T.J. Watt is going to the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday, and probably five years after his final NFL game. That’s not an argument anymore.
No defensive player in the NFL means more to his team. When the Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves in a difficult spot Monday night against the New York Giants, nearing the end of an ugly performance, Watt made the play to get them a win. It’s hard to depend on an edge rusher to make a game-winning play time and time again, but Watt has done it his whole career.
Watt had a strip sack of Daniel Jones with 2:59 left and the Giants deep in Steelers territory, needing a touchdown and 2-point conversion to tie the game. That was the big play of the night, and an interception with 34 seconds left and the Giants in Steelers territory sealed it. The Steelers won 26-18, escaping a game against a bad Giants team in which the offense wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard. Pittsburgh is a surprising 6-2 this season, while the Giants are a predictable 2-6.
Most division leaders are atop the standings with a star quarterback leading the way, whether it’s the Buffalo Bills with Josh Allen, the Washington Commanders with Jayden Daniels or the Kansas City Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes. The Steelers don’t have that type of quarterback, but they keep winning. A big reason is they have Watt to make plays like he did Monday night.
An ugly 1st half
For an indication of how the first half went, the biggest talking point was the touchdowns that didn’t count.
The Steelers had a George Pickens touchdown called back due to a face mask penalty on tackle Broderick Jones. Then the Giants seemed to have a touchdown to tight end Chris Manhertz, but there was an illegal shift on Malik Nabers. ESPN rules analyst Russell Yurk explained that it was technically the correct call, but it seemed like the type of infraction that is rarely flagged.
In the second quarter, Pickens caught what looked like another touchdown. The NFL looked at the replay and saw that Pickens never got his second foot down. It was incomplete and the Steelers settled for their third field goal of the night and a 9-6 lead.
The game was 9-9 at halftime. New York fans might have turned on the Yankees game before then. Then the Knicks game. Then they probably went to bed.
Steelers break through
Finally, there was something to break the boredom. Calvin Austin III took a punt outside of the right hashmark, came all the way back to the left sideline and nobody on the Giants took the right angle to catch him. He returned it 73 yards for a touchdown, the first of the game, and the Steelers led 16-9. Austin followed that up with a 29-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter. It seemed like a 14-point lead would be way too much for the Giants to overcome.
But the Giants finally got a spark. Tyrone Tracy burst through for a 45-yard touchdown, the first time the Giants had anything to be excited about on offense for a few weeks. That cut the Steelers' lead to 23-15. Then the Giants followed that up with an embarrassing 2-point conversion where they lined up their linemen wide and nobody reacted on the snap, allowing the Steelers to easily break up a quick pass.
The Steelers couldn’t quite put the Giants away. A long pass to Pickens got the Steelers in the red zone but they settled for yet another field goal. The Giants got a field goal back and then with 4:30 left, the door swung open for them to win the game, with Pittsburgh leading by eight. Wilson tried to scramble and when he was running, he got hit and lost a fumble. The Giants had the ball on Pittsburgh’s 37-yard line. They were driving when Watt, inexplicably, wasn’t double-teamed. He beat the right tackle, hit Jones and caused a fumble that was recovered by Pittsburgh. It was Watt’s second sack of the game, and he has 6.5 on the season. He has one NFL Defensive Player of the Year award and he might be in line for another this season.
The Giants got a stop and one more shot at tying the game, but they had the ball on their own 7-yard line with no timeouts. Jones rallied the Giants downfield but a high throw was picked off and the Steelers had the win.
The Steelers aren’t pretty, but they’re winning. At 6-2, they lead the AFC North and while the offense still has work to do, it has been solid with Wilson at quarterback. And if all else fails, Watt usually makes the exact play the Steelers need at just the right time.
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Final: Steelers 26, Giants 18
The Steelers have now won three straight, and now hold a 6-2 record. The Giants, on the other hand, have lost three straight and four of their last five.
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Steelers INT to seal the game
And that should do it. Beanie Bishop just intercepted Daniel Jones after a pretty solid start to the drive, and Pittsburgh will come out to take a knee.
Well, the Giants will have one last chance. They stopped Wilson on a scramble to force a fourth and two, which led to a Steelers punt right out of the two minute warning.
Daniel Jones will now have to go more than 90 yards with just 1:53 left in the game.
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Steelers steal it right back
TJ Watt just sacked Daniel Jones to force a fumble of their own, and the Steelers have the ball right back. That's a huge defensive stand for Pittsburgh to keep their lead in place with 2:59 left in the game.
SACK, FORCED FUMBLE, AND FUMBLE RECOVERY 💪 @_TJWatt
Daniel Jones led the Giants into scoring position, but Malik Nabers dropped a pass that would've given them a first down. They settled for a 48-yard field goal, and will need a quick stop here with just 5:06 left on the clock.
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Steelers 26, Giants 15
Ojulari sacked Russell Wilson on third and goal, so the Steelers had to settle for a field goal. They lead by 11 now with 7: 15
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Russell Wilson is dealing in the second half. He just hit George Pickens for a 43-yard gain to put the Steelers right back in scoring position.
They missed the two-point conversion, so the Steelers lead now 23-15 with 11:07 left in the game.
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Calvin Austin again!
Russell Wilson found Calvin Austin for his second touchdown of the night. Austin hit the corner of the end zone and landed a perfect 29-yard touchdown grab.
The Steelers have suddenly taken full control of this game. Russell Wilson just hit Van Jefferson for a huge 36-yard gain to close out the quarter and put them in scoring position.
That was a perfect punt return for Calvin Austin, who made it around to the left side line and ran it back 73 yards for the first touchdown of the game. The Steelers lead 16-9.
After having to punt themselves, Highsmith just sacked Daniel Jones again deep in their own territory. The Steelers will get the ball back after the Giants come back out to punt here in the third quarter.
The Steelers don't kneel the clock out and Russell Wilson completes two passes for 16 yards. But with no timeouts, Pittsburgh can't stop the clock.
Giants 9, Steelers 9 at the half
Ian Casselberry
Field goal: Giants 9, Steelers 9
The Giants can't convert a 3rd-and-5 with a pass to Eric Gray only going for three yards before getting pushed out of bounds.
On 4th-and-2 from the 25-yard line and one timeout, Brian Daboll opts not to go for it with 25 seconds remaining. Greg Joseph kicks his third field goal of the game, this one for 44 yards.
Ian Casselberry
Daniel Jones to Darius Slayton for 36 yards
What began as a conservative two-minute drill for the Giants now looks promising as Daniel Jones hits Darius Slayton for a 36-yard gain on 3rd-and-8 to the Steelers' 45-yard line.
Daniel Jones connects with Slayton for 37 yards on 3rd down!
Russell Wilson is sacked for the second time on this drive, this time by Brian Burns for a 10-yard loss. Dexter Lawrence created the initial pressure that moved Wilson out of the pocket.
Another @Giants sack! Lawrence disrupts. Burns cleans up.
We're at the two-minute warning and the Steelers will punt on 4th-and-13 from their 43-yard line.
Ian Casselberry
Jaylen Warren catches and runs for 18 yards
After Russell Wilson is sacked for a five-yard loss to give the Steelers a 3rd-and-12, Jaylen Warren gets an 18-yard catch and run and a first down.
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Giants go 3-and-out
The Giants have the first punt of the game after going three-and-out on their next drive. Matt Haack's punt goes 45 yards and the Steelers take over at their 18-yard line with 6:45 left in the second quarter.
Ian Casselberry
Field goal: Steelers 9, Giants 6
Steelers lose a timeout because they challenged a call that had already been reviewed.
The incomplete pass call stands and Pittsburgh has to settle for a field goal on 4th-and-8. Chris Boswell hits his third field goal of the night, this one a 27-yard kick.
Ian Casselberry
George Pickens' apparent TD catch ruled incomplete
Russell Wilson hits George Pickens on a flag route at the back of the end zone for an apparent touchdown. But he's ruled out of bounds after being hit by Deonte Banks. His left foot never lands in bounds.
New York has to settle for a field goal and Greg Joseph's 39-yard kick ties the score at 6–6.
The Giants committed five penalties on that drive, costing them 30 yards.
Ian Casselberry
Giants TD wiped out by penalty
Daniel Jones hits Chris Manhertz for a 16-yard score, but the touchdown is taken off the board due to an illegal shift penalty on Malik Nabers.
Both teams have now had TDs taken off the board with penalties.
Ian Casselberry
Giants convert a 4th down
A false start penalty on Greg Van Roten pushed the Giants back to the 38-yard line and a 3rd-and-12.
Daniel Jones completed a 10-yard pass to Malik Nabers and Brian Daboll opts to go for it on 4th-and-2 at the 28. Jones hits Nabers for a 5-yard gain and a first down.
Ian Casselberry
End of 1st quarter: Steelers 6, Giants 3
The first quarter ends with New York on a 3rd-and-7 at the Steelers' 33-yard line.
Alex Highsmith was called for roughing the passer that moved the ball to Pittsburgh's 36.
Ian Casselberry
Giants' offensive line opening big holes
Tyrone Tracy gets a 10-yard run, thanks to an enormous hole opened up by the Giants' offensive line. He has 21 yards on five carries thus far.
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Holding wipes out 20-yard run for Tyrone Tracy, Jr.
The Giants are hurt by another penalty. Tyrone Tracy Jr. rips off a 20-yard run, but it's nullified by a holding call on Jon Runyan.
Ian Casselberry
Field goal: Steelers 6, Giants 3
A one-yard run from Najee Harris followed by two consecutive incomplete passes from Russell Wilson means Pittsburgh has to settle for another field goal. Chris Boswell is good from 25 yards.
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Back-to-back big plays for Pittsburgh
Russell Wilson finds Darnell Washington for 29 yards!
The Steelers get a 29-yard catch by Darnell Washington and follow that up with a 26-yard run from Najee Harris. First-and-goal from the Giants' 8-yard line.
It's Najee Harris' turn for a big play! He goes for 22 yards.
Broderick Jones' facemask penalty was costly. It took a touchdown off the board and turned a 2nd-and-9 into a 2nd-and-24.
Steelers get a four-yard run and nine-yard reception from Jaylen Warren, but have to settle for a Chris Boswell field goal. A promising drive fizzles out at the end.
Steelers 3, Giants 0
Ian Casselberry
Steelers TD wiped out by penalty
The Steelers scored on an 11-yard TD pass from Russell Wilson to George Pickens. But a facemask penalty on Broderick Jones wipes out the touchdown.
Ian Casselberry
Dexter Lawrence's shoe comes off
Dexter Lawrence briefly came off the field, but it was because his left shoe came off. No injury, Giants fans.
Ian Casselberry
Najee Harris running hard
Najee Harris has 25 yards on his first three carries. His past two rushes each went for 10 yards.
Ian Casselberry
Steelers have the ball first
The Giants won the coin toss and deferred, so the Steelers will be on offense to begin the game.
Ian Casselberry
Steelers vs. Giants all-time
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