Steelers win after contested call

Published November 20, 2014

The ruling helped the Steelers to a 23-22 over the Miami Dolphins, whose home woes this season continued, while the New Orleans Saints also found no comfort at home as the Cleveland Browns stunned the Super Bowl champions 30-17.

Among other games, the Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers all needed late heroics to secure Week Seven wins.

After several devastating helmet-to-helmet collisions last week resulted in new rules to eliminate dangerous hits, the day began with the focus squarely on how players would respond to league threats of increased fines and suspensions.

But instead, it was NFL officials in the spotlight after a referee's ruling led to a game-winning Steelers field goal that will surely be this week's hot topic.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, in his second game back after a four-game suspension, threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns but it was the touchdown officials ruled he did not score that created the biggest buzz.

With Miami (3-3) up 22-20 and a little over two minutes to play, Dolphins supporters were ready to celebrate their team's first home win of the season when Roethlisberger fumbled the ball as he dove into the end zone.

After a lengthy review, the home crowd cheered when it was confirmed Roethlisberger had indeed lost possession.

But the stadium was plunged into despair seconds later when officials added they were unable to determine who had recovered the ball, giving it back to the Steelers (5-1) for Jeff Reed to boot the winning field goal.

"You hate to win it that way but we'll take the win," said Roethlisberger. "I actually had whole arm around it until the ref patted me on the back and said touchdown, so that's when I let go."

WINLESS BILLS

The Ravens (5-2), playing in their second straight overtime game, secured a 37-34 victory over the winless Buffalo Bills (0-6) when Billy Cundiff hammered a 38-yard field goal.

Carolina's John Kasay booted a 37-yard field goal with 39 seconds left as the Panthers (1-5) earned a 23-20 win, their first of the season, over the San Francisco 49ers (1-5) that leaves Buffalo as the NFL's only winless team.

Tampa Bay (4-2) also struck late as quarterback Josh Freeman found Cadillac Williams for a one-yard touchdown with 10 seconds remaining to give the Buccaneers an 18-17 win over the St. Louis Rams (3-4).

After starting the season 3-0, the fading Chicago Bears (4-3) absorbed their second consecutive home loss when DeAngelo Hall intercepted Jay Cutler and returned the ball 92 yards for touchdown with 1:32 left to give Washington (4-3) a 17-14 win.

Home field was also no advantage for the Saints (4-3) or the Denver Broncos (2-5).

Super Bowl MVP quarterback Drew Brees had his worst game of the season throwing four interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, as Cleveland (2-5) cruised to a 30-17 victory.

In the Mile High city, running back Darren McFadden ran for four touchdowns as the Oakland Raiders (3-4) put up a franchise record for most points in one game dumping the Broncos 59-14.

Tom Brady threw for a touchdown as the New England Patriots built a lead and then held on to beat the slumping San Diego Chargers 23-20 for their fourth straight win to join the idle New York Jets atop the AFC East with at 5-1.

Trailing 20-3 entering the final quarter, Philip Rivers sparked the Chargers (2-5) but the rally fall short when Kris Brown missed a 50-yard field goal that would have tied the game with 23 seconds to play.

In other action, the Seattle Seahawks (4-2) grabbed top spot in the NFC West with 22-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals (3-3) while Kerry Collins connected with Kenny Britt on three touchdown passes to help lift the Tennessee Titans (5-2) to a 37-19 win over the Philadelphia Eagles (4-3).

Roddy White hauled in 11 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns as the Atlanta Falcons (5-2) won a 39-32 thriller over the Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)

(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto, Editing by Frank Pingue)

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/steelers-win-after-contested-call