Category: Pittsburgh Steelers

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Steelers vs. Giants: Recap and Highlights after the Steelers 26-18 win

The Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants went head-to-head in Week 8 on Monday Night Football, and it put two teams on completely different trajectories against one another in prime time.

The Steelers, 5-2 and winners of their last two, hosted the 2-5 Giants at Acrisure Stadium to cap off what had been a wild Week 8 of NFL action.

Let’s get to the recap of the game and the highlights…

1st Quarter

The Steelers started with the football after the Giants won the toss and deferred their possession to the second half, and Russell Wilson and company took the football and quickly moved the ball down the field. A dominant running game resulted in what fans thought was an opening drive touchdown pass from Wilson to George Pickens. However, a facemask penalty on Broderick Jones negated the score, and it meant a Chris Boswell field goal was the result, making the early score 3-0.

The Giants answered with points of their own after a 43-yard bomb from Daniel Jones to Darius Slayton put the Giants in the red-zone.

However, the bend, but don’t break, defense held strong and forced a field goal to make the score 3-3 with 5:19 left in the 1st quarter.

After a big pass play to Darnell Washington, Najee Harris continued to dominate the Giants defense. He was essentially a one-man show as he moved the Steelers into the red-zone.

But for the second straight drive the Steelers failed to put a touchdown on the board. Again, settling for a Boswell field goal, and a 6-3 lead.

The Giants moved the ball easily, again, and were in field goal range as the first quarter came to a close.

Score after the 1st Quarter: Steelers 6, Giants 3

2nd Quarter

Starting the quarter inside Pittsburgh territory, the Giants kept shooting themselves in the foot with penalties, one of which negated a touchdown. When the dust settled it was another field goal to tie the game 6-6.

It was the same song and dance for the Steelers on their third drive of the half. Dominating the line of scrimmage, until they reach the red-zone. Once there, the drive stalled, even though it looked like George Pickens scored his would-be second TD of the game, but he failed to get two feet down and Boswell was on for another field goal. It made the score 9-6.

The Giants’ next drive was the first three-and-out of the game, and the first punt as the Steelers defense finally did their job.

With 6:45 left in the first half, the Steelers offense matched the punt when the Giants pass rush got to Russell Wilson for the second time in the half.

The Giants took the possession and tied the game with a field goal in the last minute of the half. The score became 9-9.

That score would hold into halftime.

Score at Halftime: Steelers 9, Giants 9

3rd Quarter

The Giants started with the football to start the second half, and it looked as if the offense was looking to put at least a field goal on the board to start the second half. However, when the New York offense got on the cusp of field goal range, T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith had back-to-back sacks to force a punt.

Both teams exchanged three-and-outs, but when the Giants had to punt the ball it was Calvin Austin III who made the next big play in the game with a dynamic punt return for the first touchdown of the game.

The extra point was good, making the score 16-9 with 4:38 left in the 3rd quarter.

Another three-and-out for the Giants and the Steelers offense started to warm to the task. After a big 3rd down conversion to Pat Freiermuth, a bigger conversion came to Van Jefferson down the sideline at the end of the quarter.

Score after the 3rd Quarter: Steelers 16, Giants 9

4th Quarter

Following Jefferson’s key conversion, it was another 3rd down play which resulted in the Steelers next score. After a hold on Mason McCormick on first down pushed the offense back, on 3rd and 7 Wilson found Austin for the touchdown.

Boswell was good with the point-after, making the score 23-9 with 13:16 left in regulation.

The Giants get back to their scoring ways on their next drive, and it is set up by a huge 3rd down conversion to Malik Nabers, and then a Tyrone Tracy 45-yard run for the touchdown.

The Giants went for a two-point conversion, and it failed. The Steelers still held onto a 23-15 lead with 11:07 left in the 4th quarter.

It didn’t take the Steelers long to attack the staggering Giants’ defense. After another 3rd down conversion to Van Jefferson, Russell Wilson went up top to George Pickens for 43-yards.

It set up the Steelers in the red-zone, but the drive stalled and resulted in yet another Boswell field goal. The kick was good, making the score 26-15 with 7:15 left in the game.

When you thought the game was over, the Giants’ offense refused to go away and moved quickly down the field with Slayton doing a lot of the damage going over 100 yards on a huge 3rd down conversion. A Malik Nabers drop on 3rd down meant a 48-yard field goal was all the Giants could get, making the score 26-18.

With 5:06 left, Russell Wilson did what he absolutely couldn’t do, and that was fumble the football while scrambling.

With the defense forced to go back on the field, you were waiting for someone to step up and make a big play. That player was T.J. Watt, and the play was a strip sack, which he also recovered.

The Steelers weren’t able to add to their point total, but they were able to flip the field at the two-minute warning.

With no timeouts, the Giants started at their own 5-yard line needing a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie the game. The Pittsburgh prevent defense allowed the Giants to get to midfield before a high throw by Daniel Jones was tipped and intercepted by Beanie Bishop His 3rd INT of the season sealed the win for the Steelers.

FINAL SCORE: Steelers 26, Giants 18

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Week 9 bye week.

Jeff Hartman

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