Mike Wallace hosted 60 Minutes for years, another Mike Wallace beat the Packers after 60 minutes expired at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh tonight with a 19 yard touchdown catch from Ben Roethlisberger on the game's final play. Jeff Reed knocked through the try after a booth review of the catch for an improbable 37-36 Steelers victory. Roethlisberger passed for 503 yards and three scores, outdueling Aaron Rodgers who passed for 383 yards and three touchdowns, including a 24 yard strike to James Jones with 2:06 remaining to give Green Bay a 36-30 lead. The teams combined for 35 points in a wild 4th quarter and it was Roethlisberger who delivered the final big play facing third and 10 from the Packers 19 with :03 left. Given time to throw as the Packers dropped 8 in coverage, he found Wallace on the left sideline in the end zone who made a leaning catch with Josh Bell in coverage, tumbling out of bounds with posession for the game tying score. It was a disheartening end to the Pack's five game winning streak and put their playoff hopes on hold for another week as Pittsburgh ended a five game losing streak. The 2nd and 4th ranked defenses coming in to the game were roasted for 973 combined yards. Like the Packers a week ago in Chicago, the Steelers scored on their first offensive play. Roethlisberger fired deep to Wallace who got behind Jarrett Bush for a 60 yard touchdown, :42 into the game. The Packers answered quickly as Greg Jennings made a tough catch over the middle, bounced off a defender and raced 83 yards for the score. The Steelers promptly marched 72 yards in 10 plays as Rashard Mendenhall scored on a two yard run to make it 14-7 after the first quarter. Rodgers scrambled for a 14 yard touchdown run, his 4th rushing score of the year to tie the game but Pittsburgh answered with a two minute drive. Heath Miller and Santonio Holmes gained 27 and 33 yards on back to back plays, setting up Mawelde Moore's 10 yard scoring strike with :26 remaining in the half. Pittsburgh extended its lead to 10 as Reed booted a 37 yard field goal midway through the third quarter, setting up the big explosion in the final period. Jermichael Finley snatched an 11 yard fade route to make it a 24-21 game. The Steelers answered with another field goal. Rodgers then covered 62 yards in only 4 snaps, 27 on a fade route to Jordy Nelson and then Ryan Grant broke a draw off left tackle for a 24 yard touchdown putting Green Bay in the the lead for the first time at 28-27. Hines Ward hauled in a 54 yard pass to set up Reed's 43 yard field goal with 3:58 to play and the Steelers up 30-28. Head coach Mike Tomlin then took a huge gamble by trying an onside kick. Ike Taylor recovered but caught the ball after it only traveled 9 yards, the illegal touching penalty gave Green Bay the ball at the Steeler 39. 6 plays later, Rodgers found James Jones wide open on the right sideline for a 24 yard touchdown. Brandon Jackson caught the two point conversion for a 36-30 adavantage with only 2:06 remaining. The Steelers converted a huge 4th and 7 play at their own 22 with Holmes catching a 32 yard pass. A potential game ending interception by Bush was wiped out by an illegal contact penalty against Brandon Chillar. Facing third and 15 at the Steeler 44, Roethlisberger hit Heath Miller for 20 yards over the middle. A 15 yard catch by Miller moved it to the 19 and after burning a final timeout and firing two incompletions, Roethlisberger took the final snap with :03 to play and found Wallace in single coverage against Bell and he made the play. The Packers are now 9-5 on the season and return home to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at Lambeau Field. They'll still need a win and some help to wrap up the NFC Wild Card spot following the stunning loss to the defending Super Bowl champions.
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