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Late Fumble Costs Steelers a Win, and Maybe More, Against the Saints

JuJu Smith-Schuster of the Steelers lost control of the ball late in the fourth quarter, handing control of the game to New Orleans. Butch Dill/Associated Press

It looked like JuJu Smith-Schuster had made yet another critical catch in a season full of them for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With his team trailing the New Orleans Saints by three points in the final minute, Smith-Schuster, a second-year receiver, made a catch that put his team in field goal position — but the ball popped loose as he was wrapped up by Sheldon Rankins, and the Saints recovered.

The uncharacteristic mistake by Smith-Schuster could scarcely have been more costly.