Steelers Win, but Lose Playoff Spot

All the work the Pittsburgh Steelers accomplished Sunday, recovering from a 21-point deficit and the loss of two quarterbacks, went for naught.

Despite their 30-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills, the Steelers were eliminated from the playoff picture because of Cleveland’s 28-21 victory over Houston. Missing the playoffs for only the third time in 14 years prevented the Steelers (7-8) from savoring the comeback which was completed by Walter Abercrombie’s two-yard run with 47 seconds left.

“It’s not a good feeling in here,” running back Frank Pollard said in the Steeler locker room. “I don’t think there’s anybody on the team right now that enjoys it. We’re just going to have to go home and wait until next year.”

Buffalo blew a 21-0 lead and fell to 2-13, leaving the Bills with just one game in which to improve upon their 2-14 record of last season.

“Give credit to the Steelers for coming back from 21-0,” Buffalo Coach Hank Bullough said. “But we have to quit beating ourselves. We’re always losing games in the last 10 minutes and we have to get away from that.”

The Steelers mounted their comeback behind third-string quarterback Scott Campbell, who came into the game after David Woodley injured his left shoulder on his first play of the game and Mark Malone took a blow to the head later in the first quarter.

Pittsburgh pulled to within 21-14 before halftime on Campbell’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Louis Lipps and Frank Pollard’s four-yard scoring run.

While the Steelers’ defense held Buffalo to a 24-yard Scott Norwood field goal in the second half, the offense moved into position to win on three field goals of 26, 31 and 45 yards by Gary Anderson.

Abercrombie’s two-yard touchdown run capped a 71-yard, seven-play drive. The Steelers drove deep enough to score at least a game-winning field goal when Campbell opened the series with a 44-yard pass to Lipps that put them on the Bills’ 24.

Campbell, who had played extensively in only one other game this season, completed 18 of 38 passes for 275 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions.

The Steelers managed to avoid their first four-game losing streak since 1969, although they still must beat the New York Giants on Saturday to keep from suffering their first losing season in 14 years.