Steelers: Breaking down the play that saved Pittsburgh's season
The Pittsburgh Steelers approached Sunday with a must-win mentality. With the Bengals returning to health, and the Ravens already atop the division, a loss would have put Pittsburgh at 2-3 going into the bye week, and looking up at everyone else. Instead, they went home victorious, atop the division, and the third seed in the […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers approached Sunday with a must-win mentality.
With the Bengals returning to health, and the Ravens already atop the division, a loss would have put Pittsburgh at 2-3 going into the bye week, and looking up at everyone else.
Instead, they went home victorious, atop the division, and the third seed in the AFC. Here's how it happened defensively:
Big Man Rolling
One thing that was omnipresent on Sunday in Pittsburgh, was the Steelers effort and motor on defense. No play encapsulates that better then this one with Steelers 3-technique Larry Ogunjobi, (who is well over three bills) getting downfield to force the fumble on the running back.
Watt's Up
I said from the jump that Teej needed to have a signature game if Pittsburgh was going to win on Sunday, and as we'll see later, he did.
This rep is a thing of beauty though, especially from a player that is known as more of a power than a finesse rusher.
JPJ Saves The Season
Now, if that headline seems hyperbolic, it's not when you consider the division lead Baltimore would have had, on top of a surging Bengals squad. And this play was the one that did it, when just a few snaps before, Gunner Olszewski coughed up the ball and gave Baltimore the goalline setup to ice the game.
But then, Joey Porter Jr., when he needed to, in his infancy as a Steeler, makes the play of his life with the big guns closing it out:
All Hail Highsmith
Highsmith was paid to close out games, and force fumbles, something he did very well on Sunday. He's proven to be one of the best edge defenders in the league when it comes to forcing fumbles, a number he led the league in last year.
Watt Can't He Do?
The last play of the game and who puts the nail in the Ravens' coffin?
None other than the Raven's reaper himself, T.J. Watt.
His dominance is basically being taken for granted at this point, but we shouldn't, as watching him go to work every game day is like watching an artist paint a masterpiece.
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