Watch: Rudolph hits Pickens for 86-yard touchdown

Steel City Underground will pick an exceptional play of the game as a highlight each week of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 NFL regular season. Stay tuned as we hand-select the very best from the Black and Gold!

In Week 16 of the 2023 NFL regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in a game fans would dub something of an early Christmas miracle. The Steelers’ execution on offense was night and day above anything they’d put together the three games prior.

On Saturday, December 23, Mason Rudolph was called-upon as the starting quarterback. Following the opening kickoff and a quick stop by the Pittsburgh defense to force a punt, Rudolph trotted onto the field for the Steelers’ first offensive series. The first play was a handoff to running back Najee Harris; it wasn’t anything fans weren’t expecting.

On the second play, Rudolph got the stadium on its feet when he took the snap from shotgun on 2nd and 4 from the Pittsburgh 14-yard line and hit receiver George Pickens in-stride. Pickens weaved between defenders to break free and take the catch all the way down the field for an 86-yard touchdown.

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The play resulted in the longest pass-and-catch for a touchdown for the Steelers all season. It was also the longest since Week 12 of the 2018 season in Denver (Ben Roethlisberger to JuJu Smith-Schuster, 97-yard TD).

Pickens would finish the game with four receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns.

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Rudolph recorded 17 completions for 290 yards, 2 touchdown passes, and 0 interceptions. His play earned him the offense game ball.