A door opened for the Steelers on Sunday, but quickly closed on Monday.
With an opportunity to earn the number one seed in the AFC by winning their last three games, the Steelers stumbled by losing to the 49ers, 20-3 in San Francisco.
“We acknowledge what we did here. We are not going to make more of it than what it is,” said Head Coach Mike Tomlin. “We had an opportunity and we didn’t seize it. We accept responsibility for that.”
After not practicing for most of the week due to a sprained ankle, QB Ben Roethlisberger played the entire game with a noticeable limp and didn’t play his best football, throwing three interceptions.
“I was probably the best 49er tonight,” said Roethlisberger about his interceptions. “Just can’t do it. It’s just frustrating on my part when you feel like you let the guys down and you blow it.”
The Steelers were able to move the ball against the 49ers defense, outgaining San Francisco 389-287, but four turnovers proved to be the difference in the game.
“We didn’t play our best game today,” said LB James Farrior. “They played how they wanted to play. Give those guys all the credit. They deserve it. They whooped us.”
Despite not being able to score points on offense, the defense wasn’t able to make big plays in stopping a consistent 49ers offense.
“On defense, we didn’t do enough,” said LB LaMarr Woodley. “We didn’t get any turnovers and we let them out of third down situations. When you do that against a team like this, you lose the game.”
With the loss, the Steelers remain tied with the Ravens atop the AFC North Division with Baltimore holding the tie breaker.
“We’re not worrying about top seed or anything else,” said Farrior. “We got two games left in the season and we want to finish up strong.”
The Steelers play the St. Louis Rams at home on Saturday and finish the season in Cleveland against the Browns.
Notes: The stadium lights at Candlestick Park went out twice, once in pregame and once during the game, delaying the game for a total of 37 minutes… Tight End Heath Miller surpassed Elbie Nickel for the most receptions by a tight end in Steelers history… Waynesburg native and mixed martial artist Josh Koscheck was on the sidelines during pregame warmups
Image Source – (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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