PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Not quite as infrequent as a comet, but running back Najee Harris said the Steelers offense looked really good Sunday. On the surface not a huge comment, but it just hasn’t happened often. That performance has lifted the fourth-year tailback and you could see on his face on Thursday.
“It’s definitely something to build off of,” Harris said after practice. “When you are scoring points on multiple drives, too. Justin doing what he is doing. The line doing what they are doing. It’s something for sure to build off of.”
The Steelers scored touchdowns on three straight possessions in the second half-drives of 61, 57 and 70 yards. It is something to build off of. What encouraged Harris as much as that it happened, that there were multiple players involved.
“Calvin made a big play in the punt return,” Harris explained. “Darnell making that huge play, that kind of sparked us up. Everybody started making plays and we came together on the sidelines, we got to dig down and keep pushing through.”
“We just came up short, but I tip my hat to the team. In my times being here, that was one of the few times where we looked really good.”
Najee was a part of the last time the Steelers had three consecutive touchdowns. His one-yard run was followed by a Ben Roethlisberger to James Washington 30-yard TD and a Roethlisberger to Pat Freiermuth 15-yard touchdown. It was December 9, 2021 in Minneapolis, also a loss.
Harris said the mentality has to remain the same, that the game is a dogfight. Whoever dominates the space in front of them is going to come out on top.
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Harvard buddy
Based on the first couple of days of injury reports, Aaron Shampklin could be the second-string running back on Sunday. The former Harvard star played in his first NFL game against the Colts with one carry for five yards as part of 13 snaps.
“Shamp is very smart, very smart player,” Harris said. “For his size (5’10”), very physical, just like Jaylen. We aren’t shy or scared or anything about him going in there and running the ball. Confident off of him, confident off of everybody.
“This being his second NFL game, I’m excited for him. This is an opportunity to provide for him and his family. I’m excited for him.”
To the victors
Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin has been, I guess critical would be kind, destroying Harris on social media over the last few days. He called him ‘soft’ right after the game, which is about as big a four-letter insult as you can give a football player. Harris laughed when asked about it.
“He’s a great player,” Harris said. “We were going back and forth at it all game. Competition, man. It is what it is. I tip my hat in victory. I tip my hat in defeat. When I saw that coming, I was laughing. When you win, you can talk what you want.”
What seemed to trigger all of it was when the Steelers were just about to run out of the tunnel for the opening kickoff on Sunday. The big screens at Lucas Oil Stadium zoomed in on the Steelers group with Najee right in front, showing a pair of middle fingers and no other digits.
Harris claimed he blacked out for that moment and doesn’t remember the gesture. Zaire did, and has his way with Najee since.