Plays of the Year: Vince Williams creams Andy Dalton at crunch time

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

9-2 and winners of six straight, the Pittsburgh Steelers were attempting to once again sweep their division foe, the Bengals, during a Monday Night encounter in Cincinnati. However, it wasn’t a pretty start for the Steelers, as the team fell behind on the road the Bengals 17-0 before a fast three-point drive to end the half 17-3.

Yet, as its usually scripted, the Bengals blew their lead. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Steelers offense was showing signs of life, but failed to find the end zone after an 11-play, 74-yard drive.

Following a 37-yard Chris Boswell field goal, Pittsburgh closed Cincy’s lead to seven and was in dire need of their defense to make a stand.

And they would immediately make one.

On the Bengals very first play from scrimmage following Boswell’s field goal, Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler dialed up the perfect blitz, utilizing his inside linebacker Vince Williams. Williams storms through the center of the Bengals offensive line, completely untouched, as Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton curls into the fetal position to brace for the big hit.

The sack would generate an eight-yard loss for the Bengals, followed by a false start penalty which dug them into a deeper hole, moving Cincinnati’s offense all the way back to their own eight-yard line. Two plays later, the Bengals would punt, setting up the Steelers for their game-tying touchdown drive.

Chris Boswell would seal the deal with a 38-yard field goal as time expired, to send the Bengals back to their locker room the losers in a 23-20 defeat.