The Pittsburgh Steelers went on the road to face the Indianapolis Colts as favorites in Week 4, but quickly found themselves trailing 17-0. Despite the rough start, they mounted a comeback and had a chance to win or tie the game on their final drive of the fourth quarter.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Zach Frazier warms up prior to his first preseason start against the Buffalo Bills.
Down 27-24 with 1:43 left on the clock and a fresh set of downs, the Steelers had the ball at the 42-yard line. Center Zach Frazier snapped the ball to quarterback Justin Fields, but Fields wasn’t ready for it, and the ball struck him in the helmet. Although Fields recovered the fumble, the play resulted in a 12-yard loss. On the next play, Fields connected with Najee Harris for an 11-yard gain, but Harris failed to get out of bounds. With time ticking down and no timeout from Head Coach Mike Tomlin, Fields' final pass fell incomplete, sealing the Steelers' loss.
Steeler Nation is left to wonder what might have been if not for the botched snap. The miscommunication highlights a recurring issue with the center-quarterback cadence. After the game, former Steelers offensive lineman and two-time Super Bowl champion, Trai Essex took to social media, placing some blame on Frazier, but reminding fans that even the greats have their struggles.
"Y’all remember when our All-Pro future Hall of Fame center snapped it into the end zone vs the Browns in the playoffs? Yeah, it sucks, but it happens, even to the great ones. Y’all better get off Zach Frazier’s back! He’s been an absolute godsend for us. He f’d up. Be mad. Be upset. But y’all better be in his corner because we absolutely need him. Pick him up, because I already know he is beating himself up enough about it."
Essex pointed to one of the all-time great Steelers centers, Maurkice Pouncey, who had a costly bad snap in a pivotal playoff game against the Cleveland Browns.
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Steelers' Maurkice Pouncey gets ready to snap the ball to Ben Roethlisberger during a game against the Cleveland Browns.
By referencing Pouncey's mistake, Essex aimed to show that fans were overreacting to Frazier’s minor miscue. However, after reviewing more game tape, Essex discovered that Frazier had actually done his job correctly and wasn’t at fault for the botched play.
"Upon further review, Zach Frazier did exactly what he was supposed to do. He has nothing to apologize for."
The cadence has been an ongoing issue for the Steelers throughout the preseason and their first three wins of the season. Unfortunately, it became a problem at the most crucial moment of the game, contributing to a tough loss for Pittsburgh.
When these bad snaps occur, it’s often difficult to determine who’s at fault. In the postgame interview, Fields took responsibility, saying he should have been ready for the snap when he lifted his leg.
Steelers' Zach Frazier Snapped The Ball When Mason McCormick Tapped Him
Mason McCormick's role seems to involve tapping Frazier when Fields signals for the snap, and that’s exactly what happened. After reviewing the film, Essex noticed that McCormick tapped Frazier immediately after seeing Fields lift his leg, leading Essex to conclude that Frazier wasn’t at fault and had done his job correctly.
Kyle Hess / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Zach Frazier during his NFL debut against the Atlanta Falcons.
Regardless, this cadence issue needs to be addressed. While it’s not guaranteed the Steelers would have won or tied the game without the mistake, Pittsburgh had momentum and was driving.
Fans were confident with the time remaining and the team’s position on the field. The botched snap ultimately cost them a critical opportunity, but not everyone believes Frazier is to blame. Still, the miscommunication needs to be fixed, as it has occurred multiple times this season and just cost the Steelers a big chance.
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