Watch: Trice aids Steelers win with INT of Broncos’ Nix

The Pittsburgh Steelers were leading the NFL regular season Week 2 game on Sunday, September 15, early but the Denver Broncos got an opportunity to get back into it in the third quarter. Down 10-0, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was geared-up to strike the Steelers hard until the potential touchdown pass was intercepted by Cory Trice.

The Broncos started their drive with 8:54 left in the quarter at their own 15 yard line. On 3rd & 7, Nix took the snap from shotgun and found Courtland Sutton open for a 22-yard strike but was pressured from Cameron Heyward. That might have simply been a great hold by the Steelers defense, but cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was called for defensive pass interference, giving Denver a 1 & 10 at their 44 yard line.

On the next play, the Broncos went for some trickery. A direct snap to the running back resulted in a give to Nix, who’d lined up far right. Nix threw a deep pass over the middle of the field where the Steelers defense had broken coverage. Had Minkah Fitzpatrick not caught up to Josh Reynolds at the end of the 49-yard play, the result may have been a touchdown.

Instead, the 1st & Goal play stalled requiring Denver to try for a touchdown on 2nd & Goal. Nix took the snap from shotgun, intending to hit what appeared to be a wide open Sutton in the end zone. Instead, Cory Trice, who’d entered the game in place of injured Donte Jackson, read Nix and moved into the lane, got vertical, and grabbed his career-first interception for a touchback.

When Cory Trice grabbed this #Steelers interception – his career first – I felt all the air pull right out of the Broncos. Game-saving INT? For sure, it helped seal the win #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/9ugCTzyBP5

— Christina Rivers (@3Rivers_Writer) September 16, 2024

Trice spent 2023 on the injured/reserve due to a torn ACL.

His play, while technically not a game-ender, kept Denver from scoring a touchdown in the game they eventually lost, 13-6.

The play seemed to deflate the Broncos offense as a Steelers defense that had dominated up to that drive got a much-needed boost that resulted in holding the Broncos to field goals and one final offensive drive that ended with a Damontae Kazee interception.