NFL Highlights: Despite Several Opportunities, Bills Lose to Steelers
"I'll never get over it. Ever." said Stevie Johnson. Who would? In a game that provided several chances to win, the Buffalo Bills just couldn’t hold onto them.
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Bills in overtime, 19-16. The Steelers will be against the Baltimore Ravens next week, but first they had to beat the Bills.
They did it, but they were one mistake away from losing. In overtime, Bills' rookie receiver Johnson, was wide open for a game winning TD.
That is, until he dropped it. The ball fell right into his hands, and slipped out before he could get a hold on it. He was distraught, saying, "I had the game in my hands and I dropped it. Humbled. Humbled."
The Bills showed in this game that they are not as bad as their record shows. But Johnson’s missed TD shows exactly why they have a 2-9 record. Shaun Suisham kicked the game winning field goal, along with three others. As him and the Steelers celebrated
victory, they couldn’t get over the fact that they had almost lost. And to a 2-9 team as well.
"I had my helmet on and I was going to the locker room.” said Casey Hampton when he saw the ball flying right into Johnson’s hands.
"You're talking about a guy who's been extremely hot," Clark said of Johnson. "Luckily for us, he didn't [catch it]."
Although Ben Roethlisberger didn’t have a great passing game, Rashard Mendenhall made up for it by rushing for 151 yards on 36 carries and scoring one TD. Roethlisberger completed 20 of 33 attempts for 246 yards and no TDs. Hines Ward made seven receptions
for 107 yards.
At the beginning of the second half, the Bills were down by 13. But they quickly came back and forced overtime when Rian Lindell kicked a 49 yard FG with two seconds left in the game. Fred Jackson was exceptional all around, making five receptions for 105
yards, which also includes a 65 yard TD, as well as an additional 59 rushing yards.
"We fought so hard out there, yet again, it's one of those overtime heartbreakers," said Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who finished 23 of 45 for 265. "There's not much to say than the guys in that locker room, including me, are really hurting over that one."
This loss ended a two game winning streak for the Bills. In their last four losses, they lost by three points, two of which were in overtime. They lost in overtime by three to the Ravens 37-34 on October 24 and against the Kansas City Chiefs the following
week, 13-10.
By halftime, it looked as though Buffalo was down and out. But Fitzpatrick showed that he could take a hard hit, and also punch back.
Late in the third with the Bills down 13-0, linebacker James Harrison rushed untouched and lowered his head to strike Fitzpatrick just below the chin. Harrison got a 15 yard penalty for roughing the passer and may have to pay a fine to the NFL for tackling
with his helmet leading.
"It's not going to change the way I play," said Harrison, who's already been docked $100,000 this season. "There was nothing wrong about the play."
Fitzpatrick cleared his head and punched back by throwing a 65 yard TD pass to Jackson.
The Steelers dominated the first half of the game, with Mendenhall scoring a TD in the first to put them up 7-0.
In the second, Suisham made two field goals to make the score 13-0, to the Steelers.
In the third and fourth quarter, the Bills came back to life. The third include comprised of Jackson’s 65 yard TD pass from Fitzpatrick to bring the Bills up a bit to 13-7.
The fourth quarter was full of field goals. Lindell kicked two FGs to make it 13-all followed by Suisham kicking another FG to make it 16-13. Lindell then brought the Bills back with a 49 yard FG with two seconds left in the game.
In overtime, Suisham kicked a FG for 41 yards to give the Steelers the win.
The Steelers will play the Ravens next week, while the Bills will play against the Minnesota Vikings.
Stay tuned!
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