MIAMI — With the game up for grabs, Ben Roethlisberger found himself part of an end-zone scrum so frantic the officials were unable to determine who had the ball.
That gave the game to the Steelers.
A video review determined Roethlisberger’s late touchdown was instead a fumble, but because it was unclear who recovered, Pittsburgh kept the ball and kicked the game-winning field goal on the next play to beat the Miami Dolphins 23-22.
“Just a bizarre kind of play. You hate to win it that way, but you’ll take a win,” Roethlisberger said.
Said Miami linebacker Channing Crowder: “The refs called a wonderful game - for the Steelers.”
With Pittsburgh trailing 22-20 and facing third-and-goal at the 2, Roethlisberger fumbled as he dived across the goal line on a quarterback draw. The play was ruled a touchdown as both teams scrambled for the ball.
After a review, referee Gene Steratore announced Roethlisberger fumbled before scoring. But Steratore said replays were inconclusive regarding which team recovered, and the Steelers were awarded possession at the half-yard line, allowing Jeff Reed to kick an 18-yard field goal with 2:26 left.
“I have to have clear video evidence of the team recovering the fumble,” Steratore said after the game. “It is a pile of bodies in there, and you don’t have a clear recovery.”
Several Dolphins argued Miami linebacker Ikaika Alama-Francis recovered. Did the Steelers steal one?
“We will take it and exit stage left,” Pittsburgh Coach Mike Tomlin said.
AFC North leader Pittsburgh improved to 5-1 and remained unbeaten on the road. The Steelers won despite losing three starters with injuries: linebacker LaMarr Woodley (hamstring), defensive end Aaron Smith (left arm) and tackle Flozell Adams (left ankle).
Miami fell to 3-3, with all the defeats at home and all the wins on the road.
Roethlisberger, playing his second game since returning from his suspension, completed 19 of 27 passes for 302 yards and 2 touchdowns.
PACKERS 28, VIKINGS 24
Brett Favre threw three second-half interceptions to his former team and host Green Bay held on to beat Minnesota on Sunday night. Favre appeared to deliver another signature comeback victory with an apparent touchdown strike to Percy Harvin with 48 seconds left - but the play was ruled incomplete on a replay review. With one more chance on fourth-and-15 at the 20, Favre threw incomplete out of bounds. Green Bay (4-3) turned a pair of third-quarter Favre interceptions into touchdowns for the Packers that erased the Vikings’ halftime lead, including a 32-yard return for a touchdown by Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop. Aaron Rodgers completed 21 of 34 passes for 295 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Adrian Peterson rushed for 131 yards for the Vikings (2-4).
RAVENS 37, BILLS 34, OT
Visiting Buffalo came close, but Billy Cundiff kicked a 38-yard field goal with 10:57 left in overtime after Ray Lewis stripped the ball from tight end Shawn Nelson, and Baltimore squeezed past winless Buffalo (0-6). Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes for the Ravens, who survived an uncharacteristic performance by a defense that was shredded for 505 yards. Baltimore (5-2) trailed 24-10 late in the first half before scoring 24 consecutive points to take a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter. Buffalo’s Ryan Fitzpatrick then threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Lee Evans with 5:46 left, and the Bills forced overtime on a50-yard field goal by Rian Lindell with 4 seconds left in regulation. Fitzpatrick completed 29 for 43 passes for 373 yards and 4 touchdowns - 3 to Evans and another to Steve Johnson.
REDSKINS 17, BEARS 14
DeAngelo Hall tied an NFL record with four interceptions, running one back 92 yards for a touchdown, and visiting Washington sacked Jay Cutler four times while forcing six turnovers. Hall tied a record held by 18 others and became the first to pick off four passes since Deltha O’Neal did it with Denver in 2001. His one-handed interception and touchdown return late in the third quarter were made for the highlight reel and put the Redskins ahead for good, sending Chicago (4-3) to its third loss in four games. Washington (4-3), meanwhile, equaled its win total from last season and joined a growing line of teams that has pounded Cutler. He now has been sacked 19 times in his last three games.
FALCONS 39, BENGALS 32
Roddy White had a spectacular day for host Atlanta, catching 11 passes for 201 yards. The Falcons (5-2) squandered a 24-3 halftime lead, falling behind when Cincinnati (2-4) took advantage of two turnovers and ripped off 22 consecutive points in the third quarter. White put the Falcons ahead to stay with his second touchdown, an 11-yard reception early in the fourth. He then made a leaping catch on the 2-point conversion to make it 32-25. After Cedric Benson’s fumble, Michael Turner scored on a 3-yard run for a two-touchdown lead. Chad Ochocinco gave the Bengals a chance with a late 8-yard touchdown catch, but the Falcons recovered the onside kick.
TITANS 37, EAGLES 19
Kerry Collins threw three touchdown passes to Kenny Britt, who had the best game of his career two days after being involved in a bar fight, and host Tennessee scored 27 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Britt had the best receiving game in the NFL this season. He caught touchdown passes of 26, 80 and 16 yards and finished with seven receptions for 225 yards - all career highs for the second-year player on a day when he didn’t start as punishment for his role in the fight. The Titans (5-2) won their NFL-best 12th consecutive game over the NFC with Collins making his first start in a year. Vince Young was sidelined by a sprained left knee and ankle that had him still limping in pregame warmups. The Eagles (4-3)blew a 19-10 lead despite sacking Collins three times and forcing him into three turnovers.
PATRIOTS 23, CHARGERS 20
New San Diego kicker Kris Brown missed a 50-yard field goal attempt with 23 seconds left as visiting New England escaped. Brown lined up to try a 45-yarder that would have forced overtime, but guard Louis Vasquez was whistled for a false start. Moved back five yards, Brown’s attempt was long enough but bounced off the right upright. Brown was signed last week because Nate Kaeding has an injured groin. Leading by three with two minutes left, New England gambled on fourth-and-1 from its 49 and BenJarvus Green-Ellis was stuffed for a 1-yard loss by Antwan Applewhite. Coach Bill Belichick had challenged the spot of the previous play and lost, costing him his final timeout. San Diego then moved to the 27.
SEAHAWKS 22, CARDINALS 10
Olindo Mare kicked five field goals, Matt Hasselbeck threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams and host Seattle took advantage of five Arizona turnovers. The Seahawks (4-2) took over first place in the NFC West despite an unimpressive performance. Four times in the second half, Seattle had possession inside the Arizona 20 and settled for Mare field goals on each occasion.
BUCCANEERS 18, RAMS 17
Josh Freeman led another fourth-quarter comeback, throwing a 1-yard touchdown pass to Cadillac Williams with 10 seconds left to lift host Tampa Bay. Connor Barth kicked four field goals for the Buccaneers (4-2), who trailed 17-3 before battling back to surpass their win total for last season. Sam Bradford threw two short touchdown passes and Steven Jackson became the Rams’ all-time leading rusher before things unraveled for St. Louis (3-4). Jackson finished with 110 yards on 22 carries, hiking his career total to 7,324.
CHIEFS 42, JAGUARS 20
Derrick Johnson returned an interception for a score and Matt Cassel threw two touchdown passes to Dwayne Bowe for host Kansas City. The Chiefs (4-2) ran for 236 yards and three touchdowns while overcoming several penalties.
PANTHERS 23, 49ERS 20
John Kasay kicked a 37-yard field goal with 39 seconds left to give host Carolina (1-5) its first victory of the season. The 49ers’ David Carr was intercepted by Richard Marshall with just over a minute left to set up the winning kick.
Sports, Pages 17 on 10/25/2010