LANDOVER, MD - Veteran quarterbacks make a difference.
Sunday's 28-27 come-from-behind victory by the Steelers over the Commanders was the 40th game-winning drive for quarterback Russell Wilson and 32nd fourth-quarter comeback of his career.
The fourth-quarter comeback moves Wilson past John Elway into ninth place by himself on the NFL's all-time list. Next up is Dan Marino at 33.
Yes, both of those guys are among the best to ever play quarterback and are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"You have got to love clutch moments," said Wilson of throwing his game-winning touchdown pass to Mike Williams with 2:22 remaining in the game, leading the Steelers back from a 10-point second-half deficit.
You do. But you also have to flourish in them. And Wilson has done that over the course of his 13-year NFL career.
And that's one of the things that attracted the Steelers to him in free agency this season.
To be clear, you've got to know that clutch moments can go the other way. But in this instance, Wilson knew he was going to make the play.
Williams, acquired by the Steelers earlier in the week via a trade with the Jets, had played just a handful of snaps. But Calvin Austin III had suffered an injury just a couple of minutes earlier while catching an 11-yard pass.
Trailing 27-21, the Steelers called timeout on third-and-9 from the Washington 32. And Wilson told Williams he wanted him to run a stutter-and-go route down the sideline that Austin had run all week in practice and they had attempted earlier in the game.
How many times this week did Williams practice that route during the week with Wilson?
"None. I didn't run it one time," Williams said.
But Wilson wanted that matchup on the outside with Washington cornerback Benjamin St.-Juste, and he wanted Williams running it.
"He said, 'I want you to run this route,'" Williams said. "I think Calvin went out. He was running that route all week. He actually ran it earlier in the game. It was for him. He was out, so I went in there and made a play."
Wilson took the shotgun snap, dropped back a couple of more steps and lofted the ball to the front corner of the end zone, trusting Williams to win.
"It was a big-time catch by Mike," said Wilson. "I just tried to give him a chance, you know, and let him do his thing. The guy had 1000-yard seasons over his career. A guy whose made plays, a guy who's faced adversity. You love it when guys face adversity and they come through on the other end of it."
Wilson did that on Sunday, as well.
It wasn't his best game. Some of the big-time deep throws he had made in his first two starts with the Steelers fell incomplete in this game.
He finished just 14 of 28 for 195 yards. But he also threw three touchdown passes with an interception on third down that was essentially an arm punt.
And the touchdown might not have even been his best play of the game.
That came after the Steelers got a fourth-down stop on the Commanders with 1:28 remaining in the game at the Pittsburgh 42.
Facing fourth-and-1, the Steelers could have punted the ball back to Washington – which had used its timeouts to stop the clock – with 1:08 remaining.
The Steelers lined up as if they were going to run a quarterback sneak. And Wilson used cadence to get rookie defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton to jump offsides.
Game. Set. Match.
"In the huddle, we didn't have a play called," said center Zach Frazier. "All we were doing was breaking the huddle and trying to sell like we were going to sneak it. We broke the huddle and sprinted to the ball and Russ got them with the hard count."
Wilson reacted like a kid who had just won his ticket to the Willy Wonka chocolate factory, doing a little dance.
For Wilson, now 3-0 as the Steelers' starter, he's having fun playing the game. And winning. He's now 12-2 in his career when facing a rookie quarterback as he did in this game.
And the Steelers are now 7-2 heading into a monumental AFC North showdown next Sunday against the Ravens (6-3).
"Excellence is built daily," Wilson said. "It's the obsession with the process. It's obsession with the adversity too. Knowing that you're going to come out on the other end of it. And I think so many people, they check out when it gets a little bit hard and tough (situations) and obstacles come your way. I think great players, the great organizations and the great teams are able to overcome obstacles and just trust the process."
It helps when you're a veteran player, especially a quarterback, who has been through them all.
You can't be afraid to fail in big situations because the other side of it is just so darn sweet.
• The Steelers did an outstanding job of keeping Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels from beating them with his legs.
Daniels ran the ball three times for 5 yards, easily his fewest rushing yards of the season. And Daniels was knocked out of a game earlier this season against Carolina in a game in which he attempted just two passes before leaving.
"We just rushed. We didn't give rushing lanes for him when he did drop back to pass," said outside linebacker Preston Smith, who, like Williams, was acquired earlier this week via trade. "We had pressure on him and didn't allow him to have an escape lane."
The stats will show that neither T.J. Watt nor Alex Highsmith had a tackle in this game. But they combined for three quarterback hits and a pass breakup.
The reason the Steelers' two edge rushers weren't involved in a tackle is because they were responsible for Daniels in the running game. And they were key components of not allowing him to run.
The Commanders utilize a lot of read-options. And the key to whether the quarterback hands the ball to the running back or keeps it himself is based on what the defensive ends are doing.
Watt and Highsmith stayed disciplined and forced Daniels to hand the ball to the running back nearly every time.
• Unfortunately for the Steelers, Highsmith was injured late in the game pressuring Daniels on a screen. Daniels eventually threw the ball into the dirt as Highsmith closed on him, and Highsmith stepped on the quarterback's foot as he went by.
In that regard, the Steelers' acquisition of Smith, who did have three tackles and a sack in this game, looks like a stroke of genius.
You don't want to lose a player as impactful as Highsmith. But having someone to bring off the bench such as Smith isn't just a luxury. It's now a necessity.
The Steelers should get Nick Herbig, who has missed the past few games with a hamstring injury, back this week. And they have Smith, as well.
And the 10-year veteran was impressed with what he saw from his new teammates Sunday.
"These dudes are as relentless as hell," Smith said. "I love the dog mentality these guys have. It's a great mindset. Everybody feels like they're a big dog and they try to play like it. When you get a great group of guys like that, you get great results."
Game action photos from the Steelers' Week 10 game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14), Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson (11) and Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
The offense huddles during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Miles Killebrew (28) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. (31) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick (66), Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54), Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (73), Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. (65), Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (80) and Pittsburgh Steelers tight end MyCole Pruitt (81) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54), Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (73) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell (9) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (73) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15) and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (8), Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24), Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15), Pittsburgh Steelers safety Miles Killebrew (28), Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson (41), Pittsburgh Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz (46), Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Mark Robinson (93), Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42), Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Tyler Matakevich (44), Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee (23) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Fans during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
The offense huddles during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back/kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson (84) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54), Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Spencer Anderson (74) and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton (20) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97), Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6)m Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts (50) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton (20) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts (50) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Preston Smith (91) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
The offensive line during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson (41) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick (66) and Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee (23) and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig (51) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones (77) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Tyler Matakevich (44) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Fans during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Fans during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Fans during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 in Landover, MD. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
• Just looking at the final score, you'd think the Steelers had a bad day defensively.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Washington entered this game with 13 three-and-outs offensively all season. And 46 percent of the Commanders' drives had gone into the opposing 20-yard line.
In this game, the Steelers forced six three-and-outs on the Commanders in 12 possessions. They also allowed Washington just two trips inside the 20 on 11 possessions that didn't already start inside the 20, something the Steelers handed the Commanders with an ill-fated fake punt in the first quarter.
Overall, Washington gained 242 net yards, more than 50 fewer than its worst game this season.
Of those, however, 148 came on two drives, one at the end of the first half, the other to start the second half.
"We took the ball to start the game, we didn't do anything with it," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. "And that probably positioned them to book in half the way that they did. They got the last possession, the first half, the first possession, the second half. And I thought those 14 points really changed the texture of the game. But you live, man. You can't come in hostile environments versus good people and not aggressively pursue victory. We're not gonna live in our fears. That's just how we get down."
Even at that, the opening possession of the second half was more about one big play Washington made on a slant to Terry McLaurin that gained 54 yards.
Washington had 105 yards on its three biggest plays, that gain and to passing plays of 28 and 23 yards. Outside of that, Washington struggled to consistently move the ball because the Steelers limited a rushing attack that came into this game averaging just 160 yards per game to 60 yards on 22 carries, an average of 2.7 yards per attempt.
Recent opponents had discovered some success running on early downs against the Steelers' nickel defense. In this game, Elandon Roberts replaced rookie Payton Wilson on early downs in the nickel. And Roberts is a premium run stuffer.
But Patrick Queen also set the tone with a couple of tackles for loss. He also tracked down the speedy Daniels the one time he successfully broke the pocket on a read-option, limiting him to a 4-yard gain by closing on him so quickly.
Queen finished with a team-high seven tackles, while the Steelers had eight tackles for a loss.
• Now, about that ill-fated fake punt.
The Steelers had seen the Commanders be aggressive when opponents were backed up in their own end and leave one of the opposing team's gunners uncovered in order to add another rusher. And they shifted late in the play clock, bringing the jammer in tight.
The Steelers, tipped by special teams coordinator Danny Smith, got the look they expected in the first quarter, as the jammer broke toward the line of scrimmage. The up-back, All-Pro Miles Killebrew saw the look. He called for the fake.
"Down and distance didn't matter," said Killebrew. "We've completed it in practice."
In this instance, however, Killebrew's pass wobbled out to defensive back/gunner James Pierre. Pierre couldn't haul the pass in as he fell to the ground just beyond what would have at least been a first down – and perhaps more considering there wasn't a Commanders player within 10 yards of him.
"I'm not a quarterback, and he's not a receiver, but that's why I love Danny," said Killebrew. "He's going to take those chances."
In this instance, it failed. And the Steelers turned the ball over on downs at their own 16.
But, as Tomlin said, he was going to be aggressive in this game.
And that was most certainly aggressive.
Ultimately, Tomlin has to sign off on such an aggressive play.
"That is me. I own that," Tomlin said. "I'll do it again. But we didn't execute it and so it was a bad idea."
• That being said, the Steelers' special teams unit came back with a big play of their own later in the first half when wide receiver Ben Skowronek, activated off the Reserve/Injured List on Saturday, recovered a muffed punt in the second quarter at the Washington 14 to set up a touchdown pass to Pat Freiermuth.
Skowronek noted in warmups that punt returner Olamide Zaccheaus was having issues fielding punts. And then watched as he muffed Corliss Waitman's first punt of the game before falling on it himself.
Skowronek was ready to pounce if Zaccheaus did it again.
"I saw it in warm ups. You saw the conditions with the wind swirling," Skowronek said. "That's hard to catch a punt, especially with people running down to tackle you. You saw him muff the first one. Over the course of the year, we've seen it more with Corliss' ball because he's a lefty. The ball has a different spin on it."
That's just being a smart, heads up football team.
• In three games, Wilson has now thrown six touchdown passes against just one interception.
Remember, the Steelers had 12 touchdown passes in 17 games in 2022 and 13 in 17 games in 2023.
The Steelers were 3 for 4 in the Red Zone in this game, with the one failure coming when Jaylen Warren lost a fumble at the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter.
This offense is much more efficient with Wilson at the controls.
The Steelers are now averaging 30.3 points per game in Wilson's starts, with a big reason for that being how he's unlocked wide receiver George Pickens.
Pickens averaged 4.3 catches per game over the Steelers' first six games. He's averaged 4.7 receptions with Wilson at quarterback.
So, not a big difference there, right?
But Pickens averaged 60.5 yards per game in the first six games. Over the past three, he's averaging 92 yards per game and has caught two touchdown passes. Pickens didn't have a touchdown catch in the Steelers' first six games.
That includes having five catches for 91 yards and a score in this game.
"He's special, one of the best receivers in the NFL," Wilson said of Pickens. "Give him a chance to make a great play. Try to put it in his vicinity. You know he does a great job of beating guys on the routes. George is just really showing up in special ways. I just have got so much confidence in who he is. The competitor that he is."
That showed on his touchdown pass to Pickens in this game. Pickens had one-on-one coverage in the end zone. Wilson threw the ball to the inside, where only Pickens would have a chance to catch it. And he did.
• The Steelers ran 75 offensive plays. The Commanders ran 59.
Washington had been converting just under 46 percent of its third downs into first downs this season. And when it didn't, the Commanders were 11 for 11 on fourth downs.
But they failed on fourth-and-9 from the 50 with 1:28 remaining in the game down 28-27.
Tight end Zach Ertz sat down right at the line to gain, but safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Damontae Kazee closed on him quickly and made sure he didn't turn and pick up the necessary yardage.
• Dale Lolley is co-host of "SNR Drive" on Steelers Nation Radio. Subscribe to the podcast here: Apple Podcast | iHeart Podcast
It was a big mistake by Ertz not to get past the line to gain. And the Steelers made him pay for it, even if they weren't sure it would hold up under review.
"No, I did not," said Kazee when asked if he knew the play would hold up to review as called on the field. "I told Minkah that we got our first ticket off this team if they had gotten the first down. We'd have been gone."
That might be a bit extreme. Both safeties knew exactly where Ertz needed to get to and sat at that spot, which likely caused him to cut his route just inches short.
"We were sitting at the sticks and he was in front of us," Kazee said. "We knew it was going to be a game of inches."
• The Steelers will have their hands full for sure next Sunday against the Ravens, especially if Highsmith is unable to play.
Cornerback Donte Jackson also left with a hamstring injury.
But this team is capable of getting defensive stops like few other teams. And the offense has shown it is capable of hurting teams on the ground or through the air.
Williams saw it from afar while with the Jets this season. And he's now seeing it in person.
"Watching from afar and playing against them with the Jets, you just see a lot of playmakers," Williams said. "The running game opens up a lot of plays for us in the passing game."
It remains to be seen if the Steelers will be capable of running the ball against the Ravens. They weren't necessarily effective in this game. Though they had 140 rushing yards, it took them 43 carries to get there. They averaged 3.3 yards per attempt.
But Washington also was selling out to stop the running game.
"They were pressing a lot," said Frazier. "A lot of blitzes, a lot of single-dog."
Given Baltimore's issues stopping the pass, can the Ravens afford to attack the line of scrimmage in a similar fashion? That remains to be seen.
• Coming into this game, Tomlin and Washington head coach Dan Quinn had to be considered two of the front runners for NFL Coach of the Year.
Don't know if the outcome of this game will sway voters. You never know how those things will go.
But Tomlin has done a masterful job of managing this team.
Veteran players such as Skowronek, who signed with the Steelers early in the season, have seen it.
"It's the culture that Coach Tomlin built," Skowronek said. "I love playing here. I think Mike (Williams) and Preston (Smith) saw it right away. Everyone that's new here is like, 'Damn, it's different here.' That's a credit to Coach T."
