Watch: Mason Rudolph’s first NFL completion a fleaflicker 45 yards to Smith-Schuster

Steel City Underground will pick a play of the game from each side of the ball each week of the Steelers 2019 season. Stay tuned as we hand-select the very best from the black and gold!

With Ben Roethlisberger relegated to the sidelines due to an elbow injury, Mason Rudolph entered the second half of Sunday’s game at Heinz Field to run the Pittsburgh Steelers offense against the Seattle Seahawks. Rudolph, who earned the backup spot during the preseason per quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner, came in on his second offensive series and was given the perfect play to keep Seattle honest.

After a pass from the shotgun short to Xavier Grimble fell incomplete and a 14-yard scamper by James Conner, Rudolph took the next snap with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter. With Conner to his right and Vance McDonald lined up just off of the offensive line in a blocking position, Rudolph handed the ball off as both the running back and tight end burst to the left. Conner, hidden by the pile, pitched the ball back to Rudolph who unloaded deep. JuJu Smith-Schuster, who had sold the play initially as a run, broke into a run and beat Seattle’s Lano Hill to go up for an over-the-shoulder catch that was beautiful.

Officially, the play would be marked as a 45-yard gain for the Steelers offense.

The Steelers would attempt two run plays with Conner, who left the game due to injury, in the series before Rudolph found Smith-Schuster again for a five-yard toss-and-catch that set up a 33-yard field goal by Chris Boswell and edge Pittsburgh closer, at 13-14 on the scoreboard.

The play was definitely one of the best in the Week 2 matchup from either team. A lot of credit for its success should be given to exceptional up-front blocking from the offensive line, McDonald and Conner after he tossed the ball back to Rudolph.