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 12, the Pittsburgh Steelers were down 3-7 to the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in the second quarter and we’re looking for a spark to get momentum swinging their direction. They got it on a slick pick by one of their young defensive backs who’d just recently been elevated.
The Steelers could – and maybe should – have been ahead due to a touchdown that wasn’t ruled as such. Diontae Johnson was able to grab a pass from Kenny Pickett in the end zone but wasn’t able to control the ball as he was brought to the turf. Regardless of the official call on the field (incomplete pass), and subsequent reaction of fans once replay (which head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed was not available on the Jumbotron in-stadium in order for him to know to challenge the play) revealed Johnson had taken three steps before being tackled out of bounds.
Regardless, when Pittsburgh needed a splash play, Trenton Thompson answered.
After receiving the second half kickoff, the Bengals offense was marching down the field, slowly but surely. They made it to the Steelers’ 18-yard line on nine plays after starting at their own 25.
On the tenth play, Jake Browning attempted a short pass to the left, meant for Ja’Marr Chase. Thompson, who joined the Steelers to bolster their depth due to Minkah Fitzpatrick‘s injury status and the loss of Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander at middle linebacker, maintained his position, read the route perfectly, and grabbed the ball for his first NFL interception.
The Steelers offense then went 79 yards on 14 plays and converted the turnover into a touchdown for the lead.
Thompson, an undrafted rookie out of San Diego State, who started with the New York Giants (2022 – made a one game appearance in Week 12) before joining the Steelers (2023), was playing in just his third game with Pittsburgh; fourth overall in the NFL.
More must-reads: