Slumping Pittsburgh Steelers need to be 'accountable'

PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger isn't used to this.

Not winning a big second-half-of-the-season game that could prove pivotal to the Pittsburgh Steelers' playoff chances. Not making the key play to win down the stretch.

Not winning, period.

The Steelers did everything to beat the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, surpassing the offense's weekly goal of 30 points and getting huge statistical games from Roethlisberger (408 yards passing), Antonio Brown (14 catches for 154 yards) and Le'Veon Bell (134 yards rushing and receiving, two touchdowns).

But the Steelers (4-5) didn't win -- losing 35-30 on rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott's 32-yard touchdown run up the gut with nine seconds remaining -- and it almost seems like they've forgotten how to win. They've lost four in a row for only the third time in coach Mike Tomlin's 10 seasons, and this is only the third time in Roethlisberger's 13 seasons they've been under .500 during the second half of the season.

The previous two times it happened, the Steelers missed the playoffs.

No wonder postgame comments included defensive end Cam Heyward's "unacceptable" and "just sick" and safety Mike Mitchell's "devastated."

There are plenty of games remaining to get their season straightened out, even with four of their next five on the road, and Roethlisberger knows exactly what they need.

More discipline, and more accountability for their on-field play, and on every play.

"(We) have to be. (We) have no choice. They are a great football team. Like I said, we are undisciplined and not accountable," Roethlisberger said. "That's why they are one of the best in the business -- and we're not right now."

The Steelers' string of losses -- to the Dolphins, Patriots, Ravens and Cowboys -- was unacceptable given their 4-1 start, and all those preseason predictions that they were one of the Super Bowl favorites.

"I didn't think leadership was an issue. We just have to make plays and be accountable and be disciplined," Roethlisberger said. "And we have to do it quick."

Especially since they have two games in five days next week, in Cleveland on Sunday and then at Indianapolis on Thanksgiving.

The Steelers are playing a number of younger players, and their inexperience keeps showing up. Rookie cornerback Sean Davis, for example, was flagged for a critical 15-yard facemask penalty the play before Elliott's game-winning touchdown run.

"We obviously are making costly mistakes, and they hurt us. We came up short. We need some more detail and we're going to keep falling short until we get that," Bell said.

The Steelers haven't had a five-game losing streak under Tomlin.

"We definitely have the guys in this locker room to definitely turn it around. We just have to find ways how to do it," linebacker Ryan Shazier said. "If we have to practice harder, or do whatever we need to do, we have to find a way to win and find a way to get to the playoffs. We're a good enough team to win the Super Bowl, but lately we haven't been playing like it. We just have to find a way to do it."

They might want to hurry.