Plays of the Year: James Washington beats pass interference during diving touchdown catch

Steel City Underground presents “Plays of the Year” featuring the tops runs, catches, hits and everything else in-between from the Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 season.

The Week 13 rematch between the Browns and Steelers didn’t start off as planned. With the Pittsburgh Steelers offense struggling early in the game, things didn’t look good.

Too predictable, the Steelers were being outplayed by the Cleveland Browns defense. That resulted in the Browns offense, led by Baker Mayfield, putting up an early ten-point lead. Although the Steelers were able to get on the scoreboard via a field goal by Chris Boswell, it was a nice Devlin Hodges-led series that was capped with an amazing touchdown catch by James Washington for the second week in a row that allowed Pittsburgh to tie the game before halftime.

On first and ten at the Browns  30-yard line, Hodges took the snap out of the shotgun formation. Cleveland sent five to pressure but Jaylen Samuels remained in the Steelers’ offensive backfield to help protect Hodges. Looking left, then right, Hodges saw Washington streaking towards the end zone on the right side of the field as pressure came from the blind side.

Threading the needle, with Washington in tight coverage and the Browns utilizing deep safety help, Hodges lofted a pass as the young receiver looked for the ball over his left shoulder at just the right moment. Despite the coverage and being interfered with, Washington maintained control of the ball even though he left his feet to score a critical touchdown.

It was clear on the replay that T.J. Carrie had his hand on Washington’s facemask as the ball was on its way into Washington’s hands. Washington maintained focus on the ball and brought it into his chest, with the ball coming loose, yet it never hit the ground and was then controlled to make it a confirmed score.

The Steelers would go on to win by a final score of 20-13.