Watch: Austin to the house on 73-yard punt return
Steel City Underground will pick an exceptional play of the game as a highlight each week of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 NFL regular season. Stay tuned as we hand-select the very best from the Black and Gold!
The Pittsburgh Steelers, in the Color Rush jerseys at Acrisure Stadium on Monday Night Football, needed a spark in the third quarter of the game after entering halftime tied, 9-9, with the New York Giants. In an electric play, one of the most diminutive figures – as far as size – on the field, in black and gold, streaked down the turf to make a huge special teams splash.
The Giants started their second offensive series of the third quarter at their own 26 yard line. Two penalties were self-inflicted, moving New York backwards on offense. Quarterback Daniel Jones was sacked by Alex Highsmith for a loss of six yards, and on 3rd & 22 a Tyrone Tracy run was stopped by Highsmith and Cameron Heyward. From the Giants 19, Matt Haack punted the ball 54 yards to the Pittsburgh 27.
Calvin Austin, at just 5’9″ and 162 pounds, fielded the ball cleanly and took off with a full head of steam. Receiving good blocking, and catching the Giants coverage team off-guard, Austin streaked down the field for 73 yards and a Steelers special teams touchdown.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1851085571739025445?
The play was the first punt return the Steelers had punched into the end zone in nearly five years and the successful point-after attempt by Chris Boswell put the Steelers on top, 16-9.
On the next offensive series by the Steelers, Russell Wilson rainbowed a deep pass to Austin in-stride and the receiver scored the only other touchdown the Steelers put together in the 26-18 victory.
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