It was a bizarre first half with the Pittsburgh Steelers dominating on defense until the very last drive and the Washington Commanders now lead 17-14. Special teams flubs on both sides led to free touchdowns and penalties have been responsible for some of the other scoring drives. The Steelers started the game with the ball, so the Washington Commanders will get it back after the half.
Penalties on defense have been the story so far for the Steelers. They start the second half of the field, so we will see if they can clean it up. They have been excellent in the third quarter of games so far this year.
First half team stats below:
START OF 2ND HALF
The Steelers allowed their first points of the year on the opening drive of he half. A big gain to Terry McLaurin early and then a rushing touchdown. 24-14 Commanders.
1st and 10, Harris off left tackle for 11 yards.
1st and 10, Warren off right tackle for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, Wilson incomplete to MyCole Pruitt. 3rd and 8, complete to Warren for 26 yards on a checkdown with a lot of YAC.
1st and 10, Wilson was sacked for a loss of 10. 2nd and 20, Wilson complete to Pickens who broke free for 34 yards.
1st and 10, Warren off left end for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, offsides free play. 2nd and 3, Harris around the right end for 4 yards to convert.
1st and goal, Harris off left tackle for a touchdown. 24-21 Commanders.
The kickoff was returned 40 yards to the 46.
1st and 10, incomplete pass intended for Olamide Zaccheaus. 2nd and 10, Daniels escaped pressure and completed a pass along the sideline and offsetting penalties wiped out the play. 2nd and 10, incomplete to McCaffrey. 3rd and 10, Cam Heyward batted down the pass. The Steelers will have an opportunity to retake the lead from the Commanders. Calvin Austin III fielded the punt at the 7 and was stuffed for no gain.
1st and 10, Harris rushed for 7 yards, but Zach Frazier called for holding. 1st and 12, incomplete to Van Jefferson. 2nd and 12, Harris off left tackle for 3 yards. 3rd and 9, Wilson deep attempt to Calvin Austin III incomplete. The punt deep from their own end zone and the Commanders take over from Pittsburgh’s 42. Corliss Waitman’s early season good punting is crashing back down to earth. Austin was probably held on that route, too.
1st and 10, Daniels complete to Noah Brown for 8 yards. 2nd and 2, Chris Rodriguez Jr. up the middle for no gain. Larry Ogunjobi on the tackle. 3rd and 2, Austin ekeler up the middle for 5 yards.
1st and 10, Daniels tackled for a loss of 1 by Keeanu Benton. 2nd and 11, incomplete to Ertz. 3rd and 11, complete to Ekeler for 7 yards. The field goal is good. 27-21 Commanders.
Patterson returned it to the 24-yard line.
1st and 10, Harris stuffed for a gain of just 1. 2nd and 9, Wilson sacked for a loss of 5 by Dante Fowler. 3rd and 14, Wilson escaped pressure and heaved one deep for an arm punt. Intercepted back to the 26-yard line.
1st and 10, McLaurin caught one over Joey Porter Jr. for 28 yards. Porter is getting toasted today.
1st and 10, Jeremy McNichols up the middle for 6 yards. 2nd and 4, Heyward sacked Daniels for a loss of 11. A two-sack game for Heyward.
END OF 3RD QUARTER: 27-21 COMMANDERS
3rd and 15, Daniels to Brown for a loss of 11 with Preston Smith making the play. Donte Jackson is out of the game with a hamstring injury. Fortunately Cam Sutton is back this week.
The punt starts the drive at the 13.
1st and 10, Wilson complete to Pickens for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Warren off right tackle for 5 yards. 3rd and 1, Wilson to Pickens for 12 yards over the middle.
1st and 10, Harris off right end for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Harris up the middle for 6 yards. 3rd and 1, Harris stuffed for no gain and was injured on the play. He ended up getting up. A big 4th and 1 decision upcoming. They are going for it with a tackle eligible and Warren converted with 4 yards.
1st and 10, Wilson incomplete to Darnell Washington. 2nd and 10, Wilson dropped one in the bucket for George Pickens. Flag on the Commanders declined.
1st and 10, Warren up the middle for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, Warren stumbled at the line and gained 3. 3rd and 2, Warren darted through for 10 yards.
1st and 10, Warren up the middle for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Warren fumbled at the 1-yard line. It really should have been blown dead for forward progress, but a late whistle bites the Steelers. The Commanders have the ball on their own 1-yard line.
1st and 10, Chris Rodriguez up the middle for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, holding on Washington. 2nd and 8, incomplete deep to McCaffrey. Watt seemingly got held, which would have been a safety, but no call. 3rd and 8, incomplete with Watt bringing pressure. They barely have room to punt this. It was a big punt and Austin returned it to the Washington 46.
Najee Harris is back in the game. 1st and 10, Harris up the middle for 7 yards but illegal formation brings it back. 1st and 15, Harris toss right for a loss of 1. 2nd and 16, Wilson escaped pressure and connected with Austin for 13 yards. Austin was banged up on the play. It would appear he is being evaluated for a concussion. 3rd and 3, Wilson complete to Freiermuth for 6 yards and a loud Muth chant in the stadium.
1st and 10, Harris up the middle for 1 yard. 2nd and 9, Wilson incomplete to Washington, who never got his head around. Pittsburgh called a timeout to avoid delay of game. 3rd and 9, Wilson heaved one up to Mike Williams, the trade-deadline addition, four a touchdown. Incredible. 28-27 Steelers.
The kickoff was returned to the 35.
1st and 10, Daniels incomplete with Alex Highsmith bringing pressure. He looks seriously hurt with his ankle rolling almost perpendicular. You hate to see that. 2nd and 10, Daniels complete to Brown for 14 yards.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Reminder, the Commanders’ kicker was ruled out for the game and they brought in Zane Gonzalez as a street free agent. It is looking likely that this game will come down to his leg.
1st and 10, Daniels up the middle for just a yard with Benton tackling him. 2nd and 10, Watt batted down the pass with a pressure and QB hit. 3rd and 9, Daniels incomplete with James Pierre breaking it up intended for Noah Brown. 4th and 9 to win the game. This is it. The catch was made, but it might be inches short. Time for them to review this for a long time.
Since they called it short, it is going to be hard to overturn.
The ruling on the field stands! He was barely short.
1st and 10, Harris up the middle for 3 yards. Timeout No. 1 called by Washington. 2nd and 7, Harris tackled for a loss of 1. Timeout No. 2 called by Washington. 1:08 to play, 3rd and 8, Patterson off left end for 7 yards. Timeout No. 3 called by Washington. They went up to the line of scrimmage and got a neutral zone infraction. That is game over for the Steelers.
The Steelers win the game 28-27 and advance to 7-2. Wow!
Wilson kneels the ball twice. Game over.
END OF GAME: 28-27 STEELERS
