A rare fast start. Three consecutive scoring drives, including back-to-back touchdowns. Two end-zone interceptions. A 200-yard rushing game.
And another pulsating finish in the same end of Acrisure Stadium.
What is going on with the Steelers?
When all the fingers were done being crossed and the collective exhales were completed, the Steelers held on for a 23-19 victory against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday — a game in which the offense started strong and the defense finished it off.
“That was easy,” coach Mike Tomlin said facetiously.
It never seems to be for the Steelers, who needed an interception in the waning seconds at the goal line for the second week in a row to hold off the Packers (3-6). This time it was safety Damontae Kazee, who intercepted Jordan Love’s pass for receiver Christian Watson on the game’s final play to secure the fourth victory in the past five games for the Steelers.
It left them at 6-3 and just a half-game from the lead in the AFC North, a complete reversal from their 2-6 start a year ago. Now, after playing three consecutive home games, the Steelers have back-to-back division games on the road — at Cleveland (6-3) on Sunday and in Cincinnati (5-4) on Nov. 26.
“We’re stacking games, that’s a positive trend,” defensive captain Cam Heyward said. “But we’re headed to AFC North football. That’s a different monster.”
For the second game in a row, the Steelers saw their much-improved inside linebacker position take another blow when Kwon Alexander sustained a torn Achilles tendon and will be out for the remainder of the season, according to sources. His injury comes one week after Cole Holcomb was lost for the season with a significant knee injury.
The injury leaves the Steelers with just two inside linebackers on the roster — Elandon Roberts and Mark Robinson — and could force them to sign one off the street.
The Steelers were able to move within a half-game of the division-leading Baltimore Ravens (7-3) because they got off to a quick start against the Packers, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions for the first time this season.
And when Chris Boswell kicked the first of his three field goals on the third series, it marked only the second time this season the Steelers scored on three consecutive possessions.
They did it by rushing for a season-high 201 yards, one week after they ran for 166 yards against the Titans. Jaylen Warren had the first 100-yard game of his career with 101 yards on 15 carries, including a 16-yard touchdown. And Najee Harris added 82 yards on 16 carries and scored on a 4-yard run.
Harris also had his fifth run of at least 20 yards after having just one all of last season.
“Once you get those two guys going, you can’t stop them,” receiver Diontae Johnson said. “They were feeding off each other. One guy makes a play, the other one makes a play.”
“It was a 1-2 punch,” said quarterback Kenny Pickett, who passed for 126 yards, his second-lowest total of the season in games that he finished. “You didn’t want to take it out of their hands.”
But after their quick start, the Steelers managed just two field goals in their next seven possessions. That left it up to the defense to hold off the Packers, who managed to get inside the Steelers 17 on five occasions but come away with just two field goals and a touchdown.
And Kazee’s game-ending interception wasn’t the only big play in the end zone.
Strong safety Keanu Neal picked off a pass for Watson that was tipped by cornerback Patrick Peterson on a 2nd-and-9 play from the Steelers 14.
The turnover came after Boswell’s 35-yard field goal the Steelers a 23-19 lead. Love had completed passes of 28 yards to tight end Luke Musgrave and 32 yards to receiver Dontayvion Wicks on 3rd-and-10 to get back inside the red zone.
“They just want to make the significant plays at the significant moments,” Tomlin said. “And it's a good thing because these games are always tight.”
It wasn’t the only big play by Peterson, the former All-Pro cornerback in his 13th NFL season. He blocked an extra point after the Packers’ only touchdown that forced them to throw into the end zone instead of kicking the game-tying field goal with no time remaining.
“I had a good jump on the snap, the wing didn’t touch me, and we already know the kicker is a little slow on his time,” Peterson said. “If I get the right step down, I have an opportunity to get a block. As it turns out, it was a big play for us.”
Gerry Dulac: gdulac@post-gazette.com and Twitter @gerrydulac
First Published: November 12, 2023, 11:39 p.m.
Updated: November 13, 2023, 2:51 a.m.