Steelers shocked by Broncos victory in NFL playoffs first round

There were many individual versions of what Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in three words in a subdued visiting locker room Sunday after a crushing overtime loss to the Broncos.

"We didn't execute," Tomlin said, when asked about a bad snap from center that cost Pittsburgh possible points before halftime. It was the same three words he used when asked about a botched snap too high for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to handle near the end of regulation that cost Pittsburgh a chance at a potential game-winning field goal.

"They all added up," Tomlin said, when asked to summarize his team's frustration after a 29-23 overtime loss to the Broncos.

But maybe middle linebacker James Farrior's view was the most descriptive.

"I know I bit on the run fake," Farrior said of the first play in overtime, when Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow threw an 80-yard touchdown pass. "I don't know what happened down the field."

If he had looked to the south end of Sports Authority Field, Farrior would have seen the Broncos' Demaryius Thomas streaking toward the history books finishing off one of the most dramatic plays in team history. That score sent the Broncos on to the next round of the playoffs at New England Saturday night.

After saying a number of goodbyes, Roethlisberger, who was slowed by a high ankle sprain the past few weeks, took his time in front of the media. While his mobility was clearly hampered, he did scramble for key yards on multiple occasions in the second half.

Typical of his day was a 52-yard pass to wideout Mike Wallace in the second quarter. Wallace broke free of the Denver secondary, but bobbled the ball as he hit the ground. Denver challenged the play, and won the challenge, erasing the big gain.

"A lot of frustrating things happened today and that definitely was one of them," Roethlisberger said.

Roethlisberger was instrumental in forging a Steelers comeback from a 20-6 halftime deficit, but he also had his troubles. Just before halftime, with the ball on the Broncos' 32-yard line, Roethlisberger didn't handle a high snap from reserve center Doug Legursky and the loss of yardage took the Steelers out of field-goal range.

On the last series during regulation, the Steelers had first down at Denver's 45 with 29 seconds left. A bad snap again from Legursky resulted in an 11-yard loss and the Steelers lost a chance at a long field goal attempt.

"It's always disappointing when you feel you could do more offensively and you didn't do it," Roethlisberger said. "It's hard when you get beat and when you beat yourself."

Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com

Source: http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_19702183?source=rss

triumph the insult comic dog tucson weather tucson weather peyton hillis cl p cl p andy rooney