Plays of the Year: Steelers’ Johnson sprints for a 71-yard touchdown vs Ravens

Steel City Underground presents “Plays of the Year” featuring the top runs, catches, hits and everything else in-between from the Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 season.

In the final game, Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers went on the road and handed the Baltimore Ravens a 17-10 loss. Much of their success was due to the offense being able to produce an effective ground game, but that didn’t mean opportunities for throws weren’t taken advantage of.

Tied 7-7 deep into the third quarter, Mason Rudolph found the right matchup to send the ball down the field.

On 2nd & 7 at the Pittsburgh 26-yard line, Rudolph handed the ball off the Najee Harris for a gain of three yards as the quarter expired. On the next play – the first of the fourth quarter – the Steelers faced a 3rd & 4 at their own 29-yard line.

Rudolph took the snap from shotgun in the rain and was able to thread the ball to Diontae Johnson in stride. Johnson secured the ball and raced to the end zone with Ravens defenders trailing for the 71-yard touchdown.

https://twitter.com/steelers/status/1743781294130036939?t=RNEhIYrdJVLv0geIgLH9UA&s=19

The point-after kick by Chris Boswell was successful, giving Pittsburgh the lead.

The touchdown pass was the fourth such play of at least 70 yards during the 2023 NFL season for the Steelers. That mark was the most of any team in the league as no other single team scored more than two touchdowns of 70 or more yards per Michael Bertsch of Steelers.com.

The victory nudged the Steelers to a 10-7 record which enabled them to make the postseason.