A Steelers comeback defeats the Rams
Calif.'s INGLEWOOD - In the NFL, the team that commits the fewest errors and exploits those of its opponent's is frequently the one that prevails.
At SoFi Stadium, the Steelers experienced that
on Sunday.
The Steelers took advantage of a poor field goal
and extra point performance by Los Angeles, as well as a costly interception by
quarterback Matthew Stafford, to defeat the Rams 24-17 on Sunday.
Due to victories earlier in the day by Cleveland
(4-2) and Baltimore (5-2), the Steelers (4-2) were able to maintain their lead
in the tight AFC North. Week 7 was a bye week for the Bengals (3-3).
Under the leadership of head coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers advanced to 13-4 after their
bye week.
It's a fight, Tomlin remarked. "There's always a conflict. Man must occasionally contend with
himself. Man against opponent situations do occur.
"I'm impressed by the lads' fighting
spirit. They possess a "don't blink" mentality.
In addition to rushing for a touchdown and
helping the Steelers score their first three rushing touchdowns of the season,
Kenny Pickett completed 17 of 25 passes for 230 yards.
After a sluggish start, the passing game picked up in the second half with Diontae Johnson back
in the lineup following a four-game absence. Johnson had five receptions for 79
yards, while George Pickens had five grabs for 107 yards, his third game of the
season with 100 or more receiving yards.
Johnson's return was welcomed, according to Pickett. I believe you witnessed the impact he can
make while George and he are both outside. Both of these are difficult to cover.
The Steelers were in a great field position at
their own 43 after the Rams' second possession when they missed a 53-yard field
goal attempt.
But it might have been something more. The last play of the first quarter saw Pickett make a
crossing route catch with Diontae Johnson on third-and-9 from the Los Angeles
27. George Pickens leveled safety Russ Yeast as Johnson sprinted across the
field, collecting a penalty for an improper blindside block.
The Los Angeles 8 is where Johnson was forced out of bounds, thus the Steelers now faced third
down from the 35. In the second
quarter, Brett Maher converted a field goal from 41 yards out to give the Rams
the ball back and tie the game at 3-3, which it remained until the last minutes
of the half.With little over 3 minutes left in the half, a punt from midfield by the Steelers put Los Angeles back at its own 12 and forced third-and-3 for the Rams. Stafford moved the Rams
near midfield with a 36-yard gain on a crossing route from Puka Nacua, then on
a broken play, Stafford connected with Tutu Atwell for a 31-yard score.
Alex Highsmith's pressure forced Stafford to leave the pocket to his left, where he lofted a pass
near the goal line for a streaking Cooper Kupp who didn't seem to see it.
Atwell, who was already in the end zone, however, changed his strategy and went
back for the ball, grabbing it at the one-yard line and moving into the end zone.
However, Maher missed the PAT, leaving the Rams leading only 9-3 at halftime.
Things heated up early in the third quarter to make up for the lack of offense in the first half.
T.J. Watt ducked into coverage on the first play from scrimmage for Los Angeles and intercepted
Puca Nakua's short crossing pattern, returning it to the Rams' 7. The Steelers
took a 10-9 lead after Pickett's 1-yard rushing touchdown three plays later.
The Rams capitalized on a rare Watt error by
calling him for lining up offside on an incomplete third-down play, giving Los
Angeles the ball back for a little period of time. Darrell Henderson's 1-yard
run was aided by Stafford's 32-yard completion to Nacua on the first play after
the penalty, which was committed. With 8:56 left in the third quarter, Stafford
then connected with Kupp for the 2-point conversion, giving the Rams the lead
once again at 17-10.
Late in the third quarter, Maher missed another field goal, this one from 51 yards, and the
Steelers were 1 of 7 on third downs at that time, forcing them to face a
third-and-8 to start the fourth quarter.