Watch: Heads-up, combat catch gives Steelers lead, Freiermuth fourth TD of season
Steel City Underground will pick an exceptional play of the game as a highlight each week of the Steelers 2021 regular season. Stay tuned as we hand-select the very best from the Black and Gold!
The Sunday afternoon game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns at First Energy Stadium was a highly-anticipated affair. During the offseason and preseason, there was plenty of talk from Cleveland fans on how they’d “own” the Steelers as they’d done at the end of the 2020 NFL regular season and playoffs. Pittsburgh fans, after seeing their team improve but still struggle, were not nearly as positive they’d get the win. Fortunately, a rookie fan-favorite stepped up for the black and gold and grabbed a key touchdown reception to continue to earn his “Muuuuuuuth” nickname and help the Steelers shut down the trash talk, at least for now.
At the half, the Steelers and Browns were tied at three points apiece. When Pittsburgh received the kickoff to open the second half, after winning the coin toss before the game and deferring, they weren’t able to do much offensively. Cleveland took advantage of a heavy run attack with a unique formation that created mismatches and capped off their first offensive drive with a 10-yard touchdown run by D’Ernest Johnson.
On the next offensive series, however, the Steelers answered by orchestrating a 12-play, 78-yard drive that required them to attempt a two-point conversion after Najee Harris vaulted into the end zone for six points due to a crushing hit on kicker Chris Boswell during a fake field goal attempt on the previous drive. Although Ben Roethlisberger was able to scamper into the end zone to convert, center Kendrick Green was called for holding; the review didn’t seem to show where the infraction actually occurred. That left Pittsburgh down, 10-9, with 3:39 left in the third quarter.
The Steelers were able to get the ball back and deliver another long drive for a touchdown; the offense took 13 plays to drive 83 yards. Roethlisberger was able to find tight end Zach Gentry open for a 24-yard toss-and-catch, after which Chase Claypool grabbed a short pass to bully his way for a tough 14-yard gain.
Roethlisberger was taking advantage of his tallest targets on the field, and he didn’t stop when he found rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth. Freiermuth was hardly wide open, though. Lined up in the slot to the right end of the offensive line, Freiermuth was inside the two receivers analysts predicted Big Ben would try to throw a fade or quick-toss to. Battling Ronnie Harrison, Jr., Freiermuth had the pass hit his hands and Harrison’s arm near the right end of the end zone. Twisting, the rookie was able to find the deflected ball, secure it, and keep both feet inbounds before Harrison forced him out of bounds.
Freiermuth has been a great addition to this 2021 Steelers squad. His fearlessness to make difficult plays has been on display early in his short NFL career. His talent at remaining aware in the field of play allowed him to secure his fourth touchdown catch of the season in a situation that would have been easy to have written off as good coverage by the Browns. Instead, Freiermuth gave the Steelers the lead that was never relinquished, 15-10.
