The Pittsburgh Steelers are on the road in Los Angeles to play against the Rams in this Week Seven matchup. The Steelers are fresh of their bye week and will be regaining their top wide receiver, Diontae Johnson. Anthony McFarland Jr. wasn’t activated off the reserve/injured list on Saturday along with Johnson, and with Gunner Olszewski and Desmond King newly released from the roster, Calvin Austin III may be returning both kicks and punts in today’s game.
Both teams have three wins heading into this game. The Steelers will have a chance to jump back into first place in the AFC North, especially given the leading Baltimore Ravens have a tough matchup against the Detroit Lions.
The Rams will be without their top two running backs and should be relying on Royce Freeman and Darrell Henderson in a committee backfield. Otherwise, the Steelers will be contending with rookie sensation, Puka Nacua, and veteran star, Cooper Kupp.
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Steelers’ Inactives:
QB Mason Rudolph (3rd)
OT Dylan Cook
DT Breiden Fehoko
CB Darius Rush
Rams’ Inactives:
OLB Nick Hampton
RB Myles Gaskin
DL Larrell Murchison
OL Zach Thomas
OT Warren McClendon
START OF GAME
The Steelers start the game with the ball, but a quick three and out with a lot of pressure in Pickett’s face. One sack allowed, with Michael Hoecht bringing him down in the back field.
The Rams are starting the game at their own 37 after a rough punt from Pressley Harvin III.
On 1st and 10, Stafford incomplete to Cooper Kupp. On 2nd, Darrell Henderson up the middle for 16 to cross the midfield mark.
On 1st and 10, Henderson went up the middle again for 6. On 2nd, an incomplete pass intended for Kupp. 3rd and 4, outside of gield goal range, Stafford scrambled to just about pick up the first down. Kevin Dotson, the former Steeler, was called for holding. 3rd and 14, Highsmith forced Stafford to step up and Larry Ogunjobi cleaned it up for the sack.
Calvun Austin III back to receive the punt and he returned it five yards to the 21.
Najee Harris fumbled the first down play, but it was recovered by Isaac Seumalo for a first down.
1st and 10, Jaylen Warren up the middle for 3 yards. On 2nd, Pickett connected with Pickens for a gain of 17. A solid release off the line for Pickens.
On 1st and 10 in Rams’ territory, Harris rushed for 6 yards. On 2nd, Najee got the ball again, but ran backwards trying to get the edge and was tackled for a loss. A flag on the play, holding on Connor Heyward declined by the Rams. On 3rd and 9, Pickett deep to Pickens. He caught it but it was out of bounds.
Pressley Harvin’s punt was downed at the 6 yard line. The field position battle is firmly in the Steelers’ advantage at the moment.
On 1st and 10, Levi Wallace in great coverage to force the incompletion to Tutu Atwell. On 2nd, Royce Freeman up the middle for 9 yards. 3rd and 1, Freeman back up the middle for 4 yards to convert.
1st and 10, Stafford complete to Puka Nacua for 30 yards across the middle. Patrick Peterson was burned on the play across the middle. Nacua was hurt on the play.
On 1st and 10, Freeman up the middle for 11 yards. The Rams are running up the middle at will. The next play, Stafford incomplete intended for Tyler Higbee. Kwon Alexander was in coverage. On 2nd and 10, Kupp gained 5 yards to set up 3rd and 5. Damontae Kazee limped off the field. On 3rd, Freeman up the middle, but Minkah Fitzpatrick filled the gap to stop it at a gain of just one. The Rams will attempt a field goal of 53 yards and the kick doinked off the upright. The game remains scoreless.
Diontae Johnson caught the first down pass for 14 yards in tight coverage. On 1st and 10, Harris off right tackle for 6 yards. On 2nd, Najee to the left end for 9 yards. Najee is running well so far in this game, other than that bounce for a loss and the fumble.
Pickett just got sacked by Hoecht again for a loss of 11. Warren was called for holding, but it was declined. 2nd and 21, Connor Heyward caught the pass for 12. 3rd and 9, a huge completion to Diontae Johnson stretching all the way across the field, but George Pickens was flagged for a crackback block.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: 0-0 EVEN
Chris Boswell is kicking from 52 yards out and the kick is good. 3-0 Steelers.
On 1st and 10, Henderson stuffed for no gain. On 2nd, Henderson was tackled for a loss of one by Montravius Adams. On 3rd and 11, a 24 yard toe tap along the left sideline by Kupp.
On 1st and 10, Stafford threw the ball away, but it looked like intentional grounding. A loss of downs and 10 yards. 2nd and 20, a 10 yard completion to Kupp, but holding called on the Rams. 2nd and 30, Chandon Sullivan read the screen and tackled Nacua for just a yard on the screen. Brycen Hopkins caught the checkdown for 5 yards.
The punt was received by Austin III back at the 13 and only gained 5 yards on the return out to the 18.
On 1st and 10, Pickett rolled out and targeted Diontae Johnson, but it fell incomplete in tight coverage. Najee Harris up the middle on 2nd for 1 yard. 3rd and 9, Pickett running for his life out to the right and threw the ball away.
Harvin’s punt went just 41 yards to the 39 where it was fielded out of bounds.
On 1st, Freeman up the middle for 6 yards. On 2nd, Stafford incomplete to Kupp, but Chandon Sullivan was called for holding. 1st and 10, Nick Herbig tallied his first NFL sack for a loss of 6. He used his speed and got in there for his welcome to the NFL moment. Nacua got the ball on 2nd and 3rd for 27 total yards.
On 1st and 10, Freeman off left tackle but he was stopped by Cole Holcomb. Holcomb was injured on the play. A bit of a limp walking off the field on his own. Joey Porter Jr. in great coverage on Nacua across the middle. The field goal was good. 3-3 Even.
The kickoff went into the endzone for a touchback. On 1st and 10, Austin III on the end around for just one yard. On 2nd, George Pickens back shoulder for 20 yards.
1st and 10, Warren with some hard faught yards and a gain of 3. 2nd and 7, and the pass was a little behind Pickens but it was catchable, he avoided the big hit. On 3rd, Pickett called for intentional grounding trying to throw the ball away. A 56-yard booming punt by Harvin III fair caught at the 12. That punt made up for the lost yards on the grounding call and flipped the field for the Steelers.
Henderson barrelled forward for 7 on 1st down. On 2nd, Highsmith stopped Henderson in the backfield for no gain. On 3rd and 3, Puka Nacua caught the pass and ran for 36 yards.
TWO MINUTE WARNING.
On 1st and 10, Henderson up the middle for two yards, stopped by Fitzpatrick. On 2nd, Henderson picked up about 7. 3rd and 1 just outside of field goal range, Henderson gained two to convert. The Rams have 00:31 remaining in the half and called timeout #2.
1st and 10, Stafford incomplete deep to Nacua. His feet were barely out of bounds. On 2nd, a deep pass to Tutu Atwell for 31 yards and a touchdown. The pass didn’t even appear to be targeted at Atwell, but he readjusted and made the score. 9-3 Rams.
The Steelers kneel the ball to kill the clock and send this game to halftime.
END OF 1ST HALF: 9-3 Rams
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