The Pittsburgh Steelers almost made a miraculous comeback. But the only thing they call “almost” comebacks are losses. Such was Pittsburgh’s fate with a 13-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns Sunday, one that prevented a division win and could cost the Steelers their playoff hopes.

Pittsburgh put three final throws in the end zone. All three fell incomplete. Let’s take a look at all three and what went wrong to leave the Steelers 7 yards shy of the end zone.

After a short completion to WR Adam Thielen on 1st and goal, QB Aaron Rodgers took his chances into the end zone. Pittsburgh came out in empty with RB Kenneth Gainwell and TE Jonnu Smith as “chippers” against the Browns’ defensive ends.

That puts only three players into the pattern against man coverage. Marquez Valdez-Scantling is one-on-one against Pro Bowl CB Denzel Ward. Rodgers looks left initially before coming back to his right.

Valdes-Scantling pivots his route to the outside against Ward. Rodgers anticipates him continuing his route inside. The two aren’t on the same page and Ward nearly picks it. A look from the live and replay views.

Third and goal. Same empty set with only one chipper, Gainwell getting a piece of DE Myles Garrett. Cleveland again playing man coverage. Valdes-Scantling gets Ward to open his hips to the sideline, Ward with initial inside leverage as Valdes-Scantling stems outside.

That opens up space back to the inside and Rodgers wants MVS to cross Ward’s face. Front shoulder instead of back shoulder. But Valdes-Scantling never stems back inside and the ball falls harmlessly incomplete.

Above, notice Adam Thielen on the nod route that looked open. But the ball is out by then and Rodgers’ thought process is understandable.

Last play. Fourth down. Empty again. And again, Gainwell the chipper against Garrett. Rodgers looks over the middle before targeting Valdes-Scantling, again working on Ward.

There’s contact and quarterback and receiver thought it should’ve been pass interference. But the refs hold their whistles and the fade ball, which Arthur Smith is on record saying he doesn’t like, ends the game.

At the bottom, Gainwell chips out and appears open underneath. It’ll rely on YAC and trust in Gainwell to take it 7 yards into the end zone and there’s a chance the Browns squeeze before Gainwell can cross the goal line.

But if you could have this rep back and understanding the benefit of hindsight, it might be the better options.

Three-straight throws to Valdes-Scantling. Two miscommunications. One failed contested play. All against a top-tier cornerback who mocked the Steelers’ game plan after the fact.

The frustrating part is Pittsburgh failing to devise any interesting man beaters in the game’s biggest moments. Lots of isolation football against man coverage that the Steelers knew they were going to get.

It all led to a long bus ride back to Pittsburgh and the season on the line next weekend against Baltimore.