The Pittsburgh Steelers will face their biggest test of the season so far in the 7-2 Washington Commanders. Coming off their bye week, the Steelers are 13-4 throughout Mike Tomlin’s tenure as the head coach. They have also been very successful against rookie quarterbacks, though that has faltered in recent years.
Jayden Daniels has completely transformed the Commanders from a bottom-feeder team to a legitimate contender in the NFC. Similar to the Steelers facing their biggest test, the Commanders haven’t played a defense quite like Pittsburgh’s yet. The No. 3 offense going against the No. 2 defense is going to be the big story of the day.
Special teams could be an X factor in the game with Commanders K Austin Seibert ruled out due to a hip injury. They are also one of the few teams that don’t settle for touchbacks in the kickoff game, so the Steelers could have some opportunities to return with Cordarrelle Patterson back in the lineup.
If the Steelers win, they will remain in control of the AFC North with a game against the second place Baltimore Ravens next week. If they lose, they will have an opportunity to take back the lead against the Ravens next week, though a one-and-a-half-game lead and an edge in the head-to-head against the Ravens would be quite nice to enter the final stretch of the season.
If you have never joined us for a game thread, welcome! Refresh the page throughout the game for live updates, video highlights, injury news and more. Also be sure to visit the bottom of the page to join the discussion in real-time with other fans in the comment section.
The Steelers will be debuting Mike Williams and Preston Smith today. NFL insiders discussed Williams’ possible role this morning.
Steelers’ Inactive Players
QB Kyle Allen (3rd QB)
OLB Nick Herbig
CB C.J. Henderson
G Max Scharping
WR Scotty Miller
Commanders’ Inactive Players
QB Jeff Driskel (3rd)
K Austin Seibert
CB Marshon Lattimore
T Cornelius Lucas
RB Brian Robinson Jr.
LB Dominique Hampton
S Darrick Forrest
The Steelers won the coin toss and elected to receive.
START OF GAME
Jaylen Warren returned the opening kickoff to the 25-yard line.
1st and 10, Najee Harris stumbled crossing through the line for a gain of just two. 2nd and 8, Wilson dumped off to Darnell Washington who fought for a few extra yards. 3rd and 2, they ran ran power around the right end, but Patterson was stuffed one yard short.
The punt was muffed back at the 17 and recovered by Washington at the 15. A nice flip of the field and Ben Skowronek downed the play.
1st and 10, Austin Ekeler up the middle for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Jayden Daniels complete to Zach Ertz for 4 yards with Minkah Fitzpatrick on the tackle. 3rd and 3, incomplete pass with pressure in Daniels’ face. A quick three-and-out for both teams.
Calvin Austin III called for a fair catch at the 30-yard line. The Steelers slightly won the field position battle there with a net of five yards on the three-and-out.
1st and 10, Wilson incomplete to Pat Freiermuth, but defensive pass interference called.
1st and 10, Harris up the middle for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, Harris up the middle for 6 yards fighting through a ton of contact. Broderick Jones was slightly injured on the play. Calvin Anderson is now in the game.
1st and 10, Wilson got tripped up on the exchange and threw the ball away. Jones is back in the game now. 2nd and 10, Jaylen Warren around the left end and cut back inside for a 12-yard gain.
1st and 10, Wilson incomplete to the left sideline intended for George Pickens. Looked like Pickens lost his feet. 2nd and 10, pass broken up for Van Jefferson, but roughing the passer makes it 1st and 10 from the 16.
1st and 10, Harris off left tackle for 1 yard. 2nd and 9, George Pickens made a completely absurd high-point catch in the end zone for a touchdown. 7-0 Steelers.
Some positives on that drive for the Steelers, but they were also bailed out by a couple big penalties. The run game has signs of life with both Harris and Warren, which is great.
Austin Ekeler returned the kickoff to the 30.
1st and 10, Daniels complete to Terry McLaurin for 9 yards. 2nd and 1, Ekeler blown up by Patrick Queen for a loss of 2. 3rd and 3, Cam Heyward sacked Daniels for a loss of 8.
The punt went 52 yards to the 19, returned two yards to the 21 by Austin.
1st and 10, Wilson was sacked by Franki Luvu for a loss of 8. 2nd and 18, Wilson flushed out of the pocket and threw the ball away. 3rd and 18, Warren up the middle for 3 yards to buy some room for a punt. The Steelers attempted a trick play with Miles Killebrew incomplete to James Pierre. It was perfectly executed, but Pierre dropped it. Not great, Bob!
1st and 10, Daniels complete to Zaccheaus for 8 yards. 2nd and 2, Ekeler off left tackle for 6 yards. 1st and goal, Ekeler in for the touchdown. 7-7 Even.
The unnecessary risk came back to the bite the Steelers, though they were technically right on the call. That was a huge play if Pierre could catch. Momentum is evened back up.
1st and 10, Harris stuffed for no gain. 2nd and 10, Harris up the middle for 2. 3rd and 8, Wilson incomplete deep to Van Jefferson. The punt went 39 yards to the 29.
1st and 10, Larry Ogunjobi TFL on Jeremy McNichols for a loss of 3. 2nd and 13, Daniels incomplete to Ertz with late pressure. 3rd and 13, incomplete pass to McLaurin with Queen in coverage.
The punt went 74 yards for a touchback. Calvin Austin III did a nice job selling the fair catch to let it go past him.
1st and 10, Wilson complete to Austin over the middle for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, Warren around the left end for 9 yards.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: 7-7 EVEN
The Steelers dominated the quarter, but came out 7-7 because of the fake punt flub.
1st and 10, Wilson complete to Warren for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Warren off left tackle for 1 yard. 3rd and 6, Wilson complete to Pickens for 5 yards. Wilson put the ball a little behind him, which prevented any YAC. The punt went 39 yards and Zaccheaus muffed another punt, this time recovered by Skowronek.
1st and 10, Harris up the middle for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Wilson complete to Freiermuth for 8 yards on a boot y-flat.
1st and goal in I formation, Harris tackled for a loss of 2. 2nd and goal from the 5, Wilson incomplete to Austin. He had a chance to catch it, but it slipped through his hands on a tough play. 3rd and goal, Freiermuth in trips and slipped out in the flat for a touchdown. 14-7 Steelers.
The kickoff resulted in a touchback.
1st and 10, an 11 yard completion.
1st and 10, Joey Porter Jr. called for DPI.
1st and 10, offsetting penalties to replay the down. Unnecessary roughness on Queen and Bates. 1st and 10, DeShon Elliott TFL on a screen pass. 2nd and 12, Queen in for a TFL and another loss of 2. 3rd and 14, Daniels incomplete to Noah Brown. The 48-yard field goal by the replacement kicker Gonzalez is good. 14-10 Steelers.
Warren returned the kickoff to the 35-yard line. Their returns have netted them out to an average of 30. So far, the lack of touchbacks is a wash.
1st and 10, Wilson incomplete to Austin in the flat. 2nd and 10, Patterson around the right end for 6 yards. 3rd and 4, Wilson scrambled for a gain of 6 to convert.
1st and 10, Warren tackled for no gain. 2nd and 10, Wilson threw the ball away. Timeout called by the Steelers. 3rd and 10, Wilson attempted a deep pass to Austin on the left sideline, but it was a little too far out ahead. The punt was downed at the 6-yard line. Special teams dominance (other than the fake flub) continues.
1st and 10, Daniels scrambled for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Daniels complete to McLaurin for 6 yards. Great catch with Porter in tight coverage.
1st and 10, Alex Highsmith huge sack on Daniels, but a flag on the play. Holding on the defense and an automatic first down to wipe out the sack. Joey Porter Jr. called for a face mask, so they declined the hold.
1st and 10, Daniels incomplete with Beanie Bishop Jr. bringing pressure. 2nd and 10, Daniels complete to Ertz for about 8 yards. Ertz was injured on the play. 3rd and 2, Ekeler around the right end for 4 yards. Watt nearly had the TFL, but barely missed.
1st and 10, incomplete to Brown. May have been dropped. 2nd and 10, complete to Ertz in the middle for 9 yards. 3rd and 1, McNichols up the middle for 3 yards. The Commanders get the ball back after the half, so a touchdown here would be detrimental for the Steelers.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
1st and 10, Ekeler off right end for 7 yards on the delayed handoff. 2nd and 3, Ekeler stopped tackled for a loss by Elliott. Timeout called by Pittsburgh. 3rd and 4, complete to Luke McCaffrey for 23 yards.
1st and 10, Ekeler off left tackle for 8 yards. 2nd and 2, Ekeler up the middle for 4 yards. Timeout called by the Commanders.
1st and goal with 26 seconds, Daniels incomplete to Brown with a bad drop. Timeout called by Pittsburgh. 2nd and goal, Porter called for pass interference again.
1st and goal from the 1, Ekeler off left tackle for the score. 17-14 Commanders.
Wilson kneeled the ball to send it to halftime.
END OF 1ST HALF: 17-14 COMMANDERS
Join us for the second half below.
