By Ray Porter Jr. for Urban Media Today
LANDOVER, MD—Two weeks ago, the Washington Commanders needed a late miracle as they were trailing the Chicago Bears with second left in and they got one when QB Jayden Daniel threw the ball up for a hail mary and the ball was tipped into the hands of WR Noah Brown for an incredible 52-yard TD pass and an 18-15 win.
On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers also needed a bit of a miracle as they were trailing the Commanders 27-21 late in the 4th Quarter. Enter Veteran QB Russell Wilson, facing a 3rd and 9, he chose to also throw up the ball and it landed into the hands of newly acquired WR Mike Williams for a 32-yard TD en route to an amazing 28-27 victory over the Commanders in front of Terrible Towel-waving fans at Northwest Stadium.
“It’s a good team win,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “When you’re coming into an environment like this, and you find a way to get it done, not only is it a well-earned victory, but there’s some real growth associated with it. Knowledge of self, individually and collectively, is a component of this thing as we push through this journey. We learned a little bit about ourselves, hopefully in a positive way today.”
In a battle of two of the NFL’s top teams, the Steelers overcame a very good Commanders attack that didn’t blink when the Steelers scored 2 TDs and led 14-10 (TD pass from Wilson to WR George Pickens and TE Pat Freiermuth). They also benefited from a Fake Punt Pass in which All-Pro Special Teamer Miles Killebrew took the snap and threw the ball to wide-open CB James Pierre deep in Steelers territory, but Pierre would drop it and Washington used that as motivation to score their first TD, a Austin Ekeler 1-yard run. In the 3rd quarter, after Wilson’s first interception in over a year, Washington would score again on a RB Jeremy McNichols 1 Yd Run.
Tomlin on the Fake Punt Pass attempt: “But you can’t come in hostile environments versus good people and not be aggressive, aggressively pursue victory. We’re not going to live in our fears. That’s just how we get down. Same thing on a fake punt. That is me. I own that. I’ll do it again. But we didn’t execute it. And so, it was a bad idea.”
But this is when the Steelers refused to blink in the face of adversity as they would go on a nine play, 75 yard drive that ended in a 1-yard TD run by RB Najee Harris (21 Carries, 53 yards). After K Zane Gonzalez’s 2nd FG, the Steelers offense drove down the field on the legs of Jaylen Warren (14 carries, 66 yards), but he was stripped of the ball by Washington S Jeremy Chinn at the 1-yard line. But the Steelers were able to force Washington to punt, setting the stage for their game-winning drive.
After taking the 28-27 lead, the Steelers defense forced a turnover on downs when they kept TE Zach Ertz from crossing the 1st down marker. Then the offense was forced with their own 4th down, but a Washington neutral zone infraction gave the Steelers an automatic First down, allowing Wilson (14/28 for 195 yards, 3 TDs, Int) and the Steelers to let the clock run out for the win.
Daniels finished with passing 17/34 for 202 yards, 113 to WR Terry McLauren. Pickens led the Steelers with 91 yards on 5 receptions. Eckler led Washington with 44 yards on 13 carries and 2 TDs.
On defense, the Steelers sacked Daniels 3 times with DT Cam Heyward getting 2 and newly acquired LB Preston Smith getting 1. The Steelers are now 7-2 and maintain their lead in the AFC North over 7-3 Baltimore, whom they host next Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.
“But our guys fought. They didn’t blink. We got contributions in all three phases,” said Tomin. “We got contributions from old Steelers, like Cam (Heyward) who has been around forever. We got contributions from new Steelers like Mike Williams and Preston (Smith), and we’re just appreciative of all parties involved.”
Notes: Tomlin addressed the injury report: “”We had a lot of bumps and bruises. Some people were able to go back, here are two that did not, Donte Jackson with a hamstring, did not, Alex Highsmith with an ankle, did not. I think everybody else, in some form or fashion, got back in the game.”
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