Kenny Pickett Explodes in Steelers Win Over Rams
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the fourth quarter trailing the Los Angeles Rams 17-10 with just 108 total yards for the game and zero rushing touchdowns for the season. But two scores on the ground from Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren complemented a stifling second half effort from the defense as the Steelers emerged with a 24-17 win out west.
The Steelers won the toss and elected to bring their offense out to start the game for the first time since the season opener against San Francisco but it yielded a familiar result - a three-and-out that ate up 1:22 of game time.
The Steelers were able to return the favor with a stop on the Rams' first possession. They benefited from a pair of drops from the ultra-reliable Cooper Kupp and a sack from Larry Ogunjobi.
Upon getting the ball back, Kenny Pickett hit George Pickens for 17 yards to convert on second and seven. That and a six-yard run from Najee Harris was all the Steelers could manage, however, and they punted after Pickett led Pickens into the sideline on a deep ball.
Pressley Harvin pinned the Rams back at their own six-yard line but Los Angeles got their drive kickstarted with a nine-yard run from Royce Freeman and a 30-yard catch and run from Puka Nacua. But after getting run over for most of the first quarter, Minkah Fitzpatrick flew in to stop Freeman for a one-yard gain. That set up a 53-yard field goal from Brett Maher, who missed his first kick of the day to keep the game scoreless.
Set up with good field position at their own 43-yard line, the Steelers found an easy rhythm. Pickett hit Diontae Johnson, fresh off injured reserve, for 14 yards and Harris rushed twice for a first down. But then Pittsburgh began moving backward because of a sack on Pickett and a blindside block penalty on Pickens, bringing up third and 17 as the first quarter ended.
Set back by penalties, the Steelers settled for a 53-yard field goal attempt of their own - which Chris Boswell made - and a 3-0 lead at the 14:51 mark of the second quarter.
The Rams couldn't respond in large part because of the two penalties that set them back to a second and 28 in their own territory. Los Angeles punted but forced a quick three-and-out to get the ball back.
Rookie Nick Herbig recorded his first career sack to set the Rams behind the sticks but a 22-yard hook up between Stafford and Nacua over the middle of the field. But facing a third and four inside the Steelers' 25-yard line, Joey Porter Jr. bottled up Nacua on a slant and brought up a game-tying 41-yard field goal from Maher.
The Steelers' next drive started with promise when Pickens hauled in a back shoulder throw from Pickett for 20 yards. But Pickens then alligator-armed what could have been a big gain over the middle and Pickett was pressured into an intentional grounding penalty that killed the possession.
The Rams then marched for a touchdown to take the lead largely behind just two plays - a 36-yard catch and run from Nacua and a 31-yard touchdown reception from Tutu Atwell. Atwell cut in front of a double-covered Kupp to haul in the long score. Maher missed the ensuing extra point, but Los Angeles nonetheless took a 9-3 lead with 17 seconds left and carried it into halftime.
The Rams had a chance to double-dip as they took the ball to start the second half, but T.J. Watt flipped the script by picking off Stafford and returning the ball to Los Angeles' seven-yard line. Three plays later, Pickett called his own number and snuck in the go-ahead touchdown to give his team a 10-9 lead with just over 13 minutes to play in the third quarter.
The Steelers had the ensuing Rams drive dead to rights when Keanu Neal broke up a pass on third and four, but with Watt having lined up offsides, they got new life and capitalized on it. Nacua terrorized the Steelers secondary, hauling in a pair of passes for 52 yards to set up Darrell Henderson's one-yard score. Kupp caught the two-point conversion and Los Angeles took a 17-10 lead at the 8:57 mark of the third quarter.
Pittsburgh could only answer with a three-and-out, but the defense was on the verge of getting the ball back again when they had forced the Rams in to a third and 12 just over midfield. But Alex Highsmith committed a neutral zone infraction to make it third and seven and Stafford ran for eight yards to move the chains.
But the Steelers rallied for another third down stop and Maher's struggles continued as he hooked a 51-yard attempt wide to the left, leaving the score at 17-10 as the third quarter ended.
The Steelers came out firing as the quarter turned, with Pickett hitting Diontae Johnson on the move for a 39-yard catch and run. Then Warren cut through the Rams defense, thanks to a key block from Issac Seumalo, for a 16-yard touchdown, the first rushing score of the year for this team.
Tied at 17, all with 13:49 left to play in regulation, the Steelers defense forced the Rams into their first three-and-out of the afternoon and put their offense in a position to deliver a knockout punch.
A taunting penalty on Pickens set them back but a back-shoulder reception from the same guy made up for it and a 10-yard run from Harris through the heart of the Rams defense got the Steelers into enemy territory. First down receptions from Johnson and Conner Heyward then set up a three-yard touchdown run from Harris to put Pittsburgh ahead, 24-17 with 7:23 to play in regulation.
On the ensuing possession, the Steelers' front seven got after Stafford relentlessly and forced the Rams to punt for a third consecutive drive.
Pickett and company took back over at their own 14-yard line with 5:38 remaining on the fourth quarter clock. Backed up in their own territory, Pickett hung in the pocket to hit a wide-open Pickens on a seam route for 31 yards with Aaron Donald bearing down on him.
Los Angeles got Pittsburgh to third and eight but the Steelers were bailed out by a defensive pass interference call on former Steeler Akhello Witherspoon. But Johnson was then flagged for taunting after the play, resetting the third down play. An Allen Robinson reception got the Steelers to fourth and one with 2:35 to play and the Rams holding no timeouts.
The Steelers attempted a quarterback sneak and Pickett earned the first down just by the skin of his teeth. The two-minute warning arrived and the Rams were unable to challenge a controversial spot, allowing the Steelers to kneel the rest of the clock out on their dramatic, come-from-behind victory.
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