Plays of the Year: Steelers’ Rudolph, Washington connect for their first touchdowns of season
Steel City Underground presents “Plays of the Year” featuring the top runs, catches, hits and everything else in-between from the Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers offense started off hot in Week 10’s duel with the Detroit Lions. After taking the opening kickoff, Pittsburgh orchestrated an 83-yard drive that was capped off with a nine-yard touchdown hookup between Mason Rudolph and James Washington.
With Ben Roethlisberger on the COVID-19 protocol, Rudolph earned his first start of the season as the Steelers’ quarterback: on short notice too, as the announcement was made around 7pm ET on Saturday evening!
That didn’t seem to phase the backup QB, as Rudolph led the offense down the field with balance. Pittsburgh opted to utilize the run and the pass in almost equal measure, as rookie running back Najee Harris gained 24 yards on five carries. Rudolph went four-for-four through the air.
The touchdown play to Washington was prefaced by a play that involved a high snap from Kendrick Green that Rudolph managed to control as the offensive line held off the pass rush of Detroit. The play went for a nice catch-and-run by Ray-Ray McCloud. Finding a rhythm, Rudolph attempted a pass to Washington that was knocked away due to defensive pass interference on Amani Oruwariye.
On third-and-eight just three plays later, Rudolph was able to find his former collegiate teammate, Washington, wide open to the right side of the end zone. The ball was placed high and Washington leaped up with no pressure to score his first receiving touchdown of the 2021 NFL regular season.
The play was also Rudolph’s first touchdown this season.
Although the Steelers offense once again scored on their opening possession, they cooled off in their next four possessions, which created a need for overtime.
Washington finished the game with two receptions on six targets for 15 yards, as well.
In the bonus football period, Rudolph would take a strike downfield, connecting with Diontae Johnson on a 36-yard pass. However, the Steelers top receiver would fumble the ball away.
This almost doomed the Steelers, but Lions kicker Ryan Santoso would miss a 48-yard field goal, giving Pittsburgh another opportunity. An aborted snap on the next drive would doom the Steelers offense to punting the ball back, but they’d get yet another shot – but as Johnson did earlier, Pat Freiermuth would also fumble while setting up field position for a potential Chris Boswell game-winning kick.
This would result in a final score of 16-16, for a tie between the teams.