MIAMI — Ben Roethlisberger and several other players waged an end-zone scrum for a loose football so frantic, the officials were unable to determine a winner.
That gave the game to the Steelers.
A video review determined Roethlis-berger’s late touchdown was instead a fumble. But because it was unclear who recovered, Pittsburgh kept the ball and kicked the winning field goal on the next play to beat the Miami Dolphins 23-22 on Sunday.
“Just a bizarre kind of play. You hate to win it that way, but you’ll take a win,” Roethlisberger said.
Said Miami linebacker Channing Crowder: “The refs called a wonderful game — for the Steelers.”
With Pittsburgh trailing 22-20 and facing third-and-goal at the 2, Roethlisberger fumbled as he dived across the goal line on a quarterback draw. The play was ruled a touchdown as both teams scrambled for the ball.
After a review, referee Gene Steratore announced Roethlisberger fumbled before scoring. But Steratore said replays were inconclusive regarding which team recovered, and the Steelers were awarded possession at the half-yard line, allowing Jeff Reed to kick an 18-yard field goal with 2:26 left.
“I have to have clear video evidence of the team recovering the fumble,” Steratore said after the game. “It is a pile of bodies in there, and you don’t have a clear recovery.”
Several Dolphins argued that Miami linebacker Ikaika Alama-Francis recovered.
Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin was still shaking his head about the narrow escape when he met with reporters afterward.
“Make it quick,” he said. “We’ve got the buses warming up.”
AFC North leader Pittsburgh improved to 5-1 and remained unbeaten on the road. The Steelers won despite losing three starters to injuries: linebacker LaMarr Woodley (hamstring), defensive end Aaron Smith (arm) and offensive tackle Flozell Adams (ankle).
Miami fell to 3-3, with all of the defeats at home and all of the wins on the road.
Roethlisberger, playing his second game since returning from his NFL-ordered suspension, finished 19-of-27 for 302 yards and two scores. But the Dolphins’ point total was the highest against stingy Pittsburgh this year.
The game was the first for the league’s top-ranked scoring defense since the NFL crackdown on illegal hits, a move precipitated in part by a helmet hit from Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison, who drew a $75,000 fine.
