Steelers played ‘too sloppy’ in first loss. But did they also unlock version of Justin Fields that will help them win?

Justin Fields had engineered the near-comeback.

He’d rebounded from his own fumble to score touchdowns on three straight dives, the Pittsburgh Steelers getting the ball down three with 2:39 to play.

Could they at least tie the game, if not take a lead against an Indianapolis Colts squad down its starting quarterback?

Fields scrambled 12 yards to jumpstart the drive before finding receiver Van Jefferson left for what would become a nine-yard gain. But a favorable second-and-1 would soon turn costly. Because after Fields kicked his leg to signal to his center that he was ready for the snap, he saw Colts defensive backs rotating and wanted one last glance at the coverage he’d ultimately be throwing toward.

Steelers center Zach Frazier did not know that, so he snapped a ball that would hit Fields in the facemask and come loose before Fields hurried to secure it. This wouldn’t become an official turnover for Pittsburgh, but the 22 yards to gain were too much to overcome.

Two incompletions later and an 11-yard gain in which running back Najee Harris staying in bounds later, the Colts had secured a 27-24 win.

And the Steelers had suffered their first loss of the season, though their 3-1 record was still sufficient to stay atop the AFC North.

“I was just trying to get that final picture before the snap came,” Fields said. “After I kick my leg, I got to be ready for the ball no matter what.”

Fields shrugged: “It’s on me.”

The Steelers’ offensive day was a tale of two game periods, Fields and his teammates flashing through much of the second half but ultimately unable to overcome their defense’s worst performance yet.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stopped short of celebrating how his team rebounded from repeated 14-point deficits to lose by three.

Nearly winning the game isn’t enough, Tomlin said, when the Steelers spent so much time losing it. Fields wasn’t immune from that criticism.

“I’m appreciative of the fight but I’m not congratulating them…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-09-30 00:02:00

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