PITTSBURGH _ The Steelers committed five turnovers, four on interceptions from quarterback Devlin Hodges, and lost to the Buffalo Bills, 17-10, on Sunday night at Heinz Field, ending their three-game winning streak.
Despite the loss, the Steelers remain the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoffs with an 8-6 record because they have a better conference record than the Tennessee Titans (8-6). The Bills improved to 10-4 and remain the No. 5 seed in the AFC heading to a showdown in New England with the first-place Patriots.
It was the final home game for the Steelers, who finish the regular season at the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens.
The Steelers had two chances to tie the game in the final two minutes, but each time Hodges threw interceptions in the end zone.
Steelers running back James Conner practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, on the South Side.
The first came when his fourth-down pass for receiver Deon Cain in the end zone was intercepted by safety Jordan Poyer with 1:54 remaining. He was intercepted again with 14 seconds remaining when his second-down pass for James Washington was picked off in the end zone by cornerback Levi Wallace.
The Steelers offense struggled again, scoring just one touchdown for the sixth time in the last seven games. The only score came on an 11-yard pass from Hodges to running back James Conner to start the third quarter.
The Bills took a 17-10 lead with 7:55 remaining when quarterback Josh Allen hit tight end Tyler Kroft with a 14-yard touchdown behind safety Terrell Edmunds on third-and-9. The six-play, 70-yard drive was set up when Allen connected on a 40-yard pass with wide receiver John Brown against cornerback Steve Nelson on the first play of the series.
The Steelers held a 10-7 lead on the Bills after three quarters, but the Bills tied the game early in the fourth quarter after a second interception and 49-yard return by cornerback Tre'Davious White to the Steelers 18.
After the Bills got a first down at the Steelers 8 on a 2-yard run by Allen on third down, the Steelers defense came up with three consecutive stops for negative yards to force a 36-yard field by Stephen Hauschka with 12:23 remaining.
The Steelers took a 10-7 lead by doing something that has become a habit _ scoring on the opening possession of the second half.
Conner, who had missed five of the previous six games with a shoulder injury, scored on a 11-yard pass from Hodges with 11:18 remaining in the quarter, capping a seven-play, 69-yard drive that started with a 31-yard pass from Hodges to rookie receiver Diontae Johnson to the Bills 38.
Conner, who started the game with a 15-yard run, had a 17-yard run on first down to the Bills 10 to set up his touchdown.
The Steelers trailed the Bills, 7-3, at halftime but blew a good scoring opportunity near the end of the quarter.
The Steelers looked as though they might have a chance to take the lead, at the very least cut the lead, when Nelson picked off a pass that deflected off the hands of receiver Cole Beasley and returned the interception 33 yards to the Bills 20. It was Nelson's first interception of the season.
After a facemask penalty against Bills cornerback Kevin Johnson moved the ball to the 10 on first down, Conner lined in the wildcat and had a bad exchange on a handoff to Diontae Johnson. Defensive end Trent Murphy forced a fumble and Poyer recovered at the 9 with 1:53 remaining, killing the opportunity.
The Bills took a 7-0 lead two plays into the second quarter when Allen scored on a 1-yard run. The touchdown came one play after running back Devin Singletary ran 14 yards to the Steelers 1.
The Bills took advantage of good field position on the nine-play scoring drive after a 22-yard punt by Jordan Berry gave them possession at the Steelers 40. And, on fourth-and-6 from the 36, Allen threw a 10-yard pass to Brown to keep alive the drive.
The Steelers came right back on the ensuing possession to cut the lead to 7-3 on a 49-yard field goal by Chris Boswell, his 27th of the season. And they wasted little time getting in scoring position when Hodges hit Washington with a 34-yard completion to the Bills 38 on the first play of the drive. It was Washington's fifth catch of at least 30 yards in the past four games.
