A promising 1st quarter followed by a disappoint 2nd quarter leaves the Pittsburgh Steelers all tied up at 10-10 with the New Orleans Saints. The Saints get the ball at the top of the half, so they have the advantage and momentum for the time being.
START OF 2ND HALF.
The 1st down pass was complete, but OPI called on Jarvis Landry. 1st and 20, Juwan Johnson picked up 8 yards in the middle of the field. 2nd and 12, incomplete with Cam Sutton in coverage. 3rd and 12, Dalton incomplete with Terrell Edmunds in coverage.
Quick three-and-out for the defense and the advantage comes back to the Steelers. The punt was returned 8 yards by Steven Sims to the 30.
Kenny Pickett and the offense start off with plus yardage. On 1st down, Kenny Pickett scrambled for a 23 yard gain. Another explosive run for the offense this time from the rookie quarterback.
On 1st and 10, Najee Harris up the middle for 5 yards. Back to Harris on 2nd for 2 yards. 3rd and 3, Pickett complete to Pickens for 12 yards and a conversion.
Pickens on the end around with Pat Freiermuth blocking out front. A 22 yard gain. That is three runs over 20+ yards this game after getting 0 in the first 8 games of the season.
Defensive holding on Pickett’s scramble makes it 1st and goal. Pickett was sacked for a loss of 11. 2nd and goal from the 21, incomplete pass on the deep pass to Najee Harris. Harris had a chance, but was looking for the flag after the incompletion. 3rd down, incomplete pass to Steven Sims. Going to have to settle for the field goal. Field goal is no good. Turnover on downs. Just brutal to end that drive with no points after being 1st and goal.
Kenny Pickett came up limping on the 3rd down play. Mitch Trubisky warming up on the sideline while Pickett is in the blue tent.
No gain on 1st down and an incomplete pass on 2nd set up 3rd and 10. New Orleans called a timeout to avoid delay of game. The timeout was worth it because they convert on a 14 yard pass to Chris Olave.
1st and 10, a 1 yard rush by Taysom Hill. On 2nd, false start to make it 2nd and 14. Andy Dalton fumbled the snap, but recovered. 3rd and 18, Kamara gained just 5. The punt was downed at the Pittsburgh 2 yard line. Time to see who comes out to play quarterback.
Kenny Pickett is checking back into the game deep on his own side of the field.
Pickett’s ankle is taped up and he isn’t moving all that well. Jaylen Warren gained 1 yard on 1st down to gain some breathing room. Connor Heyward made the first defender miss to gain 8 yards. 3rd and 1, Pickett planted his foot and ran for the first. His ankle must not be too bad.
Pickett complete to Pat Freiermuth for 12 yards in the middle of the field.
On 1st and 10, Jaylen Warren gained 3 yards up the middle. 2nd and 7, Saints called for illegal use of hands.
1st and 10, Najee Harris rushed for 10 yards.
Now near midfield, 1st down an explosive pass to Diontae Johnson. 36 yards on a deep pass. That is just what Pickett needed to get going. That was a great pass.
1st and 10 in the red zone, Najee Harris direct snap and he ran for 3 yards.
END OF 3RD QUARTER: 10-10 EVEN.
2nd and 7, Najee Harris drove forward for 3 or 4 yards. 3rd and 2 Pickett was sacked. The field goal is good. 13-10 Steelers.
Both teams have had to burn a timeout in the 2nd half so far. The Steelers just had a substitution error and called timeout to avoid 11-on-10. TJ Watt shed the blocker and tackled the ball carrier for a gain of just 1. On 2nd, Devin Bush tackled the catch for just 4 yards. 3rd and 5, Andy Dalton misfired and Damontae Kazee gets an interception in his first game back from a broken forearm!
Najee Harris ran for 2 yards but fumbled. Chuks Okorafor recovered. 2nd and 8, Pickett complete to Jaylen Warren for 26 yards.
A handoff to Jaylen Warren went for 4 yards on 1st. 2nd and 6, Pickett incomplete with pressure in his face. On 3rd and 6, Pickett complete to Jaylen Warren for another 7 yards.
1st and goal, Najee Harris got the direct snap for no gain. 2nd and goal, incomplete pass to Zach Gentry. 3rd and goal, pass interference saves the drive for now.
1st and goal from the 1 yard line, Kenny Pickett drove through the goal line for the touchdown. 20-10 Steelers.
On 1st, Andy Dalton complete to Jarvis Landry for 9 yards. 2nd and 1, Dalton incomplete to Juwan Johnson. 3rd and 1, Kamara for no gain. 4th and 1, Andy Dalton tried to sneak, but he was stuffed by Robert Spillane. Turnover on downs.
The Steelers have an excellent opportunity to lock this game up here.
Najee Harris gained two yards on first down. Kenny Pickett was sacked on 2nd down. That is 6 sacks on Pickett today so far.
Matthew Wright’s 48 yard field goal try was no good.
1st and 10, Dalton was sacked by Alex Highsmith for the strip sack. Recovered by Dalton. 2nd and 19, Kamara picked up 10 yards. 3rd and 9, Andy Dalton intercepted by Levi Wallace.
The offense sustained long drives and its allowing the defense to play fast and make plays. A nice changeup from the heavy minutes on the defense earlier in the season.
Najee Harris rushed on 1st and 2nd to gain 8 yards. New Orleans called their second timeout. Steven Sims went around left end for 3 yards and absorbed a big hit to still fall forward and convert.
Jaylen Warren up the middle for no gain on 1st. Najee Harris gained 2 yards on 2nd.
TWO MINUTE WARNING.
3rd and 8, Jaylen Warren went around right end for 21 yards. Now the Steelers offense is firing off 20+ yard runs like they are nothing. Making up for lost time earlier in the season.
Warren up the middle on 1st and 10.
Saints final timeout called.
Victory formation!
FINAL SCORE: 20-10 STEELERS.
