The Gutsy Call, Vick Delivering late after putrid performance, Butler calls great game…..

STEELERS 24 – CHARGERS 20

“We’ve got Le’Veon Bell. You give him the ball.”

That was Mike Tomlin’s message after a Steelers thrilling 24-20 win on a Bell last second touchdown-run from the one yard line.

With five seconds left on the clock, running Bell out of the wildcat with a direct snap, one of the NFL’s most patient running backs, Tomlin and the Steelers were all-in on going for the win.

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With a great block from David DeCastro taking on two defenders as the Chargers shot their gaps very well from the edge and some luck as Bell’s knee went down on Donald Butler’s arm, the Steelers got a thrilling win and maybe a season saving win as a loss would have had the Steelers falling to 2-3 with the Arizona Cardinals coming to town and Ben Roethlisberger likely out another week.

“Credit to offensive line. Those guys in the huddle were not going to let Le’Veon not get in the end zone,” said Mike Vick.

VICK DELIVERS

The Quarterback play from Vick for 3/4 of the game was some of the worst QB play in the NFL this season.

Mike Vick’s struggles to read a defense highlight how amazing of an athlete he really used to be to have the success he had during the prime of his career. There is no cerebral part of Vick’s game.

Vick showed awful awareness and accuracy throughout, unable to make routine passes to his left or right. He also played conservative with dink and dunk passes and the Steelers coached conservative though the air.

Late in the fourth quarter that finally all changed down 17-10.

Vick connected with Markus Wheaton on a 72 yard touchdown with the ball traveling 42 yards in the air. It’s one of the few things Vick still does very well, roll out to his left and wing it deep.

That TD pass gave Vick a jolt who would drive the Steelers 12 plays, 80 yards, setting up Bell’s game winning score.

With 36 seconds left on a 3rd and 6, Vick scrambled up the middle for 24 yards and then three plays later on 3rd and 10 at the Chargers 17, Vick hit Miller in the middle of the field for 16 yards.

BUTLER CALLS GREAT GAME

Philip Rivers threw for 365 yards and completed nearly 75% of his passes. Yet the Steelers limited the Chargers to just 20 points.

The Steelers came in with a great scheme and created chaos at the line of scrimmage on 3rd down.

San Diego was 4-14 on third down and on their last offensive play, a batted pass by Lawrence Timmons on 3rd and 8 was a game saving play for the Steelers as Keenan Allen would have been gone for a touchdown.

That was the story of the night for the Steelers defense. They came up with clutch plays throughout from the Timmons batted pass, Antwon Blake pick-6, a Jarvis Jones forced fumble, but the game ball on defense goes to defensive coordinator Keith Butler.

Dick LeBeau coached passive and scared late in his tenure as defensive coordinator with the Steelers. The outside linebackers were constantly dropping into coverage and that’s been a big change with Butler, putting outside backers in more edge rushing situations along with a more aggressive blitz scheme.
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