Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin talked to Michele Tafoya prior to the kickoff of the Sunday night game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and at the end of the interview Tomlin said, “The emphasis tonight is going to be on the game football, where not going to be into any shenanigans.”
While Tomlin was likely referring to shenanigans as it relates to scuffles, such as what happened before the game, the team certainly had their share of shenanigans as far as their play, preparedness and execution went during the game.
Shenanigans can be defined as tricky or questionable practices or conduct — usually used in plural. Boy was it ever plural. Let\’s have a look at all the notable shenanigans that took place in the game.
1st QUARTER
2-7-PIT 21 (10:36) PENALTY on PIT, Illegal Substitution, 5 yards, enforced at PIT 21 – No Play.
The Steelers second offensive play of the game and they were penalized for having 12 men in the huddle. The drive was not killed by that penalty, but not a good start to the night.
2-5-KC 42 (6:56) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep left to A.Brown. Penalty on PIT-M.Starks, Offensive Holding, offsetting, enforced at KC 42 – No Play. Penalty on KC-B.Carr, Defensive Pass Interference, offsetting.
Max Starks was flagged for holding on the deep pass to Antonio Brown, who drew a pass interference call on the play. Instead of the Steelers having the ball on the Chiefs 1 yard-line, the penalties offset.
1-8-KC 8 (6:23) Timeout #1 by PIT at 06:23.
A wasted timeout as it looked like Ben Roethlisberger was very unhappy where someone lined up at.
1-8-KC 8 (6:23) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short middle to M.Wallace.
Easily a ball that Mike Wallace should have caught in the back of the endzone for a touchdown that he let go right through his hands. It would not be his last drop of the night.
2-8-KC 8 (6:17) M.Moore right guard to KC 2 for 6 yards (T.Hali). FUMBLES (T.Hali), RECOVERED by KC-J.Arenas at KC -4. Touchback.
The very next play after the Wallace drop, Mewelde Moore ran off right guard and fumbled after Tamba Hali knocked the ball out from behind. It is questionable if Moore would have scored or not, but it would have easily set up a 3rd and goal at about the 2 yard-line, and at the very least the Steelers settle for a field goal on their opening drive.
1-10-KC 24 (1:57) R.Mendenhall right end to KC 3 for 21 yards (T.Hali). PENALTY on PIT-H.Miller, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at KC 24 – No Play.
The holding call on Heath Miller negated a long run by Rashard Mendenhall, and while it may have been a catch-22 play, it ended up killing the Steelers 2nd offensive possession.
2nd QUARTER
1-10-PIT 27 (9:08) Timeout #2 by PIT at 09:08.
Yet another wasted timeout where Roethlisberger once again looked very irked by where someone might have lined up. This timeout was taken before they ran a play after taking over after a Chiefs punt.
1-10-PIT 27 (9:08) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep left to M.Wallace (B.Carr).
The very next play following the timeout, Roethlisberger hit Wallace right in the hands with a pass to the deep left. Brandon Carr timed his leap well, but that is a catch that Wallace normally makes.
3-4-KC 37 (6:58) (No Huddle, Shotgun) T.Palko pass short middle to S.Breaston to PIT 45 for 18 yards (R.Mundy; I.Taylor) [J.Worilds]. Penalty on PIT, Defensive 12 On-field, declined.
Once again too many players on the field, only this time on defense. They still gave up a key 3rd down conversion on the play despite the extra man, but regardless, this should not happen.
1-10-PIT 39 (2:58) (Shotgun) A.Brown scrambles left end to PIT 42 for 3 yards (J.Belcher).
One of the few play calls I did not like. Not only did the pass by Brown never materialize on the play, Roethlisberger peeled back to block and you never want to put your quarterback in that situation. Score one for the Bruce Arians haters as failed trick plays always draw that ire.
3rd QUARTER
R.Succop kicks 65 yards from KC 35 to PIT 0. E.Sanders to PIT 25 for 25 yards (A.Studebaker). PENALTY on PIT-C.Carter, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at PIT 25.
A hold by Chris Carter got the second half off to bad start a negated a 25 yard return by Emmanuel Sanders.
1-10-KC 42 (10:07) B.Roethlisberger pass deep right intended for A.Brown INTERCEPTED by T.Daniels at KC 14. T.Daniels pushed ob at KC 39 for 25 yards (R.Mendenhall).
The opening drive survived the deep start in the Steelers own end, but Roethlisberger forced his pass into double coverage after failing to move the safety with his eyes and it was easily intercepted.
1-10-KC 45 (6:30) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep middle to M.Wallace. PENALTY on PIT-D.Legursky, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at KC 45 – No Play.
The hold by Doug Legursky killed the second drive of the second half.
4-4-KC 39 (4:21) Timeout #1 by PIT at 04:21.
Yet another wasted timeout after appearing to try to draw the Chiefs offside on a 4th down and 4. Instead of just taking the delay of game penalty, Roethlisberger burned the first timeout of the second half. The resulting punt of course went into the endzone for a touchback and the Steelers netted a whole 19 yards on the change of possession.
4-1-KC 29 (3:24) (Punt formation) Direct snap to J.Arenas. J.Arenas right end to KC 34 for 5 yards (W.Saunders).
After nicely sniffing out the wildcat on 3rd down, the Steelers punt return team failed to stop a fake punt that was even tipped off by the punter going in motion. That type stuff just can\’t happen.
4th QUARTER
R.Succop kicks 62 yards from KC 35 to PIT 3. E.Sanders pushed ob at PIT 22 for 19 yards (S.Piscitelli; R.Langford). PENALTY on PIT-W.Gay, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at PIT 22.
Another holding call on a return that forced the Steelers to start deep in their own endone their second to the last offensive possession. This time William Gay was the named culprit.
2-11-PIT 25 (4:32) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short right to A.Brown (B.Flowers).
Brown dropped a back shoulder throw by Roethlisberger that hit him right in the bread basket. Had Brown caught the ball it would have moved the chains and allowed the Steelers to run more time off of the clock and perhaps force the Chiefs to start burning some of their timeouts.
