Steelers will battle Chargers in rematch of a bizarre game
PITTSBURGH — The finish to the Chargers-Steelers game was strange enough, with the first 11-10 score in NFL history and Troy Polamalu stripped of a last-play defensive touchdown by an officiating error.
This may be even stranger: The Chargers, 4-8 with a month left in the season, are returning to Pittsburgh for a rematch in an AFC divisional playoff game Sunday.
Who would have bet on that?
Probably not many of those who, according to Las Vegas gambling experts, dropped an estimated $60 million when the officials reversed themselves and errantly took away Polamalu's fumble return score Nov. 16. Referee Scott Green and the league later said a call that didn't affect the outcome — the Steelers would have won regardless — but altered the point spread was wrong.
The officiating mistake put Steelers players in the uncomfortable position of talking about something they all know exists — gambling on NFL games — but has no effect on the way they play.
"We don't look at what the spread is," Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said Monday. "As players playing this game, we don't worry about that. If we win by one, two, or if we blow them out, it doesn't matter, a win is a win."
Especially when the Steelers were fortunate to win despite getting only a safety and Jeff Reed's three field goals, the last with 11 seconds remaining. The Steelers outgained the Chargers 410-213 as Ben Roethlisberger went 31-of-41 for 308 yards, and held San Diego's Philip Rivers to 159 yards passing, yet never got the ball into the end zone. At least on a play that counted.
"We executed well, we just didn't finish," Ward said. "That's the reason the game was close."
No matter, the Steelers repeated as AFC North champs by winning six of their final seven to finish 12-4; the Chargers, 23-17 overtime winners over the Colts Saturday, are 9-8 after winning their last five.
This should help the Steelers: Roethlisberger practiced Monday for the first time since sustaining a concussion late in the second quarter of a meaningless 31-0 win over Cleveland on Dec. 28.
