Total Sports Enterprises “Total Impact” Player of the Week (2017 – Week 1)
For each game of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2017 regular season, Steel City Underground in conjunction with Total Sports Enterprises (TSE) will award a virtual game ball, the “TSE Total Impact Award”, to one standout performer or performance.
This week’s TSE Total Impact Award goes to Steelers LB Tyler Matakevich, who helped Pittsburgh score their first points of, and possibly the deciding points of, the game.
With the Browns backed up to their own 16-yard line on a three-and-out on Cleveland’s first possession. Browns punter Britton Colquitt lined up close to his goal-line to kick the ball back to Steelers punt returner Eli Rogers, when Matakevich, a backup linebacker and core member of Pittsburgh’s special teams unit, broke free and fully extended his body to block the punt.
The ball sailed backward into the end zone, staying on the field of play where it was recovered by Anthony Chickillo for the Steelers touchdown.
Following the game, Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson had this to say about the play:
It was huge. Obviously, that is kind of the difference in the game when you look back. The momentum switched. We had a miscommunication there and let a guy go free. We didn’t handle that right early in the game. That is disappointing, but we have to grow from that. That happened early so we had opportunities to go make some other plays on both sides of the ball. We have to make enough when those things happen to get the chance to win the game.
The score put Pittsburgh ahead 7-0 early and they never looked back, as the points were the difference maker in a 21-18 victory.
Get a piece of the action
For a limited time received 40% off any Tyler Matakevich merchandise at Total Sports Enterprises. Visit http://www.tseshop.com and use promo code SCUMATA when checking out.
