Ron Cook
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PITTSBURGH — We know the Steelers offense has struggled mightily, especially early in games. It has scored just one touchdown in the first quarter of the first six games and 28 points in the first half. You would be rich if you had a dime every time someone said, “Fire Canada!”
We know the Steelers defense has been less than Steel Curtain-like at times. It ranks 30th in the NFL in yards allowed. It gave up 118 rushing yards in a loss to San Francisco and 451 total yards in a loss to Houston.
We know the opposition has been unusually charitable with bad luck, bad decisions and bad plays. Browns great Nick Chubb went down with a knee injury early in the second quarter. Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who has lost six of the past seven games against Mike Tomlin, passed up two field goals that would have gone a long way toward winning the game. Ravens receivers dropped three touchdown passes. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson threw a horrible interception and lost a fumble. Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw three horrible interceptions. Rams kicker Brett Maher missed two field goals and an extra point.
But, bottom line, we know the Steelers are 4-2 with consecutive home games against Jacksonville, Tennessee and Green Bay next. They have road wins at Las Vegas and Los Angeles against the Rams. They are 2-0 in the AFC North with home wins against Cleveland and Baltimore.
A lot has gone right.
A lot of good things have happened.
How about a Top-10 list of memorable, game-changing, even game-winning plays?
Surprisingly, not all of them involve T.J. Watt.
10. Highsmith to the house
The Steelers were coming off a 30-7 embarrassment against the 49ers in the opener when the Browns came to town. On the game’s first play, Alex Highsmith picked off a twice-deflected pass by Deshaun Watson and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. There is no better way to start a game.
9. Did Ogunjobi save the day?
The Ravens led 10-0 late in the first half and were driving for more when Jackson completed a 10-yard pass to running back Justice Hill for a first down at the Baltimore 43. But Larry Ogunjobi didn’t give up on the play, lumbering downfield to punch the ball out of Hill’s hands for a fumble that led to a Steelers field goal.
8. Miles Killebrew does Miles Killebrew things
His fourth-quarter block of a punt by the Ravens’ Jordan Stout led to a safety, cut the Baltimore lead to 10-5 and turned the game the Steelers’ way. It was Killebrew’s fourth blocked punt in four seasons.
7. Welcome back, Diontae Johnson
After missing four games because of a hamstring injury in the opener, Johnson returned in the 24-17 win against the Rams on Sunday and made a big impact with five catches for 79 yards. None were bigger than his 39-yard reception on a third-and-8 play early in the fourth quarter.
That pass to Johnson was the highlight of Kenny Pickett’s terrific fourth quarter. He completed 7 of 7 passes for 138 yards, led two touchdown drives for his fifth fourth-quarter comeback and helped the offense run out the final 5:28 of the game.
Fox analyst Terry Bradshaw gushed about Pickett after the game:
“Pickett doesn’t throw for a lot of touchdowns — yet. In time, he will. But he’s the perfect quarterback for this team. Very selfless-type human being. He doesn’t mind handing the ball off. He’s great in the clutch, great under pressure. We saw that again today.”
6. Pickett to Austin III for 7
Three plays after the Raiders took a 7-0 lead with a long touchdown pass, Pickett threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III. Talk about the right answer. The Raiders never really recovered.
5. Pickett to Pickens for 7
Pickett took a shot from Browns defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson to complete a 71-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens. The big play gave the Steelers a 16-11 lead.
4. Porter Jr. makes his old man proud
The Ravens were about to add to their 10-8 lead with little more than 4 minutes left when Joey Porter Jr. picked off Jackson’s poorly thrown pass for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the end zone.
“Earlier in the week, Coach T said, ‘Get a pick and hand [the ball] to me on the sideline.’ That’s exactly what I did,” a thrilled Porter Jr. said.
I’m guessing Tomlin gave the ball back to the kid after the game to give to his dad, Steelers great Joey Porter Sr.
3. Finally, a Watt mention
The Steelers trailed the Rams, 9-3, at halftime and were doing absolutely nothing offensively. But on the first play of the third quarter, Watt picked off a pass by quarterback Matthew Stafford and returned it 24 yards to the Rams’ 7 to set up an easy touchdown.
“It sparked us,” Pickett said. “He does what he does. He always says it takes just one play to spark it. The majority of the time, it’s him making the plays. Hell of a leader. Hell of a player. He got us going.”
The Steelers are 63-28-2 when Watt plays, 1-10 when he doesn’t.
2. Let’s stick with Watt
Is the man always around the ball or what?
Highsmith finished the Cleveland game the way he started it — with a big play. His strip sack of Watson led to Watt’s fumble recovery and 16-yard return for a touchdown with 6:58 left. The Browns, not to mention all of Cleveland, couldn’t believe it, seeing their 22-19 lead turn into a 26-22 loss.
Does it get any better than beating the Browns?
Well, beating the Ravens maybe …
1. Pickett to Pickens for 7 again
Not to make Bradshaw a liar about those Pickett touchdown passes …
Did Pickett change the play call at the line when he saw Ravens All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey in single coverage on Pickens? Did he just change the protection? Does it matter? Pickett’s 41-yard touchdown pass to Pickens was the difference in the 17-10 win.
“Big-time player making big-time plays in those moments,” Pickett said, giving all the credit to Pickens, who finished with six catches for a career-best 130 yards.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure there will be a better, more timely, more satisfying play all season.
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