How to Lose a Game in One Play, Starring James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers

Despite some killer red zone defense by the Steelers, a series of stands which limited New York to four field goals in five trips inside the 20, Pittsburgh held only a 14-12 lead with eight minutes left. Two big plays -- a 32-yard Mewelde Moore joint and a 65-yard catch-and-run from Nate Washington -- got the Steelers on the board. A fourth quarter drive petered out as Ben Roethlisberger rolled around on the grass, and Mitch Berger was set to punt it away.

Then James Harrison happened. The Pittsburgh linebacker, long-snapping due to an injury, sailed the ball three feet over Berger's head and through the back of the end zone. 14-14. Berger kicked to New York, and the Giants marched down the field with relative ease. The drive finished with an easy Eli Manning-to-Kevin Boss toss made possible by a killer blitz pick-up by Brandon Jacobs. 21-14.

Pittsburgh proceeded to put together two drives as bad as any other of the 2008 NFL season, excepting anything that has involved Dan Orlovsky. Ben Roethlisberger, inspired by the coming NBA, bounced a few balls. Also, he rolled around the grass some more. The game ended on a truly awful 4th and 15 in which Big Ben basically punted the ball with his arm. Simply, utterly ugly.

The Giants sacked Roethlisberger five times in the second half, and Ben was knocked down on a full half of his dropbacks. A stout defense (which Pittsburgh has) can win you a lot of games, but it needs some help occasionally. Neither Roethlisberger or his offensive line helped today.

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