The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't just miss out on points with a failed fake field goal in the second quarter of a Week 8 game against the Cleveland Browns. The team also lost their reliable kicker Chris Boswell, who was taken to the locker room and eventually ruled out with a concussion.
Boswell, 30, lined up for what appeared to be a 27-yard field goal attempt, but instead was a fake field goal with Boswell looking to pass. After rolling to the right sideline, Boswell lobbed an incomplete pass into the end zone and was blasted out of bounds by Browns defensive lineman Jordan Elliott.
Chris Boswell got ROCKED on a fake field goal attempt pic.twitter.com/H6w3EuArYz
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) October 31, 2021
The impact of Boswell's absence didn't take long to hurt Pittsburgh. After getting the ball back on their own 35-yard line with 21 seconds left in the first half, the Steelers opted to kneel out the clock with the knowledge that they couldn't try a field goal before halftime.
In the third quarter, the Steelers opted to go for a two-point conversion after a touchdown even after a holding penalty made it a 12-yard try. The attempt was unsuccessful and the Browns maintained a 10-9 lead. The ensuing kickoff was taken by punter Pressley Harvin and went out of bounds.
Boswell was a Pro Bowler in 2017 and has made 12 of 13 field goal attempts so far in 2021. His 690 career points with the Steelers rank fourth in franchise history.
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