NFL Headlines

IN THIS STORY:
play PSD fantasy sports Team Home
Rumors
Roster
play PSD fantasy sports Team Home
Rumors
Roster
Even dependable Miller dropped the ball for the Steelers

"Thought I had seen everything when Jeff Reed missed those two field goals in a loss in Chicago in September. I mean, really. Who on the Steelers' roster is more dependable than Reed?

What's that?

You said Heath Miller?

Yeah, you're right.

I watched Miller turn what should have been an easy catch Sunday into an interception for Kansas City linebacker Andy Studebaker, a huge play in the Chiefs' 27-24 overtime win. Now, I'm certain I have seen everything.

"It happens," Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said on his way out of Arrowhead Stadium. "No one is super human. Although Heath is close."

It's not as if Miller never drops a ball. He had a fairly significantin Denver a few weeks ago before the Steelers pulled away to win. I know my memory isn't what it used to be, but it seems like that never happened more than once a year in the first four seasons of Miller's strong NFL career, a big reason the team gave him a six-year, $35.3 million contract in July. Unfortunately for the Steelers, the play Sunday made it two drops in three games and this one happened at a really lousy time.

Ahead, 17-7, early in the third quarter, the Steelers were driving again when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger found Miller open over the middle on first-and-10 from the Steelers' 48. It's fair to say the 30,000 or so Steelers fans at the game expected Miller to do what he almost always does -- catch the ball and break a tackle or two before three defenders finally bring him down.

It happened that way in the first half when he caught a pass for a 41-yard gain on a play when Ward nearly blocked cornerback Brandon Flowers into next week, then again when he had a catch for 16 yards. And you should have heard those Steelers fans scream, "Heeeeeath!" when he caught a 10-yard touchdown pass to build that 17-7 lead. You would have sworn you were at Heinz Field.

This time, though, Roethlisberger's perfect pass slipped through Miller's hands and bounced off his pads, right to Studebaker. Miller angrily threw him down at the Chiefs' 38. You could almost feel the game turn.

"One of the flukiest plays I've ever seen," Ward said. "Heath, by far, is one of best guys with hands. When that happened, my first reaction was, 'Wow!' I kept saying to myself, 'Wow!' "

Miller was so upset that he didn't sit with his teammates on the bench during the Chiefs' possession that followed. He stood on the sideline with his helmet on, his frustration with himself turning to a sick feeling in his stomach when the Chiefs scored a touchdown to make the score 17-14."


Top NFL Headlines