Calvin Austin III scores twice as the Steelers defeat the Giants 26-18
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin took a moment to speak with Calvin Austin III prior to the undersized wide receiver's punt return in the third quarter of a rather uneventful game against the New York Giants.
The Steelers were struggling, with the offense managing to advance the ball but failing to reach the end zone. Tomlin recognized that the 5-foot-9, 162-pound Austin had come close to achieving a significant return on several occasions this season. The NFL's longest-serving head coach had a strong intuition.
“I believed it was his moment,” Tomlin remarked. “He felt it was his moment as well. And he came through.”
Not just once, but on two occasions.
Austin, who had messaged his friends over the weekend about his anticipation of a big play, dashed across the field and completed a 73-yard touchdown run following Tomlin's motivational words. He subsequently added a 29-yard, over-the-shoulder touchdown reception, providing the Steelers with the momentum necessary to secure a 26-18 victory over the Giants on Monday night.
With this win, Pittsburgh (6-2) extended its streak to 22 consecutive home victories on Monday nights, bolstered by Austin's dynamic performance and a couple of crucial late turnovers. T.J. Watt executed a strip-sack on Daniel Jones with under three minutes remaining, halting one of New York's drives, while rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop intercepted Jones with 42 seconds left to seal the game.
Tomlin remarked, “The game did not flow as smoothly as we would have preferred, but that is the nature of football. We must be cautious about placing too much emphasis on style points.”
This was fortunate, as style points were scarce on a night when three touchdowns—two for Pittsburgh and one for New York—were disallowed, the teams incurred a total of 16 penalties, and offensive drives frequently stalled near the red zone.
The Steelers secured their third consecutive victory and enter their bye week with a one-game lead over Baltimore in the AFC North. After depending significantly on their defense during the initial month of the season, the Steelers' offense has gained momentum since Wilson returned from a calf injury that sidelined him for the first six games.
In his second home start as a Steeler, the 35-year-old quarterback completed 20 of 28 passes for 278 yards. His only significant error was a fumble with 4:42 left in the game, which briefly gave the Giants (2-6) a chance to capitalize.
Watt quickly extinguished that opportunity moments later when New York chose not to double-team him while driving for a potential tying score.
“He possesses a distinctive talent and approach,” Tomlin stated. “The results he achieves are equally unique.”
Najee Harris rushed for 114 yards, marking the first time in his career that he has surpassed 100 yards in three consecutive games. Chris Boswell contributed four field goals, providing crucial support for an offense that often struggled in New York's territory.
Wilson effectively distributed the ball, connecting with eight different players, which is a promising sign for a team that has perhaps overly relied on George Pickens for offensive production.
Austin recorded three receptions for 54 yards, while Van Jefferson added four receptions for 62 yards. Even third-string tight end MyCole Pruitt managed to catch a pass.
Wilson remarked, "Men are believers."
Austin exemplifies this belief perhaps more than anyone else. Prior to games, the third-year player dedicates time to reviewing notes he has saved on his phone, which contain remarks from skeptics who doubted his ability to succeed in the NFL due to his size. Nevertheless, he found himself in a celebratory atmosphere, listening to fans chant his name after Pittsburgh concluded a promising first two months of the season.
"We are all competitors," Austin stated. "We will always rely on ourselves, no matter what."
Giants rookie Tyrone Tracy achieved a season-high of 145 rushing yards, highlighted by a 45-yard dash early in the fourth quarter that narrowed New York's deficit to eight points. The Giants attempted a two-point conversion, but a poorly conceived play directed at rookie receiver Malik Nabers behind the line of scrimmage was easily thwarted.
Jones, who was benched during the fourth quarter of a lopsided defeat to Philadelphia the previous week, completed 24 of 38 passes for 264 yards, including a late interception. Darius Slayton recorded four receptions for 108 yards, while Nabers caught seven passes for 72 yards.
Greg Joseph successfully kicked four field goals for the Giants, who were hampered by 11 penalties totaling 65 yards and a defense that allowed the suddenly formidable Wilson-led Steelers offense to accumulate 426 yards.
"There were many positive aspects, but not enough of them," commented New York coach Brian Daboll.
This pattern has persisted for the Giants, who now hold a 2-6 record for the second consecutive season. Two years after a breakout season that culminated in a playoff appearance and a lucrative contract extension for Jones, the franchise seems to be at a crossroads.
While there were moments of improvement against the Steelers, the Giants were ultimately undone by the same errors—penalties, turnovers, and missed assignments—that have become alarmingly frequent during their decline.
"We caused a lot of our own problems tonight," Jones expressed. "That is the most frustrating aspect. We need to be more meticulous, starting with myself. The positive moments were overshadowed by our mistakes."
SportsLigue