2023 Steelers Season Recall: Rudolph saves Christmas with win over Bengals
Steel City Underground presents our 2023 Steelers Recall: A Look Back at Pittsburgh Steelers games and storylines from last season.
Entering Week 16 at an incredible low point, the 7-7 Pittsburgh Steelers were in a state of turmoil. The team had lost their last three games, two of which came at the hands of two different two-win franchises. The third loss was an unexpected thrashing by an Indianapolis Colts team whose roster was mainly comprised of backups.
The Steelers were also relegated to playing a host of fill-in players, including at quarterback. Mitchell Trubisky, who started each of the previous two games, was benched in Indy for longtime backup Mason Rudolph. Head coach Mike Tomlin kept his cards close to his vest throughout the week leading up to a key divisional rematch against the Cincinnati Bengals, hinting that Rudolph would be given “every opportunity” to start.
And start he would, as fans started jeering if Rudolph could save Christmas, keeping Pittsburgh in the playoff hunt with a win two days before the holiday. Even the various betting experts at https://networkbirdlife.org/ had the Steelers as underdogs in their own building. However, the sarcasm would soon turn to excitement, as the season took a surprise, unexpected turn.
The Steelers stormed out of the locker room by forcing the Bengals to punt after six plays. It would only take Pittsburgh’s offense two of their own to find the endzone, as on the second snap from scrimmage Rudolph would connect with WR George Pickens for an 86-yard touchdown.
The magic was in the air as the Steelers scored 24 unanswered points in the first half, with Calvin Austin and Najee Harris both rushing over the goal line, and Chris Boswell adding a 50-yard cherry on the cake with four seconds to go before halftime.
The Bengals would answer quickly in the second half as the Steelers offense finally sputtered, as backup QB Jake Browning had his long connection to WR Tee Higgins for an 80-yard score. Browning would hit RB Joe Mixon with a short pass for a successful two-point try, but the touchdown scored by the Bengals would be their only of the game.
Pittsburgh grabbed three interceptions off of Browning. Patrick Peterson started the takeaways off. Then Eric Rowe, just activated from the practice squad, grabbed a pick. Highsmith wasn’t to be left out, grabbing the third and earning the defensive game ball.
If your #Steelers defense bingo card had Eric Rowe, Myles Jack, Miles Killebrew (as an ILB) and Patrick Peterson (as a S) please report to our office for prize.
— Joe Kuzma (SCU) (@Joe_Kuzma) December 23, 2023
Rudolph would once again connect with Pickens on a deep pass, this time for 66 yards and a score as the Steelers spun ahead 31-8. Pickens had a huge game, with four receptions, 195 yards, and two touchdowns. Both kickers added short field goals through the remaining 24 minutes of the game as the Steelers stayed alive in the playoff hunt, improving to 8-7 with the 34-11 victory.
Mason Rudolph, who finished with a 124 QB rating, was given the game ball, and upon the conclusion to the game the fans remaining chanted along to the overhead announce system playing the yuletide favorite, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
well, this was unexpected pic.twitter.com/svm5FMcfac
— Joe Kuzma (SCU) (@Joe_Kuzma) December 24, 2023
Unexpected? You bet. But more of the unexpected was yet to come as the fans left Acrisure Stadium’s final game of the 2023 season with an early gift. Would Rudolph remain the hot hand? Would the Steelers get some help to stay in the playoff race? This and more to come as we round out the remaining games of last season in our Recall series.
