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From the Press Room: Steelers at Rams

Don't blink: Coach Mike Tomlin said it best about his team following the Steelers 24-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.

"They don't blink," said Tomlin. "They cut their eyelids off, and they go at it. Like I told them, it's not a compliment. It's required. I'm just acknowledging it.

"We better be prepared to fight every time we step into the stadium because that's what the National Football League is about."

In a game where the Steelers came out slow and the lead continually changed, the Steelers never did blink as they pulled out the win, with sparks coming on both sides of the ball.

Linebacker T.J. Watt came up with a huge interception that led to a Kenny Pickett one-yard touchdown run. George Pickens had five receptions for 107 yards. Diontae Johnson returned to the lineup and had five receptions for 79 yards. And Pickett completed 17 passes for 230 yards while protecting the ball all day.

"It's a fight," said Tomlin. "It always is a fight. Sometimes it's man versus himself. Sometimes it's man versus opponent. I thought we shot ourselves in the foot some on possession down and play on both sides of the ball. We've got to be more successful on possession downs if you want more fluidity in the engineering of victory. It wasn't enough fluidity probably the first two and a half quarters on either side.

"I think on defense we lost two third-and-11s in the first half. And whether or not it produces points, there's a field position component and a time of possession component of it. That's why it was uneven and uncomfortable at times from our perspective."

It was the fight back from the slow start that Tomlin praised.

"I appreciate the fight that the guys displayed as they got that don't blink mentality," said Tomlin.

The team came close to hurting themselves with taunting penalties against Pickens and Johnson, something Tomlin said they need to learn from.

"Obviously, we got to clean up some things from a management of our emotions, but I would much rather say whoa, than sic 'em," said Tomlin. "We got some guys that are competitors. They just got to compete in the appropriate and mature and professional way. We'll use it as a learning experience.

"It's good to learn while sitting at 4-2 as opposed to 3-3."

Steelers Nation turns out: Once again, Steelers Nation turned a road game into a home atmosphere, with Terrible Towels and 'Here We Go, Steelers' chants taking over SoFi Stadium.

"We appreciate the support that we get from Steelers Nation," said Tomlin. "We do not take it for granted. But at the same time we love to entertain them. They were in the building today and we're thankful for that."

The defense was constantly signaling for the crowd to make more noise, forcing the Rams offense to go to the silent count in their own home.

"Steelers Nation is incredible," said linebacker T.J. Watt. "They've been incredible all season long. And I want them to understand how important that is, especially for us on defense. Anytime you can get offense going to a silent count, it helps us out tremendously."

Among those joining the black and gold faithful were former Steelers Troy Polamalu, James Farrior and Joe Haden.

"It was just great to see some Steelers alumni and have their support," said Tomlin. "Troy, James Farrior, Joe Haden. Just warms my heart to see those guys. Thankful for their support and attendance."

Lights out today: Their longest play of the game, the 39-yard, catch-and-run, third-and-8 conversion from quarterback Kenny Pickett to wide receiver Diontae Johnson on the first play of the fourth quarter, the play that sparked the offense to a fourth-quarter eruption and the Steelers to a 24-17, come-from-behind victory over the Rams was part design and part desire.

"It was both," Pickett maintained. "They were in man (-to-man coverage). That was a really good route for him. He's a great route runner, good separation, just wanted to give him a chance to convert on third down.

"It was great to have him back."

Johnson played on Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium for the first time since the Steelers' regular-season opener on Sept. 10 against San Francisco.

He finished with five catches for 79 yards on six targets.

Fellow wide receiver George Pickens had five receptions for 107 yards on eight targets.

The 39-yard hookup between Pickett and Johnson got the Steelers to the Rams' 18-yard line.

Two plays later they were in the end zone and the game was ultimately tied at 17-17.

The Steelers' next possession produced a 10-play, 80-yard drive in 5:16 for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown.

The effect on the offense of Johnson's return was obvious, especially in the fourth quarter.

"You can't double (-cover) George as much as you like, I think that's what we saw today," Pickett said. "He was a lot more singled up, giving him chances on slants and down the field, moved him inside in that four-minute (drive at the end of the game) and got him down the seem.

"Diontae is doing his thing with his route running and his run after catch was huge today. He should have had more, we had another penalty that got called back.

"Both those guys played lights out today."

Johnson had a 19-yard, catch-and-run, third-down conversion to the Rams' 8 nullified by an illegal block penalty against Pickens on the last play of the first quarter.

The Pickens catch Pickett referenced on the Steelers' game-sealing drive was good for 31 yards and a fresh set of downs on third-and-3 with 4:03 left in regulation.

The Steelers' three possessions in the fourth quarter resulted in two touchdowns and three clock-killing kneel-downs by Pickett.

They registered 11 first downs and held the ball for 11:55 of the final 15 minutes.

"Playing the type of football we want to play," Pickett assessed. "That's what we've been working towards. I think the run game balanced the pass game really well. Everything that we've been working towards, you started to see it in that fourth quarter.

"It was good to see."

It was also potentially a significant step forward.

The Steelers scored three offensive touchdowns in a game for the first time this season.

They did so by scoring their first three rushing touchdowns of the season.

"The sky's the limit if we work and put it together," Pickett added. "I'm not gonna get into expectations on what I think that we should do or could do, but we're on our way there.

"So that's good news."

Game changer: Another week, another game changing play by linebacker T.J. Watt.

With the Rams holding a 9-3 lead and getting the ball to start the third quarter with momentum in their favor, Watt came through with a splash play that changed the tone of the game.

On the Rams first offensive play of the third quarter, Watt intercepted Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford at the 31-yard line and returned it 24 yards to the Rams seven-yard line.

Three plays later quarterback Kenny Pickett took it in for a one-yard touchdown run to give the Steelers a 10-9 lead and provide an injection of energy on both sides of the ball.

"Just eyes on the quarterback," said Watt of making the play. "Able to see him kind of work his way back to my side of the field and was able to just jump in front and make a play on the ball."

Watt's play created a spark that seemed to infuse the entire team.

"We don't care where the spark comes from," said Watt. "We just want to get that spark, so it allows us to get going. We don't want to be that team that starts games slow, starts second halves slow. It's important to come out strong and hopefully shut down some things early so that you don't see them again later in the game."

Bringing you the action: For fans who don't want to miss any of the action, NFL+ is here, which means you can now watch the Steelers live and on the go! Watch live local and primetime regular season games on mobile, plus NFL RedZone, NFL Network, live audio and more - all in one place. Start your free trial today here.

Game action photos from the Steelers' Week 7 game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium

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