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Here’s our gallery from Pittsburgh’s win last week.
The Pittsburgh Steelers traveled out west and beat the Arizona Cardinals to improve their record to 8-5. It was another huge performance by the Steelers defense and we saw real growth from the offense. Check out this gallery of the best pics from the game.
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My observations and reactions to the Pittsburgh Steelers week 14 win against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Steelers took care of business against a competitive Arizona Cardinals team in week 14. The defense continued to roll holding their fifth straight opponent to 21 or fewer points. Devlin Hodges turned in an efficient performance and became the first rookie undrafted free-agent quarterback to win his first three starts. The Steelers have won seven of their last eight games and control their playoff destiny. Here are my gut reactions:
It was good to see the Steelers actually get to play with a lead. The offensive game plan was still conservative, Hodges finished with 16 completions and a touchdown on 19 attempts, but that was good enough for a win. Just as important as Hodges 152 passing yards was the fact that he didn’t turn the ball over.
Hodges’ contributions as a rusher shouldn’t be overlooked either. He scrambled five times for 34 yards and ironically outrushed counterpart Kyler Murray. Hodges an undrafted free agent beat the first overall draft pick at his own game, but his solid performance was overshadowed by Dionte Johnson’s breakout day.
Vote for your Steelers player of the game.
The Pittsburgh Steelers went out to Arizona and clawed their way to another win. The Cardinals put up a great fight but in the end, several Steelers stepped up to hold off Arizona and push the Steelers record to 8-5. Who is your player of the game?
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Cast your vote and tell us who your player of the game is. For us, it’s all about wide receiver Diontae Johnson. He put himself a highlight reel together on Sunday. First he returns a punt 85 yards for a score and then follows it up with a two-yard touchdown catch.
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We saw a more confident Duck Hodges on Sunday.
The improbable run of the Pittsburgh Steelers continued on Sunday as they pulled on a 23-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Nothing is certain but for right now the Steelers are the hottest team in football and look like the last team anyone wants to play right now. Here are our big takeaways from the win.
Over the course of his three starts, we’ve seen the confidence of Devlin Hodges go up each week. We saw the Steelers’ coaches open up the playbook a little more for Hodges this week and he responded. His physical gifts have never been in question but seeing him so at ease running the offense gives us confidence he can face off against teams like the Bills and Ravens down the stretch.
The fake punt went wrong in so many ways.
Late in the Pittsburgh Steelers win over the Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh attempted a fake punt that failed miserably. Two Cardinals came completely unblocked and destroyed punter Jordan Berry who barely got out of the starting blocks.
It was a truly bizarre play and it made little sense. But after the game was over, we got some clarity that made the play easier to swallow. Especially considering Pittsburgh won.
But what went wrong? According to head coach Mike Tomlin, the fake punt was his call and something they had worked on during the week. But where things fell apart was on the field when the protection guys called the fake off. A detail Barry didn’t get. Once the ball was snapped he did what he thought he was supposed to do but the rest of the team was doing something else.
P Jordan Berry: “The guys up front called it off and nobody told me. I just tried to make a run for it and I ran straight into some guys. I was planning on getting ready to run up there and they all shot off to go cover and I was like, Aw (expletive).”
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) December 9, 2019
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Pittsburgh controls its own destiny in the playoffs.
With three games left in the NFL regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to hang onto the final spot in the AFC playoffs. Pittsburgh is 7-1 in their last eight games left.
The AFC playoff picture is starting to round out with five teams officially eliminated and two teams clinching spots in Week 14. Here are the current AFC playoff standings.
1-Baltimore Ravens
2-New England Patriots
3-Kansas City Chiefs
4-Houston Texans
5-Buffalo Bills
6-Pittsburgh Steelers.
If the playoffs started tomorrow, these would be the matchups.
No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs
No. 5 Buffalo Bills vs. No. 4 Houston Texans
Bye: No. 1 Baltimore Ravens & No. 2 New England Patriots
Just behind the Steelers in the AFC are the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee is also 8-5, meaning there is no margin for error with Pittsburgh. The Steelers still have the Bills, Jets and Ravens. The Titans have the Texans, Saints and Texans again to round out the year.
One spot where the schedule could favor Pittsburgh is with the Ravens. Baltimore has the Browns and Jets before their season finale with Pittsburgh. If they win those two, they might have nothing to play for in that final game. The Steelers are likely going to be playing for their lives and might be doing it against Ravens backups.
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The Steelers fake punt try was so bad, it looked like it wasn’t supposed to happen.
Coach Tomlin said he called the fake punt. Said it was worked on during the week but team didn't execute it today. Tomlin said he takes all responsibility for it.
— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) December 9, 2019
Well, this one is a surprise. Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin spoke to the media just after their 23-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals and addressed the abysmal fake punt attempt late in the game. In watching the play it really looked like it was an improvisation by punter Jordan Berry because of what he perceived as pressure but according to Tomlin it was his call.
Tomlin noted it wasn’t executed properly which would be an understatement. Two Cardinals players came clean at Berry, forcing him to fumble and the Cardinals recovered. Arizona almost immediately turned the botched play into a touchdown, drawing the score to 20-17 late in the fourth quarter.
WTF Is This?! #Steelers pic.twitter.com/AqBWCNNpAO
— BlitzVideos (@BlitzVideos) December 8, 2019
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The Cardinals couldn’t keep up with the Steelers this week.
The improbable run the Pittsburgh Steelers have been on the last eight weeks continued on Sunday as they found a way past the Arizona Cardinals on the road, improving their record to 8-5 on the season and keeping them in the playoffs.
For the Steelers’ offense it was all about quarterback Devlin Hodges and wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Hodges was highly efficient going 16-for-19 passing for 152 yards and one passing touchdown. Hodges also rushed for 34 yards and extended several drives with his feet.
When Hodges did throw it was to wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Johnson finished with six catches for 60 yards and a pretty touchdown catch. Johnson also chipped in a second touchdown on an 85-yard punt return.
The Steelers defense put the clamps on Kyler Murray and the Cardinals offense. They held Murray to under 100 yards passing, picked him off three times and sacked him four times.
Pittsburgh now returns home and will welcome the Buffalo Bills to town on Sunday night. Buffalo is the No. 5 seed in the AFC as of now while the Steelers are the No. 6. This game could have huge playoff ramifications.
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The Steelers get a long special teams score.
85 yards TO THE HOUSE!!@Juiceup__3 + #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/ceVz05jvxr
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 8, 2019
The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers got a punt return for a touchdown it was 2015 when Antonio Brown did it against the Indianapolis Colts. But wide receiver Diontae Johnson changed all that when he took an Arizona Cardinals punt 85 yards to the house to give the Steelers a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter.
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Check out Steven Nelson’s crazy one-handed catch.
😱😱😱@Nelson_Island pic.twitter.com/T1TZEfhyHn
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 8, 2019
Some people say cornerbacks aren’t wide receivers because they can’t catch. Don’t tell Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Steven Nelson this. During warmups before they take on the Arizona Cardinals Nelson went high to haul in this ridiculous one-handed catch and even made the point to get both feet down in the end zone.
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