Steelers game balls hard-earned in knuckle-down win over the Bears
Monday Night Football typically has been a game that the Pittsburgh Steelers have used in their favor to shine under the primetime lights. On Monday night, at Heinz Field, the Steelers went head-to-head with a Chicago Bears team that has struggled this season but kept things tight in a game Pittsburgh should have been able to put to bed early. In what head coach Mike Tomlin described as a game that required his squad to knuckle-down, especially after a critical fumble on special teams that resulted in a Bears touchdown, there were a few players that shined brighter than others. Those players earned this week’s Steelers game balls following a harrowing 29-27 win that gave Tomlin his 150th career win as an NFL head coach.
“22” and “88” take top honors
There really shouldn’t be any questions as to why rookies Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth both take the top two Steelers game balls from Sunday night’s win.
Harris, who continues to display astounding awareness on the field, had one of the most patient runs witnessed by this Steelers fan – a play that by all accounts looked to have been sniffed out by the Bears defense and stuffed – and made it a ten-yard pickup for a first down. Harris scored the first points for Pittsburgh on a ten-yard run through the C-gap to the left, making it look like the Steelers might have a ton of success in the ground game early. Although Chicago’s defense got creative, figuring out they’d need to grab Harris’ legs to get him to stop picking up extra yardage even on runs where he looked stopped, the rookie was able to gain 62 yards on 22 carries (plus the touchdown) and tack on three receptions for 16 yards.
Freiermuth, who’s quickly becoming a favorite son in Pittsburgh, had a phenomenal night. On just five receptions, the rookie tight end earned 43 yards and two touchdowns.
I’m not saying there’s something about wearing two of the same number on your jersey… but maybe there is. Superstitions aside, Harris and Freiermuth didn’t look like rookies in this Week 9 game; they handled their assignments (including some fantastic blocking from “MUUUUTH”) and gave needed spark to a Steelers offense that saw Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool have key moments, but no major breakouts.
Heyward still has “it”
Don’t mark down on any list that Cam Heyward doesn’t still have what it takes to get busy along the Steelers’ defensive line. The veteran accounted for three tackles, plenty of pressure, helped limit the Bears’ run attack to just 136 yards, and made a phenomenal play that resulted in the Justin Fields ball he’d batted down ending up right back into his hands for an interception. Heyward was busy all night, and even when he had to leave the field a little gimpy after one defensive play, he returned and stayed busy.
Boz for the “W”
After the punishing hit that kicker Chris Boswell took last week, there were questions roaming about social media as to whether “Boz” would be able to work his magic against the Bears or not. Would he even play? Coach Tomlin had no doubt.
On the night, there were two key plays that involved Boswell that earned him the final Steelers game ball for Week 9.
I’m still awaiting verification from statistical insiders with the Pittsburgh organization, but I – like many of you – had eyes wide open when, after he kicked the ball off to Chicago, Boswell was the recipient of a forced fumble caused by James Pierre. Boswell was in the right place, at the right time, to scoop up the loose ball and give it right back to the Steelers’ offense. I’m not sure if any Steelers kicker has ever recovered a forced fumble on a kickoff. Even if it turns out someone else has accomplished that feat, Boswell deserves a game ball just for that play.
The fact that the wizard missed a point-after attempt after successfully converting two earlier PATs loomed large as the Bears took advantage of a special teams recovery (of a fumble by Ray-Ray McCloud) themselves. The Bears turned it into a touchdown and that set the stage for Boswell to attempt the final 40-yard field goal to finally put the game to bed. Boswell nailed it and the Steelers just had to keep the Bears’ offense pinned deep enough, as time ran out, that the 65-yard field goal attempt by Cairo Santos would never make the uprights. Despite the call by ESPN, Santos’ kick didn’t even reach the crossbar, let alone hit it.
Boswell also made 54- and 52-yard field goals in this game to earn GOAT status on the night, overall.
Honorable mention
T.J. Watt: 3.0 sacks and he became the fourth-quickest player in NFL history to reach the 60 career sacks mark (in just 69 games). Nice.
