PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The BIG plays from the Steelers 26-18 win over the Giants Monday night. From a couple of big sacks, to various penalties and another special teams game-changer.
1st quarter
· FG, After several successful runs & a big drive deep in the red zone, a Broderick Jones facemask wiped out a touchdown. The Steelers would settle for a 31-yard field goal by Chris Boswell (10 plays, 57yds, 4:41), 3-0
· FG, Giants QB Daniel Jones, just before getting blasted, finds Darius Slayton for 43 yards would set up a Greg Joseph 29-yard FG (8-59yds, 5:00), 3-3
· FG, Russell Wilson hits Darnell Washington for 29 yards and a Najee Harris 26-yard run (59 rushing yards in 1st quarter) ended in a Boswell 25-yard FG (7 plays, 63 yards, 2:14), 6-3
2nd quarter
· FG, Jones hit Malik Nabers for 5 yards on a 4th and 2 to keep the drive alive. There were 6 total penalties on the drive (one by Steelers). Joseph 39-yard FG (12 plays, 45 yards, 5:26), 6-6
· Initial call was a touchdown on a 9-yard pass thrown to George Pickens in the end zone. He didn’t get both feet down with possession, intead got one foot down twice, which does not count. Pass ruled incomplete by refs replay, the Steelers challenge and it was upheld, incomplete
· FG, Boswell 29-yard FG (12 plays, 64 yards, 4:27), 9-6.
· Steelers driving after the first punt of the game, but knocked back by a pair of sacks allowed—first by New York’s Azeez Ojulari and the second on 3rd and 3 by Brian Burns forced a first Steelers punt
· FG, 3rd and 8 with just over a minute to play following a Steelers time out, Jones finds Slayton for 39 yards into Steelers territory. Joseph would hit again, this from 44-yards (8 plays, 57 yards, 1:32), 9-9
3rd quarter
· Giants had driven to the Steelers 31, but back-to-back sacks by linebackers TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith forced a New York punt
· TD, tied at 9, Calvin Austin able to sprint 73 yards for his first Steelers special teams touchdown after a Giants punt, 16-9
· 3rd and 6 after a defensive stop, Wilson throws one behind Van Jefferson. He is able to make a great adjustment on the ball for a 36-yard reception to the New York 31.
4th quarter
· 3rd and 8 from the Giants 29-yard line, instead of being safe for the field goal, Wilson goes deep with a perfect rainbow to Austin for his first NFL two-touchdown game. (9 plays, 80 yards, 4:12), 23-9
· TD, Giants tailback Tyrone Tracy went over the left guard and 45 yards into the end zone as New York quickly answered (5 plays, 55 yards, 2:02), NY went for two-points and the pass was incomplete, 23-15
· FG, Wilson threw a perfect pass down the left sidelines, Pickens was able to keep inside the white line for 43 yards in what became a Boswell 27-yard FG (7 plays, 61 yards, 3:52) 26-15
· FG, Jones hits Slaton on an 18-yard game on 3rd and 8 as the drive would lead to a Joseph 48-yard FG (8 plays, 40 yards, 2:09), 26-18
· On a second down scramble, Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke not only forces a Russell Wilson fumble, but recovers it.
· 4 plays later, TJ Watt forces his 31st career fumble on a strip sack, recovery on Jones with 2:59 to play
· The game sealed on an interception by rookie Beanie Bishop