The Pittsburgh Steelers made an incredible comeback to take a late lead over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football, but the Chargers ultimately came away with a 41-37 victory.
First, we’ll show what happened in the fourth quarter, before showing how the NFL world reacted to the craziness.
Pittsburgh trailed 27-10 entering the fourth quarter, and it was a 27-13 game when they blocked a punt and got the ball at the Los Angeles three-yard line with 12:33 remaining.
The Steelers blocked a Chargers punt! (1/2) #SNF pic.twitter.com/lWq6ksjZK6
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 22, 2021
After the Chargers were called for pass interference on fourth-and-goal, Najee Harris ran for a one-yard touchdown to make it a 27-20 game (after the Chris Boswell extra point).
And the Steelers took advantage of that blocked punt by scoring a touchdown to make it a 27-20 game- after trailing 27-10.
(2/2) pic.twitter.com/KPRYKcrfMX — The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 22, 2021
It appeared that the Chargers had finally put the game away when running back Austin Ekeler scored his fourth touchdown of the night with 8:48 remaining.
But Ben Roethlisberger connected with Eric Ebron for a Steelers touchdown on the ensuing drive, making it a 34-27 game with 4:49 remaining.
And then the Steelers got the ball back on a Cam Sutton interception, after Cam Heyward tipped the Justin Herbert pass.
Well, the Steelers tied the game up 34-34 after Roethlisberger and Pat Freiermuth teamed up for a touchdown just two plays after the interception.
The Steelers have outscored the Chargers 24-7 in the fourth quarter to tie the game 34-34!
pic.twitter.com/hOVwAE6Z9V — The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 22, 2021
On the ensuing Los Angeles possession, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley chose to go for it on 4th-and-goal at their own 34-yard line, and Pittsburgh stuffed them with 3:48 remaining.
The Chargers go for it on 4th-and-inches at their own 34 and are stuffed!
An incredible fourth quarter from the Steelers. pic.twitter.com/tV6HT7LExn
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 22, 2021
Four plays later, Boswell hit a 45-yard field goal to give the Steelers a stunning 37-34 lead with 3:29 remaining.
But that lead didn’t last long for Pittsburgh.
Herbert — who threw for 382 yards and even ran for 90 yards — connected with Mike Williams for a 53-yard Chargers touchdown with 2:09 remaining. And that would serve as the game-winner for Los Angeles.
This SNF game is absolutely bonkers.
pic.twitter.com/QPYkzIRXCi — The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 22, 2021
This would’ve been another classic Chargers meltdown loss, but Herbert — a star second-year quarterback — and company found a way to get it done in the end.
Here’s how the NFL world reacted to this incredible Sunday Night Football game:
what watching this Chargers-Steelers game feels like pic.twitter.com/fWxzgDX5IU
— SB Nation (@SBNation) November 22, 2021
This game… pic.twitter.com/0PwPbasYWS
— Doug Farrar
(@NFL_DougFarrar) November 22, 2021
Justin Herbert is first player in NFL history to throw for 375+ yards (382) and run for 90+ (90). Most yards rushing before tonight for player w/ 375+ passing was Russell Wilson with 84 10/20/20 vs Cardinals
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) November 22, 2021
With his 3rd pass TD on #SundayNightFootball, Justin Herbert has now thrown 53 in his first 25 career starts
That passes Tony Romo for 4th-most in a player's first 25 starts in the Super Bowl era
Only Patrick Mahomes (68), Dan Marino (65) and Kurt Warner (59) had more
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 22, 2021