The Pittsburgh Steelers had a chance to beat the Dallas Cowboys Sunday at Heinz Field but their defense couldn’t seal the deal when it mattered the most.
With 42 seconds left in the game and the Steelers leading 30-29, the Cowboys offense took the field at their own 25-yard-line and proceeded to march right down the grass for the go-ahead touchdown in just five plays.
That final drive included rookie safety Sean Davis being flagged for a facemask penalty on Cowboys tight end Jason Witten at the Steelers 47-yard-line following a 5-yard reception on a 1st and 10 play. On the very next play, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott galloped 32 yards for a touchdown.
After the game, Steelers linebacker James Harrison put it best.
“It was totally shitty. We are quite terrible,” Harrison said, according to Aditi Kinkhabwala of the NFL Network on Twitter.
Harrison is exactly right.
On the previous Cowboys offensive possession, the Steelers defense gave up a 10 play, 75 yard drive that also culminated in a easy Elliott touchdown. Elliott finished the game with 114 yards rushing and 95 yards receiving on his way to scoring three touchdowns.
Don’t expect the Steelers to improve much, if any, the remainder of the season. They can’t stop the run when it matters the most and the young players aren’t stepping up.
Yes, this is a totally shitty defense.
