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SPORTS Tuesday 24 sepTember 2019

Steelers' margin for error vanishes during 0-3 start

By WILL GRAVES ened after halftime he ting turnovers and we were need to have greater "ball STOCK UP
AP Sports Writer found JuJu Smith-Schuster settling for field goals." awareness" after manag- Fitzpatrick was even better
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mason for a 76-yard catch-and- A disparity that highlights ing to create just 15 take- than advertised in his debut
Rudolph's career as an NFL run and a wide-open Dion- Pittsburgh's thin margin for aways in 2018. The Steelers with the Steelers following a
starting quarterback is six tae Johnson for a 38-yard error with Roethlisberger already have seven so far trade with Miami early last
quarters old. strike. out for the year with an el- in 2019. While some of San week.
Yet he knows how it goes. Both throws, however, bow injury. Francisco's turnovers were Fitzpatrick forced a fumble
When things don't go well, came after an ill-advised The Steelers host winless self-inflicted mistakes, two and picked off a pass and
the first order of business is lob across his body that Cincinnati (0-3) next Mon- were on interceptions by in general looked every bit
placing the blame squarely turned into a pick the 49ers day. The winner can keep linebacker T.J. Watt and the hard-hitting and versa-
on your shoulders. tile player Pittsburgh envi-
So Rudolph did after a 24- sioned when it parted with
20 loss to San Francisco a 2020 first-round draft pick
on Sunday dropped the to get him.
Pittsburgh Steelers to 0-3 STOCK DOWN
for the first time since 2013, Tomlin gave wide receiver
even though Pittsburgh's is- Donte Moncrief the week
sues stretch far beyond the off after Moncrief spent
24-year-old's uneven per- his first two games in Pitts-
formance. burgh dropping passes with
"A lot of mistakes," Rudolph alarming regularity. Wheth-
said after completing 14 of er Moncrief returns to the
27 passes for 174 yards with active roster anytime soon
two touchdowns and an will depend on how quickly
interception in his first start he can regain his confi-
while filling in for injured Ben dence and rebuild trust
Roethlisberger. with the coaching staff.
"We can't be that slow-start- INJURED
ing in the first half. I have to Tight end Vance McDon-
give our team and our de- ald left with a shoulder in-
fense more of a chance to jury and did not return. His
put some points up early status for next week is un-
and get ahead with all of certain.
the turnovers they created. KEY NUMBER
They played unbelievable. 6. The number of teams
They did everything coach since 1981 who have start-
asked them through the ed 0-3 and reached the
week in creating turnovers postseason. The Steelers
and flying around. We nearly did it in 2013 after
have to back them up." beginning the season 0-4.
He's half right. The Steelers Pittsburgh rallied to finish 8-8
did force the sloppy 49ers Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) passes as he is pressured by San Francisco and would have made the
into five turnovers. Yet the 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, playoffs if not for a missed
defense also allowed San Calif., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019. field goal by Kansas City's
Francisco to roll up 168 Associated Press Ryan Succop at the end of
yards rushing and couldn't regulation in Week 17 that
protect the lead twice in converted into a touch- some semblance of a flick- newly acquired safety allowed San Diego to claim
the second half after Ru- down. er of hope alive in a divi- Minkah Fitzpatrick. the final wild-card spot.
dolph connected on a pair Running back James Con- sion that's a combined 3-9 WHAT NEEDS HELP NEXT STEPS
of long scores to put Pitts- ner also fumbled deep in through three weeks. James Conner's breakout Having offensive coordina-
burgh in front. Pittsburgh territory late in Asked how he keeps the 2018 season ended with tor Randy Fichtner come up
Rudolph's sluggish start was the fourth quarter, giving team together in the him making the Pro Bowl with a scheme that doesn't
due in large part to jitters San Francisco a short field face of adversity, Tomlin and quietly muting any wait so long to let Rudolph
— he overthrew a handful to go ahead for good. shrugged. concerns about Le'Veon do his thing. Rudolph set
of passes in the first half — "We turned the ball over "We're not into the keep it Bell's absence. Three records at Oklahoma State
and a conservative game twice," Steelers coach Mike together discussions," he games into this season, by leading an Air Raid-type
plan that seemed intent on Tomlin said. "They scored said. "That's not how we're Conner has struggled to attack that allowed Ru-
building his confidence in- two touchdowns in the sec- built. We have a game get anything going. He has dolph to throw the ball ver-
stead of letting him sling it ond half and really that's next week. We'll be ready." just 97 yards rushing and as tically rather than the short-
downfield. the difference in the game. WHAT'S WORKING many fumbles as touch- pass heavy approach used
When the reins finally loos- In the first half, we were get- Pittsburgh stressed the downs. against the 49ers.q