Let’s break this down.
The Steelers were once down 29-0 to the Vikings.
They didn’t quit and made an amazing comeback where they had the opportunity to tie the game. It is 36-28 with 45 seconds left. The Steelers are facing a 4th and 1 with no times. Ben Roethlisberger completes a short pass to Chase Claypool.
Instead of immediately getting up and running the ball back to the ref, he does a first down dance, which leads to a comedy of errors.
By the time the ball is clocked, there are only 24 seconds left.
The Steelers still had a chance to tie the game but ran out of time at the Vikings’ 12-yard line. Claypool said he didn’t do anything wrong.
“I got tackled near the hash, did my little first down point, went to hand the ball to the ref,” Claypool said. “He just got there. Even if I got right up and looked for him, he wasn’t there. He ran down the field to come get the ball. The ball got knocked out of my hands. That is what cost us time. But I definitely do have to be better. I knew the situation.”
The video clearly shows that isn’t what happened.
He is right the ball being knocked out of his hands cost them the time, but if he weren’t celebrating, no one would have tried to get the ball from him while he was posing.
Mike Tomlin seems fed up with his young receiver and even had to bench him briefly during the game. It is safe to say that they won’t be playing any music at practice this week. The Steelers are fighting tooth and nail for a wild card spot, and this was a killer loss at the end of the year.
They came out flat, and then mental mistakes like this cost them the game.
Flip the pages for the celebration, Claypool’s explanation, and the Steelers fans cooking him on Twitter.