Unlike 2017, K Boswell is unable to save the day

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

CLEVELAND — The Steelers won 13 games in the 2017 season, including four when Chris Boswell booted winning field goals in the final minute of games. As Alejandro Villanueva pointed out the day after the Steelers lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC divisional playoffs, the Steelers lived dangerously close to the edge and might have been fortunate to win as many games as they did.

“We did execute and won a lot of games when maybe we shouldn’t have — a lot of lucky plays, field goals and whatnot,” Villanueva said the day after the 45-42 playoff loss.

The Steelers were reminded Sunday how close the margin is between winning and losing (and tying) in the NFL. Boswell missed a 42-yard field goal with 1:47 remaining in overtime of an eventual 21-21 tie against the Cleveland Browns in the season opener.

Boswell, who last recently signed a four-year contract extension that made him one of the highest-paid kickers in the league, left the Steelers locker room Sunday before the media entered.

He kicked winning field goals last season in the final minute against the Colts, Packers, Bengals and Ravens. Three of those four winners came on the final play of the game.

This attempt was more difficult because of the weather conditions. It was raining and the wind was picking up. Boswell’s kick was wide left.

“Football is an outdoor game, guys,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “We can talk about the weather until the cows come home. That’s how the game is played.”

Despite the conditions, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had faith Boswell would come through again.

“We have all the confidence in the world,” Roethlisberger said. “That’s our guy.”

Sack attack

T.J. Watt’s four sacks are the second-most by a Steelers player in a game since 1982, when sacks became an official NFL statistic. Chad Brown had 4½ in a game against the Bengals in 1996.

Taking the bait

Browns receiver Jarvis Landry has been known to stir things up, and early in the third quarter he suckered cornerback Artie Burns into a tussle along the Browns sideline away from the play. Burns — who threw his helmet to the turf after he threw Landry to the turf — was called for unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct. The Browns accepted the latter penalty and went on to score their first touchdown of the game.

“I just kind of lost my cool for a little bit,” Burns said.

Burns’ penalty was the second of two costly ones on that drive when the Browns were backed up deep in their territory. The Browns faced second-and-20 on their 4 when nose tackle Javon Hargrave was flagged for defensive holding, which gave the Browns an automatic first down.

Burns was penalized on the next play.

“I have to keep my professionalism and handle that better than I did,” Burns said. “They scored on that drive off that penalty. I kind of blame that drive on me.”

Injuries

Cornerback Joe Haden injured his hamstring in the fourth quarter while playing on special teams. It occurred while playing on the punt return team.

“”I was holding up the gunner when he was running down,” Haden said.

Haden said he would find out more Monday after he gets an MRI. “I’m going to find out,” he said. “I don’t know exactly what it is yet.”

Offensive lineman David DeCastro briefly left the game with a hand injury, but he said afterward that he was not seriously injured.

Quarterback sneak

The Steelers did not call many quarterback sneaks in Todd Haley’s tenure as offensive coordinator, but he watched Roethlisberger perform one early in the fourth quarter in the first game of the Randy Fichtner era as offensive coordinator. On a third-and-1, Roethlisberger called his own number and picked up a first down.

This and that

The Steelers tied for the third time since 1970. They previously tied Denver in 1974 and Atlanta in 2002. … Roethlisberger played in his 201st career game, tying him with Donnie Shell for third-most by a Steelers player. … Roethlisberger now has 51,400 passing yards and 330 touchdown passes. … Antonio Brown had 93 receiving yards and went over 10,000 for his career. He reached the 10,000yard milestone in 116 games. Only Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions reached 10,000 yards in fewer games (115). … With his third-quarter touchdown catch, Brown moved past John Stallworth into fourth place all time on the Steelers touchdown list with 65. … JuJu SmithSchuster led the Steelers with 119 receiving yards, the fourth 100-yard receiving game of his career. … Jesse James’ 37-yard reception in the first half was a career long. … Second-year corner Cameron Sutton recorded the first interception of his career.

Inactives

The Steelers deactivated third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph, offensive linemen Matt Feiler and Zach Banner, defensive lineman L.T. Walton, defensive backs Coty Sensabaugh and Marcus Allen and tight end Vance McDonald, who was ruled out of the game Friday. McDonald has a foot injury.

The Browns deactivated quarterback Drew Stanton, receiver Damion Ratley, cornerback E.J. Gaines, linebacker James Burgess, offensive lineman Austin Corbett and defensive linemen Anthony Zettel and Ifeadi Odenigbo.