Steelers Storm Back for Dramatic Overtime Triumph

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – HIs bad decision early cost the offense a fourth down conversion, but rookie receiver Germie Bernard made up for it at the end, stretching out for all he’s worth for a six-yard touchdown gave the Steelers a 26-19 overtime win at Tampa Sunday.

Steelers trailed 16-3 entering the fourth quarter and had played miserably offensively with six drives under two minutes. Then it changed.

Finally

• It took until the fourth quarter, but the Steelers finally put a touchdown on the board, a play action pass by Aaron Rodgers on second and short for a five-yard TD to Darnell Washington all alone in the end zone. They overcame an 11-yard loss on a sack to create 2nd and 21, Rodgers hit DK Metcalf for 17 yards on 3rd and 16. They also benefitted from a roughing the pass penalty against Pitt All-American Calijah Kancey. Steelers doubled its third down conversions for the game on that drive that started late in the third quarter.

Next series

• Rookie corner Daylen Everette first career interception on a third-down pass intended for Emeka Egbuka set the Steelers offense up at the Tampa Bay 45-yard line.
• On that possession, Rodgers scrambled in the pocket, rolled to his right and found Jaylen Warren for 16 yards on 3rd and 10. The drive stalled after Rodgers was sacked and Washington was called for an illegal shift. Chris Boswell made his 310th career field goal breaking the all-time Steelers record held by Gary Anderson to make it 16-13 Tampa Bay.

Tied

• Still down three late in the fourth with a 3rd and 5, TB called for a pass interference against Metcalf to give the Steelers the ball at the Bucs 37-yard line. Next 3rd down, 3rd and 4, Rodgers sacked for a loss of 9 yards to the TB 40. Boswell made a 58-yard FG, but they didn’t get the snap off before the 2:00 warning, so he had to kick again. He drilled it down the middle to tie the game at 16.

Payback

• The corner Tampa Bay didn’t want back, that is dealing with an ankle injury, Jamel Dean with an interception on the next series with 1:45 to play and returned it to the Bucs three-yard line. Boswell would make a 20-yard field goal to give the Steelers a 19-16 lead

Comeback

• Without a sack this year, outside linebacker Nick Herbig got his second of the game taking down Daniels for a seven-yard loss and forced the Bucs to use its last timeout. Daniels would hit a 13-yard pass to set up a 53-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin with eight seconds left in regulation.

The Hold

• After the Bernard touchdown in overtime, Tampa Bay converted a 4^th and 10 on a Daniels scramble and it came down to a 4^th and 8 with 1:06 left in overtime when Jalen Ramsey, playing with a broken wrist, made his second sack of the game, four tackles for loss and 10 tackles, to end it.

It’s the Steelers first overtime game and win since September 11, 2022, a 23-20 victory at Cincinnati.

Stats

• Rodgers 33-49, 253 yards, 2 TD, interception
• Warren 14 carries 50 yards (28 yards receiving), Dowdle 7 carries 40 yards (9 yards receiving)
• Metcalf 11 receptions for 93 yards
• Payton Wilson 11 tackles (7 solo)
• Jaquan Brisker 7 tackles (left the game briefly due to injury)
• Nick Herbig 2 sacks for negative 15 yards
• Yahya Black first career sack
• Cameron Johnston averaged 48.2 yards per punt with 3 of his 5 inside the 20-yard line

There was a lot to unpack from the game including head coach Mike McCarthy getting hurt trying to exit the field at halftime and was unable to make it to the locker room. Also, penalties, stalled drives and defensive mistakes, but bottom line.

Steelers are 4-2 and tied for first place in the AFC North before heading to Paris this week.