Takeaways: Steelers bag Giants with big second half
Steel City Underground offers post-game takeaways for every 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers NFL regular season game, focusing on the black and gold, just for members of Steelers Nation.
Headlining Monday Night Football, the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium for a game most fans weren’t expecting to be tied 9-9 at halftime. Thanks to efforts across the board, the Steelers were able to bag the Giants, 26-18, and move to 6-2 on the season ahead of their Week 9 bye. The Steelers now have the third best record in the NFL behind just the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions.
Some predictions come true
Every week, before the Steelers even arrive on game day, we scour the matchups to give Pittsburgh fans a preview of players we think will be key. On Friday, we mentioned four individual players and the special teams unit as Steelers we expected to have a big game against New York. We weren’t disappointed.
Calvin Austin gave the Steelers new life when he handled a third quarter punt at the Pittsburgh 27 and blasted 73 yards down the field and into the end zone to earn the first punt return for the black and gold in nearly five years. Credit special teams once again this week; the unit kept from drawing a penalty on the play and blocked well as Austin jetted for the score.
We expected Alex Highsmith to tee-off on the Giants’ offensive line, and he harried them all night. Highsmith hit quarterback Daniel Jones six times and earned two sacks on back-to-back plays; he added four solo tackles and two tackles for a loss in the game.
We anticipated Najee Harris could put yet another 100-yard rushing performance together. Against New York, he had 19 carries for 114 yards. His longest rush went for 26 yards.
Russell Wilson really came alive in the second half, throwing a perfect touch pass that rainbowed into the outstretched arms of a moving Austin for the only other Steelers touchdown that stood. Two potential scoring passes to George Pickens were overturned, one due to a penalty and the other due to both feet not coming down before Pickens was shoved out of the back of the end zone. An attempt to Van Jefferson also fell incomplete. Still, despite losing a fumble, Wilson finished the game 20/28 for 278 yards through the air. He overcame being sacked four times by the Giants pass rushers.
Sealing deals
T.J. Watt deserved the Player of the Game nomination from the Steelers following the game had it not been awarded to Austin for the receiver’s two touchdownd. After a small hiatus from “sack town,” Watt got back on track by dumping Jones twice, including a strip of the ball and recovery in the fourth quarter to make up for the ball Wilson lost on the previous series.
Watt has continued to find ways to motivate himself, and his teammates, to seal the deal in stopping opponents from making shots at coming back in the final quarter of games this season. The Steelers enter the bye having held their last three opponents to just 15 fourth quarter points.
Once again, rookie Beanie Bishop grabbed an interception – his third in two games. Bishop handled the bobble to secure it at the Pittsburgh 29 and ran it to the 34 before being pushed out of bounds. The turnover shut down any shot the Giants had to go for a last-minute score and allowed Wilson to kneel the ball in victory formation.
At 6-2, the Steelers hold the lead in the AFC North after the Baltimore Ravens lost to the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals fell to the Philadelphia Eagles.
T.J. Watt, Calvin Austin III, Dan Moore Jr., George Pickens, Beanie Bishop Jr., Najee Harris, and Cam Heyward talk to the media after the Steelers 26-18 win over the Giants on Monday Night Football. @TicketMaster pic.twitter.com/HHZ5IzuaML
— Steelers Live (@SteelersLive) October 29, 2024
