A football held in the outstretched hands of LeVeon Bell crept toward the end zone Monday night in slow motion, the video playing and replaying on the jumbotron at Qualcomm Stadium. The football inched over the goal line before his knee hit the ground, the video was rewound, and indeed, it inched over again.
The Steelers sideline celebrated.
The Chargers sideline deflated.
Whatever last piece of hope remained on a night that began with so much was lost.
A picture-perfect tale of tight end Antonio Gates return from suspension was spoiled in sudden, brutally close fashion for the Chargers. Their defense, which largely handled the Steelers in a 24-20 loss, containing quarterback Mike Vick when it wanted to do, bottling up Bell when it had to, lost control in the fourth quarter, and a long mid-game lull by the offense proved costly.
The difference between a 3-2 and 2-3 record may seem small.
Its just one game, after all.
But it seems bigger when the undefeated Packers, in Green Bay, are next on the schedule, when the Broncos are 5-0 in the division, and when a team that knows the importance of putting away its opponent, a team that spots itself a seven-point fourth-quarter lead at home, cannot.
Unfortunately, they made one more play than we did at the end, coach Mike McCoy said.
The Chargers will review the game film Tuesday morning.
It will be full of reminders of how what separated them from victory Monday went beyond those couple inches by which Bell crossed the end zone as regulation expired. He took a direct snap in the Wildcat formation, cut to the left and stretched out the football as linebacker Donald Butler dragged him from behind. That play started with only five seconds remaining. The Steelers went for the win and were rewarded.
This game, as far as the Chargers are concerned, shouldnt have come to that.
San Diego led 17-10 with about eight minutes remaining. Tight end Antonio Gates, playing in his first game following a four-week suspension for violating the leagues performance-enhancing drug policy, had just scored his second touchdown.
On the Steelers next offensive play, cornerback Brandon Flowers bit on wide receiver Markus Wheatons stop-and-go route. Seventy-two yards. Touchdown. Tie game.
A 54-yard Josh Lambo field goal, the third-longest conversion in Chargers history, gave the team a 20-17 lead with less than three minutes remaining. Then, 35-year-old Vick, starting in place of franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, led the Steelers 80 yards down the field. That included a 24-yard scramble to San Diegos 17-yard line on third-and-6.
For the defense, which dropped multiple interceptions throughout the game, the fourth quarter couldnt have gone much worse.
Up to that point, it had provided cover for an offense that floundered.
Gates scored his first touchdown on the Chargers first series, catching three passes in that opening drive. Not until midway through the fourth quarter would the Chargers offense see the red zone again.
After Gates first score, out came the flags.
Not the yellow flags waved by Steelers fans, who at times formed the vocal majority at Qualcomm Stadium. The other flags.
Left tackle Chris Hairston was flagged for holding on the second offensive drive. Left guard Kenny Wiggins was flagged for holding on the third. The Hairston penalty nullified a 16-yard catch by Ladarius Green. On the fourth series, Hairston was flagged for a false start, exiting the game with an ankle injury shortly thereafter.
Right guard D.J. Fluker and reserve guard J.D. Walton were flagged for holding later.
Stuck in third-and-longs, the Chargers began the night 1-for-10 on third down. Running back Melvin Gordon had a fumble. Philip Rivers threw an interception on a route that wide receiver Malcom Floyd wanted back.
It shouldnt have come down to Bell.
It did.
Youve got to move on, get up in the morning and get going, McCoy said. Weve going on the road against a very good football team this week. If you worry about this one too long, its going to set us back.
Source: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/oct/12/pittsburgh-steelers-san-diego-chargers/
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