'Impossible' Meltdown: Steelers Win a Crazy One

The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading to Denver. The Cincinnati Bengals are heading to another long offseason after a meltdown as ugly and ill-timed as it was complete. Chris Boswell kicked a 35-yard field goal with 14 seconds remaining as the Steelers somehow pulled out an 18-16 victory in a AFC wild-card game Saturday night. Pittsburgh moved into field goal position after a pair of 15-yard penalties on the Bengals, one on linebacker Vontaze Burfict for a vicious hit on a defenseless Steelers wide receiver, and another on Adam Jones during the argument over the Burfict call. And that's only part of the bizarre finish.

Ben Roethlisberger came off the bench to lead the winning drive after being carted off the field with a right shoulder injury earlier in the second half. It's not even clear whether he'll be able to play next week. What's more, the Bengals appeared to have the game clinched when Burfict intercepted Steelers' backup quarterback Landry Jones late in the game. But on the very next play, the Bengals' Jeremy Hill's fumble gave Pittsburgh one last shot with the ball. "It’s almost impossible to believe," says the game story in the Cincinnati Inquirer. "And even harder to swallow." (More Pittsburgh Steelers stories.)