The Pittsburgh Steelers are on the road against the Detroit Lions in front of what is basically a national audience for an important game in the playoff race of both conferences. The Lions are desperate for a win to stay alive in a very competitive NFC this season. The Steelers don’t need a win, but it could help set them up for a clinch scenario next week under the right circumstances.
This game will be a perfect test for a Pittsburgh defense that has shown signs of finally rounding into form after a tumultuous season. The Lions have the league’s No. 1 scoring offense with playmakers all over the field, though TE Sam LaPorta has been on IR, and a pair of starting OL are inactive Sunday with injuries. That will help even things out for the Steelers, who are missing T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig on the edge.
On the other side of the ball, the Lions have an injury-riddled secondary that the Steelers can exploit. Aaron Rodgers has a chance for a big day against a familiar NFC North opponent with both of its starting safeties and a starting corner on IR. The Lions have had some rough performances against passing attacks lately and now are dealing with even more injuries.
Dan Campbell always has his guys ready to go regardless of injury circumstances. Expect a physical, aggressive game from both sides as the Steelers have recently found their identity on fourth down with the “Spartan” (tush push) play.
Steelers’ Inactive Players
QB Will Howard (3rd QB)
OLB T.J. Watt
OLB Nick Herbig
CB James Pierre
G Isaac Seumalo
RB Kaleb Johnson
WR Roman Wilson
Lions’ Inactive Players
C Graham Glasgow
G Kayode Awosika
G Trystan Colon
S Jalen Mills
WR Dominic Lovett
DL Mekhi Wingo
DL Tyler Tracy
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START OF GAME
The Steelers kicked it off to open the game.
The opening kickoff was returned to the 28.
1st and 10, Jared Goff complete to Amon-Ra St. Brown for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, Keeanu Benton darted through for a sack of 8 yards. 3rd and 11, screen pass to Jahmyr Gibbs for no gain. Brandin Echols in on the tackle.
The punt went 52 yards, returned 9 yards by Calvin Austin III. 1st and 10, Aaron Rodgers incomplete to DK Metcalf. 2nd and 10, Jaylen Warren off right tackle for 11 yards.
1st and 10, incomplete to Darnell Washington. It had a little too much mustard, but probably still a drop on Washington. 2nd and 10, screen pass to Metcalf for 5 yards. 3rd and 5, complete to Washington for 18 yards in the middle of the field.
1st and 10, Kenneth Gainwell up the middle for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, Aidan Hutchinson around the edge for a loss of 9. Kenneth Gainwell’s angle on the chip was not good. They had to burn a timeout with the play clock winding down. 3rd and 14, the ball was tipped incomplete. The sack moved them into difficult field goal range. Chris Boswell’s 59-yard attempt was good. 3-0 Steelers.
The kickoff was returned to the 34-yard line.
1st and 10, Gibbs fumbled and lost 4 yards. Jack Sawyer helped force that, though it was moslty on Gibbs. 2nd and 14, complete to Anthony Firkser for 2 yards. 3rd and 12, Kalif Raymon over the middle for 13. Brutal conversion allowed by the defense.
1st and 10, Gibbs up the middle for 3. 2nd and 7, complete to Firkser deep middle for 18 yards. Patrick Queen was right there in coverage, but unable to make the play.
1st and 10, David Montgomery up the middle for no gain. Yahya Black made the tackle. 2nd and 10, Montgomery up the middle for 17 yards.
1st and 10 in the red zone, Joey Porter Jr. deflected the pass. 2nd and 10, complete to Firkser for 14 yards.
1st and goal, Gibbs picked up a yard. 2nd and goal from the 3, Jack Sawyer untouched into the backfield for a loss of 3. 3rd and goal from the 6, trick play handoff to St. Brown for just 3 yards. 4th and goal from the 3, Goff tried to thread one in, but Joey Porter Jr. broke it up. That was a 13-play drive that came up empty for the Lions. The 4th down aggression is coming back to bite them already.
1st and 10 from their own 3, Jaylen Warren was tackled for a 2-yard loss. 2nd and 12 from the 1, complete to Adam Thielen for 7 yards. 3rd and 5, complete to Calvin Austin III for 8 yards on an out route.,
1st and 10, Rodgers tried to pull them offsides before the quarter break, but no luck.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: 3-0 STEELERS
1st and 10, Kenneth Gainwell up the middle for 18 yards. Great job running through contact. What a season he’s having. CB Avonte Maddox was pulled by concussion spotters after the play. That’s a very banged up secondary.
1st and 10, Gainwell off right tackle for no gain. 2nd and 10, Rodgers’ incomplete deep to Metcalf. 3rd and 10, Rodgers tossed the ball away. The punt went 46 yards returned a few, but a penalty on the Steelers for going out of bounds and making no effort to come back in. A rare mistake by Ben Skowronek, but it cost them 15 yards on a pretty nice punt.
1st and 10, complete to Jameson Williams for 21 yards. Alex Highsmith nearly dropped him, but he got it off just in time.
1st and 10, David Montgomery stuffed for a loss of 2 by Highsmith. 2nd and 12, complete to Williams for 6 yards. 3rd and 6, complete to St. Brown for 20 yards. Penalty on the Steelers declined.
1st and 10, Highsmith stuffed Montgomery for a loss of 1. The run defense is strong. 2nd and 11, incomplete to Gibbs. He dropped it and Patrick Queen smacked him hard. 3rd and 11, incomplete to Williams. Jake Bates’ 36-yard attempt was good. 3-3 Even.
Gainwell returned the kickoff to the 28.
1st and 10, complete to Pat Freiermuth for no gain. 2nd and 10, complete to Gainwell for 4 yards. 3rd and 6, complete to Freiermuth for 3 yards. Three screen passes in a row. Not ideal.
The punt went 50 yards and Ben Skowronek drilled Raymond just as he caught it. Props to Raymond for catching that one. The Lions will start from their own 15.
1st and 10, Cam Heyward sacked Goff for a loss of 5. 2nd and 15, incomplete to Gibbs. 3rd and 15, complete to Shane Zylstra for a gain of just 5. Brandin Echols tackled the catch. A quick three and out. The punt went 55 yards and Asante Samuel Jr. was called for holding. That’s a big field flipper for the Lions.
1st and 10, Jaylen Warren around the left end for a loss of 1. 2nd and 11, Warren fought through a tackle and picked up 6 yards. 3rd and 5, Aidan Hutchinson through for a second sack. He lined up really wide and Troy Fautanu over set to allow an inside move.
The punt went 54 yards returned 13 with Christian Kuntz on the tackle.
1st and 10, complete to Isaac TeSlaa for 14 yards up the middle.
1st and 10, complete to Gibbs for 13 yards.
1st and 10, complete to Williams for 7 yards with Echols on the tackle. Echols was injured on the play. That’s a big issue if he’s out for the game. 2nd and 4, Gibbs off right tackle for 3 yards. 3rd and 1, Gibbs off right tackle for 6 yards.
During the commercial break DK Metcalf punched a Lions fan in the stands. That is probably going to come with a suspension or at least a substantial fine. Not ideal.
https://twitter.com/Steelersdepot/status/2002870231577059694
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
1st and 10 just outside the red zone, complete to TeSlaa for a touchdown. He was hit hard as he caught it, but held on. 10-3 Lions.
1st and 10, Rodgers incomplete to Metcalf. 2nd and 10, Metcalf dropped one over the middle. He’s definitely rattled by that fan interaction. 3rd and 10, complete to Pat Freiermuth for 11 yards to convert. Rodgers stepped up to evade pressure there.
1st and 10, complete to Freiermuth for 6 yards. 2nd and 4, complete to Metcalf over the middle for 6 yards to convert. They called Metcalf for OPI. 2nd and 14, complete to Gainwell for 3 yards with the clock running. 3rd and 11, complete to Thielen for 12 yards to convert. Timeout called by Pittsburgh.
1st and 10, incomplete to Metcalf. 2nd and 10, incomplete to Jonnu Smith. 3rd and 10, complete to Thielen for 13 yards.
1st and 10, incomplete deep to Marquez Valdes-Scantling. 2nd and 10, Rodgers complete to Kenneth Gainwell for 45 yards. That was the play of the year. Wow! 10-10 Even.
END OF 1ST HALF: 10-10 EVEN
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