Rookie Kicker Takes Responsibility After Missed Field Goal Costs Steelers in Preseason Loss
The Steelers had a chance to send their preseason matchup with the Buccaneers into overtime, but instead walked off Acrisure Stadium with a bitter 17-14 defeat. It wasn’t the defense, the quarterback play, or even penalties that defined the night — it was one missed opportunity that became the lasting headline.
Late in the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh lined up for what should have been a routine 43-yard field goal, the kind of kick fans expect to see split the uprights. Instead, the ball sailed wide, silencing the home crowd and sealing the loss. For a young specialist trying to prove himself on one of the league’s most storied franchises, the moment could not have been more painful.
That young player was rookie kicker Ben Sauls, who now finds himself under the harsh glare of both fans and media. While mistakes are part of the game, a missed kick in that situation carried an extra weight — denying the Steelers a chance to extend the contest and test their depth in overtime.
After the game, Sauls did not hide from the moment. “That one’s on me,” he admitted. “I let my teammates down, I let this organization down, and I let the fans down. I know I have to be better. I take full responsibility and I’m sorry. When the game is on the line, my job is to deliver, and I didn’t tonight.”
It’s a harsh lesson for a rookie, but one that could serve as motivation moving forward. Head coach Mike Tomlin declined to single out Sauls publicly, instead pointing to the team’s struggles with execution across the board, including penalties, turnovers, and missed assignments. Still, inside the locker room, teammates rallied around the young kicker, reminding him that preseason is about learning and improving.
For Sauls, however, the sting of that miss will not fade easily. “All I can do is get back to work and make sure that next time, I come through when it matters most,” he added. The Steelers will hope that resolve pays off — because games in the regular season won’t offer second chances.
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