Interceptions, Blocked Extra Point Doom Packers in 23-19 Loss to Steelers
For the fourth time in his first season as starting quarterback, Jordan Love had a chance to rally the Green Bay Packers to a road victory.
For the fourth time, he fell short. On Sunday, Love threw two late interceptions as the Pittsburgh Steelers held off the Green Bay Packers 23-19.
“There are no moral victories in this league,” coach Matt LaFleur said.
The critical interception was the first one, which came with 3:20 to go.
Love completed passes of 28 yards to tight end Luke Musgrave on the first play and 32 yards to Dontayvion Wicks to the Steelers’ 15 on third-and-10. On second-and-9, Christian Watson ran a double-move that didn’t fool veteran corner Patrick Peterson. Love took a shot to Watson but Peterson deflected the ball in the end zone, where it was grabbed by safety Keanu Neal.
“I was trying to put the ball over the top where only he can get it and the DB was able to make a good play, get a hand on it, tip it up,” Love said.
The Packers got a stop to give Love a final, desperation-mode final drive. Starting at their 19 with 59 seconds to go and zero timeouts, Love extended the play a bit, which allowed receiver Jayden Reed to get open deep for 46 yards to the Steelers’ 45 with 51 seconds to go. It was a big-time play with a defender in Love’s lap.
However, Love’s next pass, to running back Aaron Jones, had no chance. Making matters worse, Jones took the ball to the middle of the field and was tackled inbounds. By the time the Packers snapped the ball again, only 22 seconds remained.
“That was critical because that wasted a ton of time, and we would have had a couple of opportunities at the end of the game,” LaFleur said. “It felt like forever.”
A checkdown to AJ Dillon set up one final play. From Pittsburgh’s 16 with 3 seconds to go, Love fired to the end zone toward Watson but was intercepted by Damontae Kazee.
Packers QB Jordan Love at the Steelers.
Photo by Charles LeClaire/USA Today Sports Images
It’s a familiar, unhappy ending for the Packers, who lost by one at Atlanta in Week 2, by four at Las Vegas in Week 5 and by two in Week 7 at Denver. Love had a chance in those games, too.
“I’m confident we will come out on the other side of this,” LaFleur said.
Love was 21-of-40 passing with two touchdowns and the two late picks for the Packers (3-6). The Steelers (6-3) rushed for 205 yards; they have been outgained in every game this season.
Of course, it should not have come down to a do-or-die touchdown drive. Late in the first half, Anders Carlson’s extra point was blocked. So, instead of entering the fourth quarter tied 20-20 and instead of getting the ball trailing 23-20, the Packers were in comeback mode.
“It just changes some of the decision-making,” LaFleur said of the block.
The Steelers led 17-13 at halftime. Remember that improved run defense? With 48 yards and one touchdown by Najee Harris and 47 yards and one touchdown by Jaylen Warren, the Steelers had 100 rushing yards at the intermission. Remember the improved tackling? By our count, the Packers missed 11 in the first half.
But the Packers hung around. They scored their first first-quarter touchdown since Week 1 when Love threw a magnificent ball into the back corner of the end zone to Romeo Doubs for an 8-yard score to tie the game at 7.
The Steelers led 17-7 when Love threw another big-time pass for a 35-yard touchdown to Reed. Reed got behind cornerback Levi Wallace and safety Keanu Neal. He wasn’t open by much, but Love’s ball dropped over Neal and into the waiting hands of Reed. The extra point was blocked.
The Packers had a chance to take the lead late in the first half but the officiating intervened. Pickett threw what sure looked like a backward pass to Warren that slipped through his hands. The ball was ruled incomplete on the field and, incredibly, after a challenge by LaFleur. The Packers would have had the ball inside the Steelers’ 5 had it been ruled a fumble.
“I thought it was pretty clear but somebody else differently. I guess I was wrong,” LaFleur said.
The Packers took their first lead of the day, 19-17 with 3 minutes to go in the third quarter. Impressive rookie tight end Luke Musgrave had been shutout following a breakout game against the Rams. However, on third-and-7, he streaked down past safety Elijah Riley for a twisting gain of 36 yards. That set up a chip-shot field goal.
The lead didn’t last long. About 2 minutes later, Chris Boswell’s 49-yard field goal made it 20-19.
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