Steelers edge San Diego as NFL sees first-ever 11-10 final score

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

November 17, 2008 Last Updated: November 17, 2008 02:25 PM Professional

Steelers lineman Willie Colon celebrates with receiver Hines Ward (86) after the latter caught a pass for a few of his 100-plus receiving yards Sunday at Heinz Field.The Steelers defeated San Diego, 11-10.

PITTSBURGH — The score was an NFL first. The result wasn't: Yet another Chargers loss in Pittsburgh.

In a game as bizarre as the score — Steelers 11, Chargers 10, the only such final in league history — the Chargers had a 110-yard edge in penalties. They scored the only touchdown. They limited the Steelers' offense to three field goals, even as Pittsburgh had a 300-yard passer, a 115-yard rusher and a 124-yard receiver.

The Chargers (4-6) withstood snowy and chilly conditions that were anything but familiar or friendly for a Southern California team to lead 7-0 and 10-8. They stopped a Steelers fourth-down play from the 1-foot line. They were given a gift by the confused officials, who errantly took away a Pittsburgh touchdown that should have counted.

In the end, and a curious one it was, nothing mattered except the Chargers lost again, just as they have in all 13 regular-season games in Pittsburgh. Some players go through a career-long losing streak against an opponent, but the Chargers have a franchise-long streak in Pittsburgh that seems only slightly less miserable because they are 2-0 here in the playoffs.

"I felt that we dominated on both sides," Chargers linebacker Jyles Tucker said. "Unfortunately we just couldn't do enough to win the game."

Doesn't that always happen to the Chargers in Pittsburgh? Even if nothing quite like this has happened in an NFL game?

The Steelers (7-3) were held to three field goals by Jeff Reed, the last a game-winning 32-yarder with 11 seconds remaining, and a safety resulting from an end zone fumble caused by James Harrison early in the second quarter. Pittsburgh led 410-213 in yardage, yet stalled whenever the offense got near the goal line. Even when it was inches away.

San Diego's problem was its offense often did the same thing. Philip Rivers was intercepted on a first-and-10 play from the Steelers' 17 with the Chargers driving late in the second quarter, leading to Reed's first field goal, a 21-yarder, and a big swing in momentum.

Nate Kaeding later missed a costly 42-yard field goal try, although he hit from 22 midway through the fourth quarter to briefly put San Diego up 10-8. The Chargers settled for that field goal after having a first down at the Pittsburgh 6.

"Any time the defense only gives up nine points, we should win the game," Rivers said. "We didn't get it done."

Neither did the Steelers, at least until it mattered.

Ben Roethlisberger went 6-for-6 for 49 yards on the 13-play drive that ended with Reed's third and final field goal as the Steelers answered coach Mike Tomlin's call for their top players to find a way to win.

Still, even with the result seemingly settled, a weird game got even stranger.

On San Diego's final play, Rivers threw a 3-yard pass to LaDainian Tomlinson, who turned and made a short lateral to wide receiver Chris Chambers. With the clock at 0:00, Chambers also tossed a lateral, only to have the Steelers' Troy Polamalu scoop up the ball and apparently score from the 12.

The officials ruled a touchdown, and referee Scott Green upheld the call on review. But after huddling again before the extra point attempt, the officials changed their mind and ruled an illegal forward pass, explaining there was confusion as to which part of the play should have been reviewed.

Afterward, Green said the officials erred and the touchdown should have counted, although it would have meant nothing except to change the first 11-10 score in NFL history.

"We should have let the play go through in the end, yes," Green said.

The Steelers, despite being back in first place in the AFC North by themselves, said, no, they can't keep playing like this and winning.

They dropped their two previous home games, to the Colts and Giants on late touchdowns, and they came precariously close to losing this one to a losing team.

"I don't know what problems they're having over there (on offense) but, as a team, we came out and did what we had to to win the game," Harrison said.

The Steelers have little time to rest up before Thursday night's home game against Cincinnati (1-8-1). As add as the 11-10 victory was, they also will play a Bengals team coming off a 13-13 deadlock with the Eagles that was the NFL's first tie in six years.

The curious final score in Pittsburgh was the second there in less than a year; the Steelers beat Miami 3-0 on Nov. 26 in the first NFL game in more than 60 years to go to the last minute without any scoring. That game also took place in foul weather, a torrential downpour and ankle-deep mud.