It's Broncos week, the first matchup against this team since that dreaded playoff game in 2015. I decided to the probable dismay of everyone here to open up some wounds to write this post. This was to provide a new perspective on the game in the format of the former ESPN Classic Show "Top 5 reasons you can't blame". 3rd string RB Fitzgerald Toussaint has become the goat of the loss due to the crucial fumble that occured with the Steelers up 13-12 and driving. Toussaint fumbles and the Steelers lose the lead and lose. and Frenchy becomes the goat of the game. However, I always thought that Frenchy bore too much of the blame and that there were many many other reasons for why that loss happened which I am highlighting here
Best of the rest: Reasons worth mentioning but not in the top 5
Wasted Opportunities: While the Steelers moved the ball, they couldn't convert those opportunities into points. The Steelers gained 396 yards and drove inside the Broncos 35 7 times. They only had 16 points and 1 touchdown to show for that. On the road in the playoffs that's gonna cost you
The Defense: Yes the defense contributed to the loss to. While they did admirable in holding the Broncos to field goals after facing poor field position, they also surrendered a 65 yard TD march to the Broncos after the fumble to a broken down Peyton Manning, including allowing some guy named Bennie Fowler to catch a first down pass on 3rd and 12. Also against a QB that threw 17 INTs in 10 games played, the defense forced 0 turnovers. Side note: The defense was also bailed out by about a half dozen dropped passes by Broncos receivers that otherwise would have gone for 1st downs
Now for the top 5 reasons
5. Big Ben: Yes it was admirable that he topped 300 yards against the no. 1 defense on a bum shoulder, but he deserves some blame too with some crucial mistakes early. First was the overthrow of Markus Wheaton on the first play of the game that turned a potential TD into a 3 and out. Then later in the quarter on 4th and 1, Ben misses an open Heath and throws a pass in the end zone to Wheaton covered by Aqib Talib who knocked the ball away in the end zone. That's at least 10 points Ben left on the table.
4. Bradley Roby: The 2nd year no. 3 corner creditied with forcing the fumble. Upon review, it looked very much like a great defensive play by Roby who while held reaches across Toussaint's body to knock the punch the ball out. It was textbook on how to force a fumble. It is easier to blame the guy that fumbled but in this case it had lot to do with a great play from the defender.
3. Special teams: Jesus god, the special teams (aside from Boswell) was GOD AWFUL. I'll try and keep this as short as possible. The punt team basically handed the Broncos the first 6 points. The Broncos first field goal was set up by the punt coverage team surrendering a long punt return. The next field goal was handed by a piss poor punt by Berry. Berry had an awful game averaging less than 40 yards a punt on 6 punts. And then there was a muffed punt by Markus Wheaton. This was another black eye for Danny Smith's special teams.
2. Injuries: Steelers had a rash of injuries in 2015 and it finally caught up with them. All-pro center Maurkice Pouncey missed the entire season. Le'Smokeon Bell aka Mr. No Show suffered a season ending injury in game 8. DeAngelo Williams who reviced his career filling in for Bell also had his season ended in the season finale. Kelvin Beachum also missed the game. Of course the biggest injury was to AB knocked out by Vontaze Barfass' bush league hit the week before. The guy who had 16 receptions for 189 yards and 2 TDs against this same defense 4 weeks earlier was sorely missed in the playoff game where they were forced to use Markus Wheaton as the no. 2 receiver.
1. Time in the game: This wasn't like Earnest Byner's fumble in Denver in the 87 AFC Championship game that occurred near the end of the game and ended Cleveland's last chance to tie the game. There were 10 minutes left in the game when that fumble occured, and they were still up. The defense still could have prevented 39 year old Peyton Manning from leading a 65 yard TD drive and prevented Bennie Fowler from converting on 3rd and 12. After the Broncos the scored, the offense with 3 minutes left still could have scored in response instead of being thwarted and giving Denver enough field position to kick a field goal after the turnover on downs.
Overall: The fumble did not lose the game, it was just one of many factors that contributed to the loss, spanning the entire team
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Originally Posted by Dwinsgames
