Steelers Squeak By Seahawks: Analysis Of Thrilling OT Win

Pittsburgh PA

18 October, 2021

8:03 AM

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PITTSBURGH, PA — Facing a backup quarterback, the Steelers blew a 14-point halftime lead and needed a heroic overtime performance by linebacker T.J. Watt and a Chris Boswell field goal to defeat the Seattle Seahawks 23-20 Sunday. Here's what sports writers across the country thought about the game: Brooke Pryor, ESPN: "The Steelers' defense is a bona fide roller coaster. It pitched a shutout in the first half, gave up 14 unanswered to start the second thanks to a plethora of missed tackles, then stymied the Seahawks in overtime. Grant Gordon, NFL.com: "While winning may cure all ills, it doesn't cover up reality. Ben Roethlisberger made some bad throws, including one right to Jamal Adams late. Steelers WRs had some bad drops. And the offense continues to be methodical at best and horribly plodding at worst." Jared Dubin and Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports:"Why the Steelers won: Defense, defense, defense. It's been common this year to credit Pittsburgh's "D" for most of the team's success, and rightfully so. But Sunday night was one of the clearest examples yet that T.J. Watt and Co. are driving this train." Albert Breer, Sports Illustrated: "T.J. Watt falling to 30th in the 2017 draft seems nuts now. Overtime against the Seahawks on Sunday night was the second time he's almost single-handedly finished off an opponent—he did it to Buffalo earlier in the year. This time around, an OT sack of Geno Smith on a third-and-4 knocked Seattle out of field goal range; and a strip-sack on Seattle's next possession set up Chris Boswell's walk-off, 37-yarder that put away a 23-20 win." Ryan Young, Yahoo Sports:"Though Ben Roethlisberger led Pittsburgh to a much-needed win — they've now won two straight after winning just once in its first four contests of the season — he had one really bad fumble in which he appeared to stop his throw halfway through the process. Sunday night's victory, though it is a win, wasn't great by any means." Next: The Steelers (3-3) have their bye week before facing the Cleveland Browns (3-3) on Oct. 31. Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe.