Ben Roethlisberger confirms Maurkice Pouncey penalty proved costly in Steelers loss

Head Coach Mike Tomlin hinted after the Pittsburgh Steelers loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24 that he actually had confidence in the plays the team called in their final series resulting in a 29-yard Brad Wing punt.

Ben Roethlisberger, on his weekly radio show with 93.7 The Fan, echoed that sentiment.

When asked if the play dialed up when his center, Maurkice Pouncey, was called for a false start would have been a first down, Ben said it would have been a "significant gain," indicating the play would have worked perfectly against the defense the Buccaneers had deployed at the time.

Rather than running the play, though, the Steelers were penalized for five yards, following that up with a short pass to Markus Wheaton that went for eight yards. Then, on 3rd-and-5, Le'Veon Bell was dropped for a two-yard loss.

Enter Brad Wing with a short punt and the change of possession that would ultimately lead to a Steelers' loss.

This will be one of many "what if" scenarios the Steelers and their fan base will be discussing for weeks because the loss to the previously winless Buccaneers very well might haunt this team moving forward.