By Mike DeFabo, Ben Standig and Cale Clinton
Talk about great first impressions. Just days after his acquisition from the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams’ first reception with the team was a 32-yard go-ahead touchdown reception from Russell Wilson just before the two minute warning. That touchdown would prove to be the eventual game-winner as Pittsburgh (7-2) beat the Washington Commanders (7-3). With the 28-27 win, the Steelers regain sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
FIRST TD AS A STEELER!!!!!!!!
📲 Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/qaxvtHNvcM
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 10, 2024
For most of the afternoon, Wilson was unable to spread the ball around to most of the offense. George Pickens accounted for 91 of the Steelers’ 195 passing yards and was the only Pittsburgh wide receiver with more than two receptions. Williams played just nine snaps before the touchdown play, forced into the game while receiver Calvin Austin III was being evaluated for a head injury.
After the game, Williams said he hadn’t run that route in practice with Pittsburgh since the deal. He added that Austin had run that route all week in practice, but after the young wideout was hurt, Wilson talked to Williams and told him what to do.
“It was for him,” Williams said of Austin. “He was out, so I went in there and made a play.”
Washington had the chance to answer the touchdown with a drive of their own, but Jayden Daniels’ 4th-and-9 connection to Zach Ertz was marked short and upheld by replay officials. Washington was able to burn all three of their timeouts and force Pittsburgh into a 4th-and-1 near midfield, but Wilson got rookie Johnny Newton to jump offsides and ice the game.
Daniels finished the game 17-for-34 for 202 passing yards. his lowest completion percentage (50 percent) this year and his second career game without a touchdown.
Pittsburgh’s decision to acquire depth at the deadline looked fruitful, and not just because the newly-acquired Williams was able to win the game. Steelers edge rusher Alex Highsmith went down in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury, with former Packers defensive lineman Preston Smith being the next man up. Pittsburgh running back Najee Harris also went down with an injury in the second half of this game.
Welcome to Pittsburgh
When the Steelers acquired Williams on deadline day, his 6-foot-4 frame felt like a nice schematic fit for Wilson’s moon ball. While his snaps were limited, that connection emerged in the biggest moment. With less than three minute remaining and the Steelers trailing by six, Wilson launched a prayer. Williams caught the 32-yard pass over the shoulder and dragged his shin for his first catch — and touchdown — as a Steeler. The ensuing point after gave the Steelers a one-point lead as they overcame a 10-point, third-quarter deficit and some of their own blunders, including a Jaylen Warren fumble at the goal line and a failed fake punt.
As Williams continues to build chemistry with his QB, there should be more opportunities for the recent addition to show he can be a deep ball threat to complement Pickens. An offense that looked broken just a year ago is beginning to round into form thanks to changes at QB and coordinator and the deadline day trade.
The Steelers other deadline day addition, Smith, could also prove pivotal before long. Highsmith had to be helped off the field with an ankle injury. Depending the severity, Smith could be thrust into the starting rotation to fill this void. — Mike DeFabo, Steelers beat writer
Steelers’ D has questions to answer
The Steelers entered Sunday limiting opponents to the second-fewest points per game but faced a considerable step up in competition against what’s by-far the most productive offense they’ve seen this season. For most of the first half, the Steelers held their own. That was until Daniels and the Commanders drove 94 yards in 15 plays just before halftime. The Commanders then came out of the locker room and marched 71 yards in 2:05.
Those touchdowns turned what was a 14-10 Steelers lead into a 24-14 deficit. Big plays, soft coverage over the middle and numerous penalties in the secondary were recurring issues throughout the rest of the game. The Steelers also lost corner Donte Jackson to injury. The defense will have to regroup quickly with a second-half schedule full of potent offenses. — DeFabo
Daniels finally looks like a rookie
This wasn’t Daniels’s most efficient game. That’s somewhat understandable, considering he played without his leading rusher (Brian Robinson Jr.), right tackle (Andrew Wylie) throughout, and a hobbled center Tyler Biadasz in the second half. Washington finished with 242 net yards, its fewest since accumulating 299 in Week 1, and just 60 on the ground.
The sensational rookie quarterback was also a bit off with his throws. Sometimes, they went long, and others lacked the needed loft for streaking receivers. The Steelers’ pass rushers’ maintaining a backfield presence from the jump made the usually unflappable Daniels appear a tad jumpy at times.
Connections with Terry McLaurin (5 receptions for 113 yards) continued, but the rest of the offense felt a bit off. Facing a stout Pittsburgh defense played a significant factor. All the injuries didn’t help matters, either. — Ben Standig, Commanders beat writer
Why Washington traded for Marshon Lattimore
The four-time Pro Bowl cornerback sat out with a hamstring injury and has yet to practice with his new team. Factor in a short week – Thursday at Philadelphia – and he was kept out of Sunday’s game. That worked out well for Wilson and Pittsburgh’s receivers. What that combination lacked in consistency, it more than made up for with spectacular completions.
That included a 32-yard touchdown strike to Williams, also acquired shortly before the trade deadline, with 2:22 remaining and Benjamin St-Juste in coverage. Others contributed to the struggles — Newton jumped on 4th-and-1 from midfield with 1:02 remaining. Dante Fowler Jr. (2 sacks) and safety Jeremy Chinn (interception, fumble recovery) provided highlights, but the mistakes and coverage misses were too much to overcome. — Standig
Required reading
- Steelers predictions at NFL midseason: Mike Tomlin wins award, first playoff game since 2016
- NFL strength of schedule takeaways: Which teams have the toughest remaining games?
- Commanders midseason predictions: Terry McLaurin makes Pro Bowl, Washington wins NFC East
- Adding Marshon Lattimore a display of the Adam Peters-Dan Quinn power couple dynamic
(Photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
