PITTSBURGH — — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin pulled Calvin Austin III apart earlier than the undersized large receiver took the sector for a punt return within the third quarter of a considerably lifeless recreation in opposition to the New York Giants.
The Steelers had been scuffling. The offense was shifting the ball, simply not into the top zone. Tomlin knew the 5-foot-9, 162-pound Austin had come near breaking an enormous return a number of instances this season. And the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach had a sense.
“I believed it was his time,” Tomlin mentioned. “And he thought it was his time. And he delivered.”
Not as soon as, however twice.
Austin — who texted his associates over the weekend that he was as a consequence of break an enormous one — sprinted throughout the sector and raced 73 yards for a landing after Tomlin’s little pep speak. He later added a 29-yard, over-the-shoulder scoring seize to provide the Steelers the enhance they wanted to beat the Giants 26-18 on Monday evening.
Pittsburgh (6-2) gained its twenty second straight dwelling recreation underneath the Monday evening lights behind Austin’s playmaking and a pair of late turnovers. T.J. Watt strip-sacked Daniel Jones with lower than three minutes to go to finish one New York drive, and rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop picked Jones off with 42 seconds to play to finish it.
“It wasn’t as fluid as we’d like however that’s soccer,” Tomlin mentioned. “We’ve bought to protect in opposition to (caring about) fashion factors.”
Good factor, as a result of fashion factors had been briefly provide on an evening when three obvious touchdowns — two by Pittsburgh, one by New York — had been nullified, the groups mixed for 16 penalties, and drives frequently slowed down close to the top zone.
The Steelers gained their third straight and head into their bye week main the AFC North by one recreation over Baltimore. After relying closely on their protection over the opening month, the Steelers’ offense has discovered one other gear since Wilson returned from a calf harm that compelled him to overlook the primary six video games.
The 35-year-old accomplished 20 of 28 passes for 278 yards in his second dwelling begin as a Steeler. His solely actual miscue was a fumble with 4:42 remaining that briefly opened the door for the Giants (2-6).
Watt closed it a number of moments later after New York opted to not double-team him with the Giants driving for the potential tying rating.
“He’s bought a singular expertise, a singular strategy,” Tomlin mentioned. “He will get distinctive outcomes.”
Najee Harris ran for 114 yards, topping 100 for a 3rd straight recreation for the primary time in his profession. Chris Boswell kicked 4 area objectives to bail out an offense that slowed down frequently in New York territory.
Wilson additionally unfold the ball round, connecting with eight gamers, a promising growth for a staff that has relied closely — maybe too closely — on George Pickens to make one thing occur within the passing recreation.
Austin completed with three receptions for 54 yards. Van Jefferson added 4 receptions for 62 yards. Even third-string tight finish MyCole Pruitt caught a go.
“Guys are believers,” Wilson mentioned.
Maybe Austin essentially the most. Earlier than video games, the third-year professional spends time studying notes he is stashed away on his telephone from doubters he discovered on-line who felt he was too small to make it within the NFL. But there he was within the aftermath listening to followers chant his title after Pittsburgh put the ending touches on a promising opening two months.
“We’re all rivals,” Austin mentioned. “We’re going to at all times financial institution on us, regardless.”
Giants rookie Tyrone Tracy ran for a season-high 145 yards, together with a 45-yard dash early within the fourth quarter that pulled New York inside eight. The Giants tried a 2-point conversion, however the ill-conceived play to rookie receiver Malik Nabers behind the road of scrimmage was simply swatted away.
Jones, benched within the fourth quarter of a blowout loss to Philadelphia final week, accomplished 24 of 38 passes for 264 yards and the late decide. Darius Slayton completed with 4 receptions for 108 yards and Nabers caught seven passes for 72 yards. Greg Joseph booted 4 area objectives for the Giants, who had been undone by 11 penalties for 65 yards and a protection that allow the all of the sudden potent Wilson-led Steelers offense pile up 426 yards.
“There was plenty of good issues, simply not sufficient of them,” New York coach Brian Daboll mentioned.
It has been that means for some time for the Giants, who’re 2-6 for a second straight season. Two years faraway from a breakout season that ended with New York making the playoffs and the Giants lavishing Jones with a profitable extension, the franchise seems to be adrift.
There have been flashes of progress in opposition to the Steelers, however the Giants had been undone by the sort of miscues — flags, turnovers and blown assignments — which have grow to be far to frequent throughout their freefall.
“We harm ourselves lots tonight,” Jones mentioned. “That’s essentially the most irritating half about it. We’ve bought to be extra detailed, beginning with me. The great things that occurred was negated by the errors.”
Steelers: Justin Fields served because the emergency quarterback behind Wilson and Kyle Allen after tweaking a hamstring in follow on Saturday.
Giants: Host Washington on Sunday.
Steelers: After a bye, go to the Commanders on Nov. 10.
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