The Washington Football Team spoiled the Steelers’ perfect season by earning a 23-17 victory in Pittsburgh on Monday evening. Here are four takeaways from the game.
Washington shows moxie, keeps pace in the NFC East: The New York Giants’ surprising win at Seattle on Sunday put pressure on Washington to follow suit against the undefeated Steelers, and Ron Rivera’s squad was up to the task, even after losing star running back Antonio Gibson to injury in the first quarter.
Suddenly, the NFC East is somewhat decent? With its first win against Pittsburgh in seven tries since a triumph at Three Rivers Stadium in 1991, Washington pulled even with the Giants at 5-7 and dropped the Steelers to 11-1. New York still owns the head-to-head division tiebreaker by virtue of sweeping the season series.
There was no shortage of heroes for Washington, including kicker Dustin Hopkins, who made all three of his field goal attempts, and Alex Smith, who threw for 296 yards. Washington hits the road again Sunday to play the San Francisco 49ers in Glendale, Ariz.; they were displaced by coronavirus restrictions in California’s Santa Clara County. Washington then returns home to face the Seattle Seahawks. The Giants host the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns over the next two weeks.
Pending the outcome of Tuesday’s Dallas Cowboys-Baltimore Ravens game, FiveThirtyEight gives Washington a 41 percent chance to make the playoffs.
Logan Thomas and Cam Sims step up: After feasting on porous defenses in recent weeks, Washington’s offense faced its toughest challenge of the season against a Steelers defensive unit that was allowing an NFL-low 17.1 points per game. A difficult assignment got even tougher after Gibson, who had scored seven touchdowns in his previous five games, limped to the sideline after a 13-yard run on Washington’s second drive. The rookie suffered a toe injury on the play and did not return.
Gibson and wide receiver Terry McLaurin had accounted for more than half of Washington’s total yards since a Week 7 rout of the Cowboys. While McLaurin was limited to two catches for 14 yards on Monday, Thomas and Sims proved there’s more to Washington’s attack than its two-headed monster. Thomas, the QB-turned-tight end, finished with a career-high nine catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. Sims, a third-year wide receiver, had five catches for 92 yards, including a one-handed 29-yard grab on third down that set up Washington’s go-ahead field goal late in the fourth quarter.
Washington’s defense was impressive: The Steelers were playing their third game in 12 days and did plenty to help Washington’s cause by dropping six passes, but Jack Del Rio’s defense deserves praise for another strong effort. With Pittsburgh leading 7-0 in the second quarter, Washington stopped the Steelers on five consecutive plays from the 1-yard line. Rookie Chase Young led the swarm of defenders who stuffed running back Benny Snell on fourth and goal.
After coming tantalizingly close to intercepting Ben Roethlisberger on several occasions earlier in the game, Washington forced the game’s first turnover after taking a 20-17 lead. Montez Sweat, who had an interception return for a touchdown on Thanksgiving, was a menace once again. Pittsburgh’s offensive line didn’t allow a sack, but Sweat applied pressure throughout the game. On first and 10 from the Pittsburgh 25-yard line, Sweat tipped Roethlisberger’s pass at the line of scrimmage and linebacker Jon Bostic came down with the interception to all but ice the game.
Washington overcomes mistakes: In its seven losses this season, Washington has been burned by the same sort of mistakes, including turnovers, penalties and big plays. Washington didn’t commit a turnover, but it overcame other miscues in Monday to hand Pittsburgh its second loss in 81 games at Heinz Field when it led by 14 or more points.
With the game scoreless late in the first quarter, Steelers return man Ray-Ray McCloud muffed a Tress Way punt. Washington tight end Jeremy Sprinkle had a clear opportunity to recover the loose ball deep in Pittsburgh territory, but it squirted out of his grasp and Steelers safety Sean Davis pounced on it to retain possession. On a fourth and short from Washington’s side of the field in the second quarter, Dontrelle Inman appeared to miss a block on cornerback Mike Hilton, who dropped J.D. McKissic for a loss of three. Before the first half was done, James Washington caught a pass on a short hitch route and turned in into a 50-yard touchdown after Kendall Fuller missed a tackle. Good teams find ways to win shorthanded and when they’re not at their best.
