ sideline but safety Shaun Williams made a diving interception at the Pittsburgh 45.
“That was a huge play in the game,” said Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis, a McDonald native and Fort Cherry High School graduate. “He did a great job of getting it before he went out of bounds.”
“They covered well,” said Roethlisberger. “(I was) trying to let the clock run. I should have run it.”
With new life, Dalton threw a 9-yard TD pass to Green with 2:57 remaining to give Cincinnati its first lead of the game, 13-10.
Roethlisberger was intercepted on his very next pass by safety Reggie Nelson. Roethlisberger was pressured and the ball, which was intended for Brown, sailed high. Nelson returned the ball to the Pittsburgh 26, setting up a 44-yard Mike Nugent field goal with 1:51 remaining.
The Steelers drove to the Cincinnati 16, but on the game’s final play, Roethlisberger’s pass intended for Brown, who caught a touchdown pass on the Steelers’ opening possession, sailed high.
While Roethlisberger’s interceptions were a big part of the loss, the defense also took some blame for allowing the late score.
“We needed the exclamation point. We needed that one big stop,” said defensive end Cam Heyward, who blocked a field goal attempt late in the third quarter. “We knew we couldn’t give up a touchdown, but we did. We didn’t have that stamp of approval. In these games, you need that. You need that one stop that defines the game. And we didn’t have it.”
Roethlisberger became the 16th player in NFL history to throw for more than 40,000 career yards. He is just the ninth player to do it with the same team. … Miller’s 10 catches matched a career high, and the 100-yard game was the fourth of his career. … Rookie Bud Dupree recorded a sack, his team-best fourth of the season, nose tackle Steve McLendon had one and linebackers Ryan Shazier and Jarvis Jones shared another. … Mitchell left in the fourth quarter to go through league-mandated concussion protocol. … Green had 11 receptions for 118 yards for Cincinnati.