The Pittsburgh Steelers have found themselves in a precarious position following a controversial loss to the New England Patriots. The game, which ended with a score of 21-18, has been the subject of much discussion due to a contentious penalty called against the Steelers.
The penalty was called on the Steelers' long snapper, Christian Kuntz, for a false start. This decision was met with criticism as it appeared that Kuntz's body did not move prior to the snap. The penalty was a significant factor in the Steelers' defeat, as it occurred late in the game when the Steelers were trailing by three points and facing a fourth-and-3 at their own 38-yard-line. The Steelers were forced to punt instead of getting a fresh set of downs, which could have potentially changed the outcome of the game.
This loss marks a historic low for the Steelers, as they have now lost consecutive games to teams with records at least eight games below .500. This has led to criticism of Steelers' head coach, Mike Tomlin, for the team's performance in these games. Despite the criticism, Tomlin attributed the loss to the Patriots capitalizing on a turnover.
The defeat has also put the Steelers' playoff chances in jeopardy. However, the team will now have a mini bye week to prepare for their next game against the Indianapolis Colts. On the other hand, the Patriots' win brings them closer to matching the NFL record for career wins held by Don Shula.
The controversy surrounding the penalty has sparked discussions among fans and analysts alike, including NFL analyst JJ Watt. Despite the controversy, the game's outcome stands, leaving the Steelers to regroup and prepare for their upcoming games.
