Below are 6 huge plays that played a huge role in the Steelers loss to the Bears on Sunday. Sure you could easily add 12 more to this list, but there is no denying how important all 6 of these were.
1. Roethlisberger Interception – The Steelers were driving and had a 1st and 10 at the Bears 38 with 13:37 left in the half. Bears defensive end Alex Brown blew past Max Starks on the inside to hit Roethlisberger just as he was releasing the ball. The pass was intended for Mike Wallace, but fluttered under thrown and was intercepted by Charles Tillman at the Bears 5. Had the ball not been intercepted, the Steelers would of been penalized for a hold on Chris Kemoeatu setting up a 2nd and 20 at the Bears 48, but still had the ball and an offense that was moving fairly well.
2. Timmons Penalty – Midway through the Bears first scoring drive, the Bears failed to convert a 3rd and 3 on the Steelers 38 yard line, when Bears quarterback Jay Cutler missed receiver Johnny Knox with pass on the right side. Linebacker Lawrence Timmons however was flagged for defensive holding on the play and it gave the Bears a first down and kept the drive alive that resulted in a touchdown.
3. Sheetz I – Jeff Reed is usually clutch from inside the 40, but not here. This would have put the Steelers up by 10 with most of the 4th quarter remaining.
4. 3rd & Goal Touchdown – On the second Bears touchdown drive, the Bears faced a 3rd and 7 from the Steelers 7 and if held, would have still forced the Bears to kick a field goal and still score a touchdown. The Bears motioned into an empty backfield and that forced Carter into man-to-man coverage against wide receiver Johnny Knox with an injured thigh. Carter admitted after the game he had no business being back out there for that play. It resulted in a Cutler to Knox 7 yard touchdown that tied the game at 14.
5. Sheetz II (Revenge of the Towel Holder) – Although a little farther out than the first kick, still one Reed bangs home in any stadium. This was just the fourth time in Reed\’s career that he missed two kicks in a game. The last time being Sept. 26, 2004, when the Steelers played the Miami Dolphins in Hurricane Jeanne. The miss gave the Ball to the Bears at their own 33 yard line with plenty of clock and momentum.
6. Forte Fumble – Cutler hit running back Matt Forte with a pass in the short left and Steelers linebacker James Harrison forced a fumble that no Steeler player could pounce on. Instead, Bears tight end Greg Olsen recovered it at the Steelers 45 that kept the game winning field goal drive alive.
