Plays of the Year: Roosevelt Nix saves the day

Steel City Underground presents “Plays of the Year” featuring the tops runs, catches, hits and everything else in-between for the Steelers 2017 season.

Fullbacks aren’t supposed to be able to… insert something other than block!

But Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Roosevelt Nix became one of several heroes in a big primetime rivalry win when the Steelers faced the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14. The Steelers hadn’t swept their division foe since 2008 but were knocking on the door with an earlier win at Baltimore in Week 4.

Trailing eight points with 10:29 left in the game, the Steelers quickly marched down the field. Within four plays they were on the Raven’s doorstep when a pass interference call pushed them up to the doorknob at the Baltimore one-yard line.

In a familiar formation an odd occurrence happened, as instead of running the ball with the big bodies in the game, Ben Roethlisberger held onto the ball and scanned the field for an open player. The black and gold jersey he sought out was none other than Nix, a fullback who has only caught four passes in his entire three-year career and hadn’t caught one, until, this huge catch on Sunday Night Football.

Nix’ unexpected contribution helped Pittsburgh come from behind to defeat their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, 39-38, which also swept the season series. It was likely this catch which also propelled Nix to his first Pro Bowl selection, as an alternate replacing the Patriots James Develin.