Plays of the Year: Joe Haden’s first INT as a Steeler

by Joe Kuzma (joe_kuzma) on May 12, 2018

Steel City Underground presents “Plays of the Year” featuring the tops runs, catches, hits and everything else in-between for the Steelers 2017 season.

It took a little longer than expected, but Joe Haden finally made his big splash seven weeks into the 2017 season.

Originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2010, the two-time Pro Bowl corner signed with the Steelers following training camp and was instantly inserted into the starting lineup for opening weekend. That could be one of the reasons it took Joe a few weeks to get settled into the Steelers defense, but once he did, he started making an impact.

Midway through the third quarter, the Steelers held the lead, 23-14. The Bengals offense was looking for an opportunity to remain in the game and on their second down play, Andy Dalton tried to hit A.J. Green.

Granted, the play wasn’t the highest quality interception when you think in terms of the play: it wasn’t as if Haden sniffed out a route and jumped a receiver. In fact, the man he was covering, Green, is one of the best in the business.

However, as you can see, this play didn’t go the way the Bengals wanted.

But on this play, Green would bobble the pass, which would be tipped right into Haden’s hands before it could hit the ground at the Cincinnati 40-yard line.

The turnover set up the fourth Chris Boswell field goal from 49 yards to extend the Steelers’ lead, 26-14, en route to 29-14 Steelers win.

If there was any question that Haden would be a fit with the Steelers, his celebration would put those questions to rest. The former Brown embraced the Black and Gold early, and following his pick, he and his fellow teammates ran to the end zone to show the Heinz Field faithful some love.