The Pittsburgh Steelers approached Sunday with a must-win mentality.
With the Bengals returning to health, and the Ravens already atop the division, a loss would have put Pittsburgh at 2-3 going into the bye week, and looking up at everyone else.
Instead, they went home victorious, atop the division, and the third seed in the AFC. Here's how it happened defensively:
Defensively, it was one of the better #Steelers performances in recent memory.
— Rob G (@NFL_Rob) October 10, 2023
Started with Larry O hustling to force this fumble and flip the momentum.
Big man rolling. That’s A+ effort. pic.twitter.com/DrneUktshX
One thing that was omnipresent on Sunday in Pittsburgh, was the Steelers effort and motor on defense. No play encapsulates that better then this one with Steelers 3-technique Larry Ogunjobi, (who is well over three bills) getting downfield to force the fumble on the running back.
T.J. Watts first sack of the day, nice shoulder dip to flatten his path off a wide alignment. pic.twitter.com/V2buU7YHNz
— Rob G (@NFL_Rob) October 10, 2023
I said from the jump that Teej needed to have a signature game if Pittsburgh was going to win on Sunday, and as we'll see later, he did.
This rep is a thing of beauty though, especially from a player that is known as more of a power than a finesse rusher.
Fast forward to Joey Porter Jr.’s interception and this is really on Lamar more than anything.
— Rob G (@NFL_Rob) October 10, 2023
Steelers go mug out of dime personnel but the location on the ball is way off and JPJ snags his first. pic.twitter.com/oEoEhlCvhJ
Now, if that headline seems hyperbolic, it's not when you consider the division lead Baltimore would have had, on top of a surging Bengals squad. And this play was the one that did it, when just a few snaps before, Gunner Olszewski coughed up the ball and gave Baltimore the goalline setup to ice the game.
But then, Joey Porter Jr., when he needed to, in his infancy as a Steeler, makes the play of his life with the big guns closing it out:
The 11th pressure of Alex Highsmith’s career day, his nose for the football is why he got paid this offseason.
— Rob G (@NFL_Rob) October 10, 2023
The elite bend helps too. pic.twitter.com/LmudgOrLZx
Highsmith was paid to close out games, and force fumbles, something he did very well on Sunday. He's proven to be one of the best edge defenders in the league when it comes to forcing fumbles, a number he led the league in last year.
Finally, T.J. Calls game on 4th and 7 to seal the victory.
— Rob G (@NFL_Rob) October 10, 2023
No Morgan Moses was my biggest X Factor heading into the game and Watt took advantage. pic.twitter.com/8QqTwhetWh
The last play of the game and who puts the nail in the Ravens' coffin?
None other than the Raven's reaper himself, T.J. Watt.
His dominance is basically being taken for granted at this point, but we shouldn't, as watching him go to work every game day is like watching an artist paint a masterpiece.
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