End of an era? Steelers facing big questions after loss

Ben Roethlisberger and Maurkice Pouncey sat on bench, ir 11th season toger over. ir future uncertain. ir pain obvious.

end of 2020 season wasn't supposed to come so quickly. Yet it barreled down on Pittsburgh Steelers from first snap of a 48-37 wild-card loss to Cleveland on Sunday night, one that Pouncey sent sailing over Roethlisberger's head and into end zone. Cleveland's Karl Joseph fell on it for a touchdown.

mistakes, one Steelers had eir avoided or survived during ir 11-0 start, rapidly piled up. One Roethlisberger interception became two. n three. n eventually, four. A seven-point deficit quickly ballooned to 28. And optimism of an unbeaten run through vember faded into reality of ar playoff cameo in January.

Three years ago, Jaguars came into Heinz Field and stunned AFC's second seed. This time, it was resurgent Browns — making ir first postseason appearance in 18 years — who provided unexpected whipping. Cleveland players ran off turf shouting “Same Old Browns” kwing y looked anything but while 38-year-old Roethlisberger and 31-year-old Pouncey pondered what comes next.

“I hated that it ended way it did," Roethlisberger said. "I wanted to win it for him.”

Asked to clarify what was ending, Roethlisberger stressed it was just season. Maybe, but re's a very real chance that a major shift is on way for a franchise that typically does little more than tweak.

“We are in uncharted territory, to say least,” defensive end Cam Heyward said. "Changes have to be made.”

Steelers (12-5) hoped to put off tough questions about what direction club will head in 2021 for at least a month. Instead, y're here following a historic playoff meltdown. Cleveland's 48 points were most ever allowed by Steelers in postseason. defense that led NFL in sacks for a fourth straight year and has a regular-season sack streak that dates back to 2016 failed to take Mayfield down once.

“It was all terrible out re,” Heyward said.

offense that sputtered so much during second half of year didn't spring to life until Steelers trailed by 28. By n it was too late. closest Pittsburgh got to making it competitive came on first play of fourth quarter. Facing fourth-and-1 at Pittsburgh 46 and down just 35-23, head coach Mike Tomlin opted to punt.

“I wanted to pin m down and maybe provide a short field for ir offense,” Tomlin said. "I just wanted to keep momentum going in terms of field positioning.”

Like just about everything else Steelers tried at a sparse Heinz Field, it didn't work. Jordan Berry's kick hit at 2 and trickled into end zone. Mayfield quickly guided Browns 80 yards and deficit was back up to 19. Roethlisberger's final pick with 3:16 remaining sealed it.

“Obviously you can’t turn ball over and it kills your team, kills your chances,” Roethlisberger said.

question is what comes next? Roethlisberger set an NFL playoff record by completing 47 passes. His 501 yards were second-most ever in postseason. A year removed from right elbow surgery, he led Steelers to an AFC rth title and threw it over 600 times.

Tomlin believes Roethlisberger can still play at a high level. So does only constant he's had in his 14 seasons on job. list of factors Roethlisberger will take into account while trying to decide wher to return next spring isn't short.

“A lot of praying, a lot of talking,” Roethlisberger said. "I still have a year left on my contract. I hope Steelers want me back if that’s way we go.”

ecomics, however, are tricky. Roethlisberger has a cap hit of over $41 million next year, nearly a quarter of entire salary cap. teams Steelers are competing with in AFC all have quarterbacks who are far younger and — with exception of Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes — far cheaper. That flexibility gives m chances to spend money elsewhere. Steelers might t have that luxury.

Outside linebacker Bud Dupree, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, running back James Conner and left tackle Al Villanueva are all impending free nts, among ors. holes on roster Pittsburgh will have to fill next season could be many wher Roethlisberger returns or t.

It was a discussion y hoped to put off for as long as possible. As Roethlisberger and Pouncey got up, slowly walked off field and into tunnel, that discussion is w here.

“It’s tough to lose guys in our locker room who have done great things on and off field,” Heyward said. “And you kw, that unkwn just kills me. To squander an opportunity like that and to kw we didn’t play our brand of football.”

Im credits: AP