After producing a strip, sack and fumble recovery that teed up the go-ahead touchdown and then registering an interception that gave the ball back to the offense 4:22 away from closing out the game, the Steelers' defense uncharacteristically lacked a finishing kick in Cleveland.
"We just didn't make some plays," defensive coordinator Teryl Austin acknowledged. "We had some opportunities, we just didn't get it done."
A three-and-out followed by a 15-yard punt in the wake of cornerback Donte Jackson's INT in the fourth quarter on Nov. 21 in Cleveland tasked the defense with having to hold the Browns' scoreless on a possession that began at the visitor's 45-yard line with 3:22 to play.
The Steelers prepare for the Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers guard Max Scharping (64) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Matt Sokol (85) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end MyCole Pruitt (81) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. (31) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (80) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ayo Oyelola (17) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson (11) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Quez Watkins (16) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Quez Watkins (16) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Brandon Johnson (89) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts (50), Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Tyler Matakevich (44), and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Harper (40) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon (49) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Jacob Slade (79) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Dean Lowry (94) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Eku Leota (53) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (99) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Julius Welschof (45) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones (77) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee (23) and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Eric Rowe (37) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Cory Trice Jr. (27) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig (51) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
A conversion on fourth-and-3 from the Steelers' 38 proved critical in what eventually became the nine-play drive for the touchdown that wound up deciding the game, 24-19, in Cleveland's favor.
"We know we're not going to be able to do it every time," Austin continued. "But more often than not we've stood up to the challenge.
"We just weren't able to get it done last week."
It had indeed been a different story the week before against Baltimore.
The defense surrendered a nine-play, 69-yard drive in 2:29 for a touchdown that brought the Ravens to within 18-16 on Nov. 17 at Acrisure Stadium. But inside linebacker Nick Herbig and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. led a change that denied quarterback Lamar Jackson on an attempted two-point conversion that would have tied the game with 1:06 left in regulation.
On Nov. 10 at Washington, the game came down to a tackle.
Free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and fellow safety Damontae Kazee combined to make it and stopped tight end Zach Ertz just short of the line to gain after he'd hauled in a pass from quarterback Jayden Daniels on fourth-and-9 from the 50 with 1:28 remaining in regulation in a 28-27 game.
The defense played takeaway twice at crunch time on Oct. 28 against the New York Football Giants.
Outside linebacker T.J. Watt's sack, strip and recovery of quarterback Daniel Jones' fumble on third-and-7 from the Steelers' 19-yard line with 3:04 left in regulation preserved a 26-18 lead. And cornerback Beanie Bishop's interception of Jones on second-and-10 from the Steelers' 35 with 42 second left in the fourth quarter sealed the deal.
Closing out games on Sept. 8 at Atlanta (18-10) and on Sept. 15 at Denver (13-6) had proven less nerve-wracking but nonetheless necessary for the Steelers' defense.
The Falcons had no timeouts and 28 seconds with which to work and 70 yards to transverse in an effort to force overtime but didn't come close to doing so.
And The Broncos were 81 yards away when their last-gasp possession commenced and had only 19 seconds and no timeouts at their disposal.
In both instances, an exclamation point was applied by the defense (a sack by Watt in Atlanta and a Kazee interception in Denver).
"What's worked for us is when we're doing a good job in our rush and coverage and we're making the plays," Austin said.
A late lead had also been ceded on Oct. 6 against Dallas at Acrisure when the Cowboys finished off a 15-play, 70-yard march with a 4-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal from the 4 with 26 seconds left on the way to a 20-17 triumph.
"I've said it before, I like our guys, we're not afraid to make plays and we make most of them," Austin maintained. "I expect us, when we're in that situation, which we will be in again, obviously, in this league, that we'll make the plays at the end of the game."
