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Things got interesting in the NFL Week 13 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on December 1, 2024. Especially in the second half. The Steelers were ahead by ten points in the waning moments of the third quarter when Joe Burrow threw a pass that was picked off by Donte Jackson. The Steelers offense wasn’t able to convert the turnover and were forced to punt the ball back to the Bengals. And, then, two playmakers on the Steelers defense made a statement.
The Bengals started their offensive series at their own 11 yard line thanks to a good punt by Corliss Waitman. From the shotgun, Burrow completed two short passes; on the second to Tee Higgins, Joey Porter Jr. was called for defensive pass interference. On 1st & 10 from their 27 yard line the Bengals chose to run and then Burrow threw another short pass that was brought back due to an illegal formation penalty.
On 3rd & 8 at the Cincinnati 29, Burrow was looking for an opportunity to get a strike to convert the down when Nick Herbig, playing at right outside linebacker in place of injured Alex Highsmith, got off his blocker as T.J. Watt applied pressure from the left. Herbig was able to stretch out his right arm and strip Burrow as he made the sack. The ball, loose on the turf, was scooped up by rookie linebacker Payton Wilson and run to the end zone for a defensive touchdown.
Nick Herbig —> Payton Wilson: Strip, Scoop, Score
#HereWeGo https://t.co/lQJ9DeLEI9
— Christina Rivers (@3Rivers_Writer) December 1, 2024
The Bengals would get another two touchdowns in a frantic comeback attempt, but the Steelers were able to earn the team win with some smart gamesmanship of their own after securing the onside kick. Justin Fields, on an obvious keeper play, went untouched for a seven-yard run that earned the first down conversion, sealing the victory. The Steelers knelt down for two plays to run out the game clock and walked away with a victory, 44-38.
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