The Pittsburgh Steelers are trailing 21-7 at the half. While it still looks bleak, the 21-0 gap seemed insurmountable while the two possession deficit is at least in the realm of possibility. The Steelers’ offense actually moved the ball pretty well, but an interception in the end zone by QB Mason Rudolph robbed the Steelers of some points and allowed an extra score by the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills will start the half with the ball, but something interesting to watch—who is going to punt for the Bills? Their punter was injured on the blocked field goal that set up the Steelers only score of the game so far. He is on the field warming up to see if he can go, but K Tyler Bass is also practicing some punts.
START OF 2ND HALF
Chris Boswell’s kickoff resulted in a touchback.
1st and 10, incomplete pass to Dawson Knox. It looked like a catch but fell out last second. 2nd and 10, Alex Highsmith sacked Josh Allen for a loss of 7. 3rd and 17, complete to Latavius Murray for a 9-yard gain. The punt by the injured punter went 45 yards and was returned to the 40-yard line by Calvin Austin III.
1st and 10, false start on TE Darnell Washington. 1st and 15, Rudolph complete to Diontae Johnson for 19 yards over the middle. Terrel Bernard injured on the play holding his leg.That is a huge loss for Buffalo in this game and beyond if they advance.
1st and 10 in Bills’ territory, incomplete to Pickens and lucky it wasn’t intercepted. Pickens got tripped up there at the top of his route. 2nd and 10, Rudolph complete to Pickens over the middle for 13 yards.
1st and 10, Washington with another false start. Something is throwing him off with the cadence or the crowd noise. 1st and 15, Rudolph complete to TE Pat Freiermuth for 9 yards. 2nd and 6, Warren up the middle for 6 yards.
1st and 10, Harris up the middle for 1 yard. 2nd and 9, Harris off left tackle for no gain. 3rd and 9, just outside the red zone, and incomplete to Pickens on a 50-50 ball. Boswell’s field goal was good. 21-10 Bills.
The kickoff resulted in a touchback.
1st and 10, James Cook off left tackle for 11 yards.
1st and 10, Cook up the middle for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, Cook up the middle for 4 yards. 3rd and 1, Allen sneak for no gain. Mark Robinson with a great hit to prevent the gain. 4th and 1, the Eagles’ QB push play and it worked.
1st and 10, Cook up the middle for a 1-yard gain. 2nd and 9, complete to Kincaid for 10 yards.
1st and 10, Cook up the middle for 1 yard. OG Connor McGovern down injured on the play. 2nd and 9, incomplete and deflected into the air, but no Steelers in the area to intercepted the ball. 3rd and 9, Allen complete to Diggs for 12 yards. CB Joey Porter Jr. down injured after getting a dirty hit from behind. No penalty flag, but could have been.
1st and 10, broken up pass by Elandon Roberts in the end zone. 2nd and 10, Cook up the middle for a loss of two, brought down by Isaiahh Loudermilk. 3rd and 12 in field goal range, Fitzpatrick tackled Murray in the flat for a gain of 4. The 44-yard field goal attempt was good. 24-10 Bills.
1st and 10 after the touchback, Rudolph complete to Allen Robinson II for a loss of one yard. Robinson was injured on the play. 2nd and 11, incomplete to Freiermuth. 3rd and 11, complete to Pickens after scrambling for 19 yards.
1st and 10, Pickens reverse around the right end for 15 yards.
END OF 3RD QUARTER: 24-10 BILLS
1st and 10, Warren up the middle for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, Rudolph scrambled left for 6 yards.
1st and 10, complete to Johnson for 11 yards.
1st and 10, Harris up the middle for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, incomplete deep right to Pickens. 3rd and 7, complete to Johnson for 8 yards.
1st and goal from just inside the 10-yard line, Harris off right tackle for 2 yards. 2nd and goal from the 7, complete to Austin for a touchdown. 24-17 Bills.
The Steelers have made this a one-possession game after being down 21-0 at one point. Dan Moore Jr. was called for unnecessary roughness on the extra point which will make the kickoff more difficult to execute for Boswell and the kick coverage team.
The kickoff was returned to the 30-yard line, so it only hurt them 5 yards in the end.
1st and 10, Allen dropped back and let one loose deep left. Myles Jack called for pass interference for a huge gain for the Bills. The pass was nowhere near catchable, and the refs are conferring. They called it defensive holding in the end.
1st and 10, Cook up the middle for 9 yards. 2nd and 1, Cook up the middle for 3 yards.
1st and 10, Allen scrambled for 13 yards to the left.
1st and 10 just outside of field goal range, complete to Stefon Diggs for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, scrambled and slid and Jack called for a late hit after the runner gave himself up. That ensures a two-possession game with the clock winding down.
1st and 10, Cook up the middle for 1 yard. 2nd and 9, complete to Shakir who wove through the defense for a touchdown. 31-17 Bills.
The kickoff resulted in a touchback.
1st and 10, Warren up the middle for no gain. 2nd and 10, Rudolph to Freiermuth for 7 yards. Freiermuth limped off the field after his catch. 3rd and 3, complete to Warren for no gain. Timeout by Buffalo. 4th and 3, incomplete pass to Pickens. He was looking for a flag, but no call. That should all but end the Steelers’ season.
The Steelers are the first team ever to allow 31-plus points in five straight playoff games.
1st and 10, Cook up the middle for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, Johnson out of bounds after a 9-yard gain.
1st and 10, Johnson up the middle for no gain. Timeout by Pittsburgh. 2nd and 10, Johnson up the middle for 11 yards.
1st and goal, Johnson tackled for a loss of two by Cameron Heyward. 2nd and goal, Johnson rushed for a gain of 3. Final timeout by the Steelers. 3rd and goal from the 8, Johnson tackled for a loss of one.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
The field goal was no good, but with no timeouts and 1:57 remaining it won’t matter.
1st and 10, Rudolph complete over the middle to Connor Heyward for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, complete to Harris for 10 yards.
1st and 10, incomplete to Austin and the defender got there early with no flag. 2nd and 10, incomplete over the middle to Harris. 3rd and 10, complete to Freiermuth for 15 yards.
1st and 10, Rudolph spiked the ball to kill the clock. 2nd and 10, incomplete deep, but roughing the passer gives 15 yards.
1st and 10, Rudolph complete to Harris for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, Rudolph scrambled left for 3 yards out of bounds, but Austin called for too many men on the field on a substitution error. 2nd and 10, incomplete deep right to Johnson. 3rd and 10, Rudolph scrambled up the middle for a 10-yard gain to end the game.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been eliminated from contention and their 2023 season is officially over.
END OF GAME: 31-17 BILLS
