The Pittsburgh Steelers offense moved the ball up and down the field against the New York Giants, but it took the special teams unit to get into the end zone.
After a first-half marred by red zone mishaps, it took a big play by punt returner Calvin Austin III, who broke off a 73-yard return early in the third quarter for his first career return touchdown, breaking open a 26-18 victory for the Steelers on Monday Night Football.
The punt return touchdown was the first of Austin’s career and the first for a Steelers player since Diontae Johnson ran one back against the Arizona Cardinals in 2019. It came at exactly the right time for the Steelers, who had been dominating on the stat sheet, but had a hard time getting into the end zone.
On the opening drive, the Steelers knifed to the New York 12-yard line in just seven plays, but a face mask penalty on Broderick Jones wiped out a Russell Wilson to George Pickens touchdown pass, and the Steelers were forced to settle for the first of three Chris Boswell field goals.
On the second drive, the Steelers again marched right into the red zone, but Wilson and Van Jefferson couldn’t connect in the end zone and then Wilson had his third-down pass tipped.
The third time Pittsburgh got the ball, they again had a completed touchdown from Wilson to Pickens, but this time it was overturned by replay assist, as Pickens’ left foot only hovered over the ground, but did not touch it, even though his right foot hit twice.
The red-zone mishaps left the Steelers with plenty of offensive statistical production, but little to show for it on the scoreboard, until Austin struck not once, but twice.
After his punt return, Austin capped off the next Steelers drive with a big play from outside the red zone. A holding penalty on Mason McCormick looked like it was going to sink yet another Steelers drive, but Wilson reared back and heaved it for Austin deep down field for a 29-yard score.
With the trade deadline around the corner and the Steelers potentially in the market for a wide receiver, Austin and Van Jefferson had their most impressive performances of the season. Austin caught three passes for 54 yards and the touchdown, do go along with his special teams score. Jefferson had four grabs for a season-high 62 yards.
Even after the breakthrough, the Steelers had another chance to completely put the game away, but after left tackle Dan Moore suffered a minor injury, his replacement Calvin Anderson, gave up a sack, and Boswell had to kick his fourth short field goal.
The Steelers defense had trouble containing Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy throughout the game. Tracy rushed 20 times for 145 yards, but the Steelers were similarly able to hold the Giants to a series of field goal attempts.
New York kept pace with Pittsburgh through the first half, matching the Steelers field goal for field goal. After Austin’s two scores put the Steelers up 14, Tracy answered with a 45-yard scamper for a score through the Steelers defense.
The Steelers stopped a botched two-point play to make it an eight-point game, and after another exchange of field goals, the defense finally got off the field definitively. T.J. Watt strip sacked Daniel Jones to stop one New York drive.
On the final possession, Joey Porter Jr. tipped a Jones pass and rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop got his third interception in two weeks to seal the Pittsburgh victory.
Wilson finished 20 of 28 for 278 yards and the one score, with a 114.9 passer rating. Najee Harris did most of the hard work on the ground, rushing 19 time for 114 yards — his third straight 100-yard game.
The Steelers will now enter their bye week at 6-2 and in sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
