Plays of the Year: Najee Harris scores his first career touchdown with the Steelers
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.
One area the Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to focus on more in their second game of the 2021 NFL regular season was improved offense, including the run game. Although the Las Vegas Raiders were relatively stingy along their defensive front throughout the game, allowing just three rushing first downs and 39 net rushing yards, the Steelers did find a way to get rookie running back Najee Harris involved in a play that allowed him to score his first NFL touchdown.
Down 16-7, the Steelers offense took a Raiders punt early in the fourth quarter, starting their drive at their own 20-yard line.
Ben Roethlisberger was able to find receiver Chase Claypool for a 52-yard receiving play and put the team in striking distance at the Raiders’ 25-yard line two plays into the drive. After a loose ball and miscue, Roethlisberger sucked it up on third-and-ten to give Harris a great opportunity to put Pittsburgh right back into the game.
From the shotgun, Roethlisberger avoided pressure and found Harris out in the flat just left of the hash marks and hit him in stride.
Harris avoided being tripped up by the initial Raiders defender and took off down the left sideline. As two defenders attempted to catch him and end the play, Harris extended his body to get the ball past the pylon, over the goal line and maintained control in a fantastically athletic play.
Chris Boswell successfully kicked the point after and the Steelers were able to get within two points of the Raiders, 14-16.
Harris, who demonstrated that he had a deadly stiff-arm move more than once in the game, earned high praise for his play in Week Two, including his first NFL touchdown. Unfortunately, the Steelers would drop their first home contest of the season by a final score of 26-17.
Harris would finish the 2021 season with 1,200 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns, while adding another 467 yards and 3 touchdowns receiving.
