The Patriots converted one third down on their first touchdown drive to open the game, then converted one other on their 59-yard scoring drive. Outside of that, they were 2-13 on third downs.
But they made their conversions count. The Patriots were 2-2 in the red zone. The Steelers were 1-2, with their failed red zone trip resulting in a turnover on downs on the opening play of the fourth quarter.
• The Steelers were penalized just one in this game for five yards, but that one penalty was a big one.
Facing fourth-and-3 at their own 38 with 5:06 remaining, the Steelers lined up for a punt. But New England’s Jahlani Tavai came across the line of scrimmage and the Steelers began celebrating, while the Patriots’ special teams players began walking off the field.
After a discussion, Clay Martin’s crew decided Tavai had been drawn offside by long snapper Christian Kuntz, who had raised his head up before attempting to snap the football.
Former NFL official Terry McAulay, who serves as the officials analyst for Amazon Prime, which was broadcasting the game, didn’t think Kuntz had done anything wrong.
“That looks like normal movement you see from a long snapper,” McAulay said.
“I didn’t think I moved my head until he jumped,” Kuntz said.
Instead of getting a first down, the Steelers were pushed back and forced to punt.
Tomlin and special teams coordinator Danny Smith both had words with Martin after the call, trying to get an explanation for the penalty.
“I was given an explanation,” Tomlin said. “I don’t know that I agree with it, but I was given an explanation.”
• The Steelers got the ball back trailing by 3 points with 2:44 remaining in the game.
After an 8-yard pass to Johnson on second down put the Steelers in third-and-2 at their own 49, Trubisky misfired on back-to-back passes to George Pickens and then on a deep ball to Johnson on fourth down that effectively ended their…
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