The Pittsburgh Steelers attempted a fake field goal against the Cleveland Browns in the second quarter on Sunday and it did not go well for anyone involved, especially kicker Chris Boswell.
With the score tied 3-3, the Steelers lined up for a field goal from the Browns’ 10-yard line with a little under two minutes left before the half. Boswell took the direct snap and scrambled towards the sidelines. Right as he threw the ball out of the back of the endzone, he took a huge hit from Browns DT Jordan Elliott that sent him flying.
To make matters worse, Boswell was injured on the play and needed to be helped off the field. He was taken to the locker room and evaluated for a concussion. Not only is that a scary thing for Boswell but it leaves the Steelers in a very bad spot in terms of available kickers.
Surprisingly, Elliott was not flagged on the play, which drew criticism from those around the NFL world.
The Steelers may now have to rely on rookie punter Pressley Harvin for any extra points or field goals. That’s a bad spot to be in, especially if the game comes down to a much-needed kick.
Boswell will not return to the game and it is unlikely he’ll ever want to try a fake field goal pass again. However, it’s not like he hasn’t pulled it off before so maybe he’ll be able to rebound.
As many have pointed out on social media, the way things played out is probably how it would play out if any of us ever tried to step on an NFL field.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.