Steelers beat Lions at their own game, improve to 9-6

Well, after 60 minutes, 90 seconds of deliberation on the final play, one slap to a fan from DK Metcalf, and one Yahya Black middle finger, the Pittsburgh Steelers came out the victors in Detroit by the score of 29-24 to improve to 9-6 on the season, and get one step closer to locking up the AFC North.

The Steelers’ offense continued its hot streak, putting up a season-high 481 yards in what was one of the most balanced and efficient performances in franchise history. Pittsburgh totaled 251 passing yards and 230 rushing yards, as the Lions didn’t have an answer for anything the Steelers threw at them, specifically in the second half.

The Steelers tied the game at 10 with a 45-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Kenneth Gainwell with just two seconds left on the clock. Pittsburgh then controlled the clock for the vast majority of the second half. The Lions totaled -3 yards of offense in the third quarter, marking the second consecutive week the Steelers held their opponent to negative yards in the third quarter (Dolphins had -20 yards in Week 15). A 17-play drive that ate just under 10 minutes of clock ended in a Chris Boswell field goal, and a pair of 45-yard touchdown runs from Jaylen Warren put the Steelers up 29-17 with five minutes to play. Warren finished the game with 143 yards and two touchdowns.

Then everything hit the fan.

Jahmyr Gibbs scored a touchdown to make it 29-24 with 4:11 to go. The Steelers then marched the ball downfield and were set to go up eight with two minutes to play as they sent out kicker Chris Boswell. However, the All-Pro kicker had an uncharacteristic miss from 37 yards out after making a 59-yard kick earlier in the game. This gave the Lions even more life, as did consecutive penalties on the Steelers. A fourth-down pass interference moved the ball 14 yards, and a tripping penalty on Alex Highsmith gave the Lions an additional 15 free yards. The Lions made it inside the five-yard line after completions of 24 and 11 yards, but self-inflicted wounds did them in.

An offensive pass interference on Isaac TeSlaa negated an Amon-Ra St. Brown touchdown and moved the Lions back 10 yards. A false start on center Kingsley Eguakun sent them back another five. And on fourth down, all hell broke loose.

Jared Goff completed a pass to St. Brown at the one-yard line, who then fumbled, but Goff recovered the ball and dove into the end zone. A flag was thrown, and a long clarification ensued. The verdict was offensive pass interference on St. Brown, which then negated Goff’s touchdown and insanely ended the game.

It can’t be understated how massive a win this is for the Steelers. Doing this without both T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig was unexpected, to say the least, as was the manner in which they got the job done. Pittsburgh largely held all of the Lions’ stars in check. They outran the Lions 230-15. Jahmyr Gibbs had two rushing yards on seven carries. For reference, Aaron Rodgers had nine yards on two carries.

The Steelers also beat the Lions at their own game. They were the aggressors. Pittsburgh converted both of its two fourth-down conversions while the Lions went 1-for-2. The Steelers did everything the Lions do well, and did it better than Detroit.

With one more win and another Ravens’ loss, they clinch the division. Plus, they will know if they have clinched the division before they take the field next Sunday, as the Ravens will face the Green Bay Packers on Saturday. Now, Baltimore has to run the table and hope the Steelers lose out to win the division.

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