By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
Matt Freed/Post-GazetteThe Jets' Jason Taylor takes down the Steelers' Mewelde Moore in the end zone for a safety in the fourth quarter at Heinz Field.
They stood up and took the blame, one after another. Steelers tight end Matt Spaeth on dropping what would have been the winning touchdown pass in the final seconds Sunday against the New York Jets at Heinz Field: "I had the chance to be the hero and I let it slip through my hands." Guard Chris Kemoeatu on the fourth-quarter safety by the Jets: "That was my fault. I think I gave my stance away." Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the 22-17 defeat: "I'll take this one on me. I need to make more plays."
It was admirable, really. The fellas were pretty steamed about the loss. I have to tell you, though, I'm having a hard time working up a good case of angst over this one. Not because the Steelers still clinched a postseason spot and will get the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs if they win their final two games against the Carolina Panthers (2-12) at home Thursday night and the Cleveland Browns (5-9) Jan. 2 on the road. Because their offense was much better than it was in the previous three games against the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills, all wins. It didn't have a turnover for the second consecutive game. And get this, it didn't have a holding penalty.
I don't know about you, I like the Steelers' playoff chances a lot better than I did before the loss.
That would have been easier to say if Spaeth had caught Roethlisberger's pass from the Jets 10 with two seconds left. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders was Roethlisberger's target at the back of the end zone -- "I was [thinking I had] the game-winning touchdown," Sanders said -- but Spaeth cut in front of him at the last instant and got both hands on the ball. "I've got to make that play," Spaeth said. "I'm sure it will be all over TV. I guess I'll keep the TV off this week."
It was an unfortunate finish for Spaeth, who still was sitting in front of his locker in his game pants, his face in his hands, long after everyone else had left. He had done a nice job to that point, filling in for injured Heath Miller (post-concussion symptoms) with three catches, including one for a 9-yard touchdown. His coach, Mike Tomlin, had predicted he would be "Heath-like," but Spaeth wasn't feeling that at the moment.
"Obviously not ... Heath would have made that catch," Spaeth said, quietly.
What's encouraging is that the Steelers had taken possession at their 8 with 2:08 remaining and one timeout, moved to the Jets 10 and had a chance to win. It was the fourth long drive of the game by an offense that went 96 yards in 16 plays to score on Spaeth's catch, 53 yards for Shaun Suisham's 42-yard field goal and 74 yards for a 2-yard touchdown run by Rashard Mendenhall, who finished with 100 yards on 17 carries. This was the same offense that managed just two touchdown drives -- one if you don't count its 9-yard drive at Baltimore -- in the three previous games.
"Slowly, but surely, we're getting there," Kemoeatu said.
I wasn't about to argue.
Kemoeatu is 6 feet 3, 344 pounds.
Actually, I thought the big guys up front played well, about as well as they're capable of playing. They've been much-maligned even though they have played with two starters at left tackle, two at left guard and three at right guard. But they blocked well enough for Mendenhall to get his 100 yards and average 5.9 yards a pop. They also kept Roethlisberger fairly clean, allowing three sacks to a defense that likes to bring pressure from just about everywhere.
"I thought [center] Maurkice Pouncey and the line did a good job of recognizing and identifying [what the Jets were doing]," Roethlisberger said.
One breakdown cost the Steelers two points when Jets linebacker Jason Taylor tackled running back Mewelde Moore for a 3-yard loss and a safety with 2:45 left. Kemoeatu, the left guard, pulled to lead Moore off the right side and Taylor sliced through that gap inside of left tackle Jonathan Scott to make the play. "That's a tough block for Scott," Kemoeatu said. "[Taylor] came in right off my hip. I think I gave away my stance. I've got to do a better job disguising it."
The Steelers still had that one final chance. Ninety-two yards to glory ...
"I told the guys, 'Let's be great. Let's let them talk about the offense. Let's go down the field and score,' " Roethlisberger said.
When it was over, the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback who has led 23 winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime was kicking himself for not making one more play. "We got close," he said, "but not close enough."
In this game, anyway.
I'm not sure it won't be different in the playoffs.
Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com. Ron Cook can be heard on the "Vinnie and Cook" show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.
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