Watch: Killebrew punt block sets up potential Steelers comeback

Steel City Underground will pick an exceptional play of the game as a highlight each week of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 NFL regular season. Stay tuned as we hand-select the very best from the Black and Gold!

Another week in the NFL in 2023, another game against a struggling opponent; the Steelers have had a bad two-game run in Weeks 13 and 14. In Thursday night’s “Thursday Night Football” match with the New England Patriots (Week 14), Pittsburgh looked unscripted and unprepared. One spectacular play gave the Steelers momentum that looked to turn the tides.

Trailing early in the fourth quarter, 21-10, Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe was unable to orchestrate much of a drive. On fourth and two at the New England 15-yard line, out trotted the punt team. Punter Bryce Beringer caught the snapped ball and was in motion to boot it away when Steelers special teams captain Miles Killebrew blocked the kick.

Killebrew is an ace ✨ https://t.co/lctDt4pbNt

— Christina Rivers (@3Rivers_Writer) December 8, 2023

The Patriots fell on the ball but that allowed the Steelers offense to enter on a very short field. Starting at the New England 26-yard line, it took just four plays for Mitch Trubisky to get into the end zone on a QB-keeper and then convert the two-point attempt with a zipped pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth to get Pittsburgh back in the game, down 21-18.

The potential comeback was thwarted by a false start call on long snapper Christian Kuntz during a punt attempt that could have been called offsides on the Patriots, a turnover on downs as a result, and then poor play calling and execution from Pittsburgh’s coordinators and offense as time whittled away to zero on the game clock.