Watch: Huge special teams play seals Steelers victory

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!

It isn’t every week that an NFL team’s special teams makes such a pivotal play that it makes the highlight reels, but in Week 14 of the 2024 NFL regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers saw one of their gunners on punt coverage seal their victory over the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns had pulled within 13 points of the Steelers in the fourth quarter of the AFC North divisional game on Sunday, December 8, when two series went badly. The Steelers watched as Cordarrelle Patterson lost the ball and the Browns recovered at midfield. Then, Browns quarterback Jameis Winston threw an interception that gave the ball right back.

With around four minutes left in the game, Pittsburgh was unable to gain traction offensively, ahead 27-14, and Corliss Waitman punted the ball back to Cleveland.

On the punt, receiver Ben Skowronek – who has been really showing out for the Steelers, lately, in different roles – got a step on his blocker as returner Kadarius Toney attempted to handle the ball. Instead, Toney muffed the ball and Skowronek was in the perfect position to slide in and recover it at the Cleveland 20.

https://twitter.com/steelers/status/1865865814370304066?

Special teams coordinator Danny Smith has become something of a folk hero in Pittsburgh for the way his groups have found ways to make big plays. Skowronek’s recovery sealed the victory for the team on Sunday and gave Smith another notch on his belt.

The Steelers were able to run the ball for three plays before kneeling in victory formation.