The Detroit Lions won’t set a mark for futility in the NFL’s first 17-game regular season.
That doesn’t mean they have won a game, which they haven’t.
The NFC North cellar-dwellers and Pittsburgh Steelers played to an ugly 16-16 tie Sunday at Heinz Field.
Each team had a series of miscues and penalties that prevented either from getting the edge after the Steelers tied the game with 11:31 left in the fourth quarter.
The Lions did miss a field goal in overtime.
Pittsburgh’s last chance went awry when rookie TE Pat Freiermuth fumbled with less than a minute left in overtime.
The Steelers fumble with 8 seconds left in OT and the @Lions recover đź‘€ #DETvsPIT pic.twitter.com/zu4rY1MqVU
— NFL (@NFL) November 14, 2021
The Steelers’ radio call of the fumble:
As called on Pittsburgh Steelers radio: pic.twitter.com/383PHTzETL
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) November 14, 2021
The Steelers were without Ben Roethlisberger (COVID-19). Mason Rudolph played in his place and was 30-of-50 for 242 passing yards with a TD and a pick.
There were 15 penalties between the teams for 143 yards in the game.
FINAL/OT: We have the first tie of the 2021 season. #DETvsPIT pic.twitter.com/rxNWJzU8dy
— NFL (@NFL) November 14, 2021
In 2018, the Steelers had a role in the Cleveland Browns ending their 17-game losing streak.
Those teams played to a 21-21 tie, though that game was at Cleveland.