Tag: Fumble

Former Steelers QB frustrated by botched plays in Week 15 loss

Ben Roethlisberger voices his frustrations over the Steelers’ Week 15 loss to the Eagles, pointing to key moments that sealed their fate.

While watching the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, one legendary Steelers quarterback shared the disappointment felt by much of the Black and Gold faithful.

Former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, while discussing Pittsburgh’s loss in Week 15 with co-host Spencer Te’o on his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, revealed the specific plays he deemed game “killers.”

Big Ben expressed frustrations with areas of the Steelers’ offense that fans have collectively agreed need improvement: finding a reliable WR2 and avoiding slow starts in the first half.

Roethlisberger highlighted a few plays in particular that he believed were “killers” for any hope of a late-game comeback against the Eagles in Week 15: “Najee fumbling the toss sweep—that was a killer.” He then pointed to what he argued was an even greater misstep: “I think one of the killers was Coach T punting on like the 47ish [yard line]. They never got the ball back.”

While the Pittsburgh Steelers’ overall performance was rough in Week 15, is Roethlisberger correct in his analysis that Harris and head coach Mike Tomlin’s “killer” plays sealed the Black and Gold’s loss?

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Broncos players laugh about Jonathan Taylor’s ‘early Christmas present’

Jonathan Taylor’s fumble was “an early Christmas present,” leaving Broncos players all in smiles in the locker room after the win.

Early in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ripped off a 41-yard touchdown run to give his team a 13-point lead. Well, almost.

After review, officials determined that Taylor dropped the ball just before crossing the goal line. Taylor’s fumble rolled out of the end zone for a touchback. So instead of scoring a touchdown, Taylor gave the ball back to Denver.

Following that game-altering play, the Broncos went on to score 24 unanswered points in an eventual 31-13 victory. Denver coach Sean Payton was flabbergasted when asked about the play after the game.

“That was significant,” Payton said. “I don’t get it, but I’m not going to try to. That was a significant play that you go from breaking a long run for a touchdown for your team to us having the ball.”

Payton was asked if the play could be a teachable moment for his own players.

“Fair question,” Payton said. “I cannot recall covering that. It would not be a teaching point. I think that will be difficult for the coaches and every one of his teammates. It’ll just be difficult, I don’t get it. I’ll leave it at that. I don’t want to say something.”

At the risk of putting words in the coach’s mouth, it seemed that Payton might have been suggesting such a scenario shouldn’t even need to be taught because it’s common sense to not drop the ball before you score. Those are Broncos Wire’s words, though, as Payton was careful to not say too much.

Denver’s players, on the other hand, weren’t quite as diplomatic.

Broncos pass rusher Jonathon Cooper gave Taylor a shoutout in the locker room, Nik Bonitto said he was happy the running back bailed out the defense and safety P.J. Locke thanked the “football Gods.” Everyone had big smiles when asked about the play.

The best reaction of the night came from defensive back Brandon Jones.

“I think it was kind of fitting for the kind of season it is,” Jones said, via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. “It’s an early Christmas present, which we are super grateful for it and we appreciated it so much.”

Denver defensive lineman John-Franklin Myers also had a great reaction:

Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said any Denver players who made such a blunder would have to answer to the wrath of Payton.

As for Taylor himself, the running back took responsibility for the blunder.

“It just can’t happen,” Taylor said. “No matter the game, no matter the scenario, you could be up 50, down by 50, in a playoff game, the first game of the season. That should never happen.”

Taylor said he apologized to his teammates and vowed never to let it happen again.

“I told them, I apologized, and I just know that it will never happen again,” the running back said. “That has never happened to me before, and it will never happen again.”

The Broncos are now just one more win away from clinching a spot in the NFL playoffs. Indy’s postseason hopes are now all but dead.

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Did Najee Harris fumble away the starting job to Jaylen Warren?

Najee Harris’ Week 15 struggles raise questions about his future, as the Pittsburgh Steelers may turn to Jaylen Warren down the stretch.

When it rains, it pours. While this seemed to be the case throughout the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 15 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles, it was especially true for one player in particular: RB Najee Harris.

Harris finished the game with six rushes for 14 yards and a single catch for seven yards. His poor statistical showing wasn’t the worst of it, however, as Harris’ worst play of the game practically sealed the fate of the Black and Gold.

In what many can only describe as heartbreaking, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense was beginning to make up ground, trailing the Philadelphia Eagles 13-20 with under five minutes remaining. Harris was on the receiving end of a toss play that QB Russell Wilson executed perfectly, but the running back completely whiffed on collecting the football. The Philadelphia Eagles recovered the fumble and extinguished the Steelers’ momentum by scoring a touchdown.

Harris, who is currently in a contract year, has been rumored to leave the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025 free agency. With costly plays, such as the one in Week 15, it may be time to call on RB Jaylen Warren to lead the Steelers’ running game down the stretch.

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Sean Payton reveals where Broncos need to improve

Sean Payton wants the Broncos to protect the ball on offense and stop the run on defense in the second half of the season.

Halfway through the 2024 NFL season, the Denver Broncos have a winning record (5-4), but there’s plenty of room for improvement.

During his conference call with reporters earlier this week, Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked in what areas he’d like to see the team improve in the second half of the season. Payton was forthcoming with a lengthy response.

“Great question,” Payton said. “Actually at halftime this past weekend, we were right at halftime of the season I believe. I think back to one important statistic, and that deals with the running game. The consistency of us offensively rushing the football efficiently. Our continued success that we’ve had, prior to yesterday, at defending the run is going to be vital to this team winning.

“We’re minus one right now in the turnover battle. If we’re having that discussion towards the end of the season, that’s not going to be good. So that has to be something in our favor. I start with those two things off the top of my head and understanding our margin for error relative to the giveaway-takeaway ratio.

“When your program is further along and you get to a spot — we did this study the other day and it was pretty interesting — you look at the elite teams in our history, who were the best teams at surviving minus turnovers? One of the Broncos, I think the [2015] Broncos team, was one of the teams listed. Certainly the [2022] Chiefs. These teams, they won 80% of their games when they were minus in the giveaway-takeaway. So obviously, their margin for error was much different.

“I think of the rushing game, both offensively and defensively. I think certainly our return units in the kicking game with Marvin [Mims] and what we’re trying to do from a punt-return standpoint. Then us being able to defend the run. If we’re having problems defending the run, or we’re having problems and not having the ability to blow the game down and play it on our terms, I think it’s going to be challenging for us to accomplish our goals.”

Payton’s comments essentially boiled down to stop the run on defense and protect the ball on offense. The Broncos have allowed 108.7 rushing yards per game this season. That ranks ninth-best in the NFL, but they allowed Derrick Henry to rush for 106 yards last week, and he could have had more if he stayed in the game. On the turnover front, Denver has 13 giveaways (fifth-most) this season — six interceptions and seven lost fumbles.

If the Broncos are going to make the playoffs this fall, protecting the ball and shoring up the run defense will be imperative.

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Chiefs TE Travis Kelce discusses his fumble vs. Buccaneers: ‘I almost handed it away’

Kansas City #Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce discusses his fumble vs. the Tampa Bay #Buccaneers: ‘I almost handed it away’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs pulled out a thrilling overtime victory in the pouring rain on Monday Night Football. The Arrowhead Stadium crowd supported their stars, including tight end Travis Kelce, who had a career night.

After the 30-24 victory, Kelce sat down with ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, recapping his fourteen-catch, 100-yard night in front of the fans of Chiefs Kingdom. He immediately addressed his fumble in the first half, stalling a promising drive.

“I almost handed it away today a few times, and I’m lucky that my guys were right there for me,” said Kelce. “It’s a culture, man. It’s a culture set from the big man (Andy Reid) down, and everybody just believes at all times that we’re gonna get it done because we’ve done it in the past. We keep doing it on nights like tonight. I’ll tell you what when Arrowhead (Stadium) is rocking like it was tonight. Man, it’s hard to lose in this place.”

The Chiefs have now won a record fourteen consecutive games, counting back to last season, and Kelce and his teammates credit the winning culture.

Broncos coach Sean Payton gives his take on team’s fumbles

“You have to know when the ride’s over,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of wide receivers losing fumbles.

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton was clearly upset after wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Lil’Jordan Humphrey both lost fumbles against the Carolina Panthers last week. In a radio interview, Payton went as far as suggesting the team could “find some other receivers” who won’t fumble.

After a few days to cool down, Payton was a little more cordial on Wednesday.

“L.J.’s [fumble], there’s a point at which the ride is over,” Payton said. “You have to know that. In other words, that extra two yards that you’re fighting for, I’m looking at 30 plays that I’ve got ready to call. So you have to know when the ride’s over.

“Courtland’s was a little different, catching it real close to the [goal line]. So each one can be different, but it’s just that understanding. These guys have forced fumbles at a high rate, and so that’s an important statistic as it relates to a game like this.”

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix defended both receivers this week.

“I thought both L.J. and Court, they were tough football plays,” Nix said. “They weren’t necessarily careless with the ball, those guys (on defense) made good plays. I’m not worried about those two. They’re veterans. They handled it really well this week.

“We know it’s important. We have to eliminate them and continue to win the turnover margin. When we do that, we’re successful. We just have to find ways to continue to do it. It has to be most important.”

Going up against a 5-3 Baltimore Ravens team this week, Denver’s offense can’t afford to put the ball on the ground.

“[Y]ou try to deal with it before you have that crisis moment,” Payton said of the fumbles. “Then we coach it, ‘How are you handling the ball in traffic? Not in traffic?’ Eventually, it has to become a habit. I think it’s coaching, it’s practice and it’s technique. It’s all of those things.”

The Broncos have 12 takeaways this season (tied for ninth-most) and 12 giveaways (five interceptions and seven fumbles, a league-high). The defense’s takeaways have been canceled out by the offense’s blunders, which will come back to hurt Denver against better teams.

After a point of emphasis on protecting the ball this week, Broncos receivers will undoubtedly have two hands on the ball in traffic on Sunday.

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Sorry, Baltimore: The Steelers didn’t want Diontae Johnson for good reason

While Baltimore may be excited to acquire Diontae Johnson from Carolina, the former Steelers WR carries a lot of baggage as well.

Memo to Ravens fans: Be careful what you wish for. While the Steel City faithful appreciate wide receiver Diontae Johnson’s efforts as an elite route-runner for Pittsburgh from 2019-2023, fans will be quick to remind Baltimore exactly why he was traded away to Carolina last offseason. 

Johnson struggled with making routine catches early in his career and bore more than his fair share of blame for drama in the Steel City, ranging from lack of effort on multiple plays to heated arguments with Steelers players and coaches. 

On a crucial play last season against the Cincinnati Bengals, running back Jaylen Warren fumbled the football, and Johnson seemingly walked away from the opportunity to recover it. His initial response left much to be desired: “I’m not perfect.” 

Johnson was also involved in a heated locker room argument with free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick after the safety took issue with Johnson’s treatment of the coaches on the sideline. 

Johnson was traded this week to the Baltimore Ravens from the Carolina Panthers, and he has certainly circled his new team’s Week 11 and Week 16 matchups with Pittsburgh.

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Chiefs vs. Raiders: LB Drue Tranquill recovers fumble in fourth quarter

Check out this video of #Chiefs LB Drue Tranquill recovering a fumble against the #Raiders in Week 8.

The Kansas City Chiefs have a seven-point lead over the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth quarter of an AFC West showdown in Week 8.

Though Kansas City is undefeated in the regular season, the Chiefs have had their hands full against Las Vegas, which has put up a good fight against the defending Super Bowl champions through three quarters and change.

The Raiders had a chance to tie the game with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter but were stymied by Kansas City’s outstanding defense when veteran lineman Mike Pennel forced a fumble that was recovered by star linebacker Drue Tranquill.

Check out this video of the crucial turnover, which was posted to Twitter by the Chiefs’ official account:

 

This game has been too close for comfort for fans in Kansas City, but the potentially game-saving turnover forced by Pennel and Tranquill may have saved the Chiefs’ perfect season.

Javonte Williams gave Audric Estime a perfect gift after rookie’s second fumble

Broncos veteran Javonte Williams gave rookie Audric Estime a football on Wednesday so “he’ll have a ball for a week whenever he goes.”

In the fourth quarter of last week’s win over the New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos running back Audric Estime lost a fumble. That marked the rookie’s second career fumble on just his ninth career carry.

Estime obviously can’t keep that kind of pace up if he wants to stick around in the NFL. To help the rookie prepare for this week’s game against the Carolina Panthers, veteran Javonte Williams gave Estime a fitting gift this week.

“Javonte has given him a present today where he’ll have a ball for a week whenever he goes,” coach Sean Payton said after Wednesday’s practice. “I think it happens to young backs a lot because at this level, the ability for players and the point of emphasis of taking the ball away, it steps up a lot. Historically speaking, it wasn’t really until the ’90s where Lovie Smith and there were a handful of coaches that began to value the takeaway maybe over not necessarily the proper tackle, but they understood. Then it quickly caught on to our league.

“In other words, the (former NFL CB) Peanut Tillmans, and you just saw what it did to a game. I think it’s coached every… We try to as best we can with these young players give them up-the-river medicine. In other words, before there’s a problem, but now he’s someone where if we’re scouting him, is someone who’s fumbled. Now it’s you kind of have to earn your way out of that, and he will.”

Estime has totaled 56 yards on his nine carries thus far, good for a productive 6.2 yards per carry average. Now the Broncos just need him to hang onto the ball. Williams is hoping giving Estime a ball to carry around all week will help the rookie going into Sunday’s game against the Panthers.

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WATCH: Two Wisconsin legends combine to force Cowboys turnover on NFL Sunday Night Football

WATCH: Two Wisconsin legends combine to force Cowboys turnover on NFL Sunday Night Football

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has the Wisconsin football program to thank for its immense success.

Former Badgers on the unit are T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton and Isaiahh Loudermilk. The group put together a statement performance in the Steelers’ narrow 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

Related: ESPN FPI updates Wisconsin football win chances for remaining 2024 schedule after Week 6 win over Purdue

Watt finished with eight tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, one tackle for loss and three quarterback hits. Herbig recorded two tackles, 1/2 sack, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Benton had a tackle, a pass deflection and a quarterback hit. Loudermilk, finally, blocked a Cowboys field goal.

There were many highlights of the night. One should mean the most to Badgers fans: Watt and Herbig, two program-great pass-rushers from entirely different eras, combined on a sack and forced fumble on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott:

Herbig was always compared to Watt as he ascended to stardom at Wisconsin. The two superstars actually put up similar numbers in their final collegiate seasons:

  • Nick Herbig 2022: 47 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, two pass deflections, two forced fumbles
  • T.J. Watt 2016: 63 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, one interception, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles

Watt has since gone on to become one of the most prolific pass-rushers in NFL history — his 1.5 sacks on Sunday night made him the second-fastest player ever to reach 100 sacks.

Herbig, meanwhile, is only in year two in the NFL after being selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft. His rookie season included 27 tackles, 3.0 sacks, five tackles, three quarterback hits and two forced fumbles. Those numbers are all trending even better through the first five games of 2024.

The comparison between the two will only continue if Herbig can ascend to NFL stardom. They have similar games, they wear the same NFL uniform and now, they’re even combining on sack-fumbles.

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