Following every NFL game in 2025, Steel City Underground parses the best plays from the Pittsburgh Steelers to highlight for Steelers Nation fans to rewatch, complete with what led up to the big play(s).
When it comes to divisional rivalries, the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t allowed the Cleveland Browns to come into their house and spoil the fun since a wildcard playoff win in 2021. On Sunday, the Steelers once again played a close AFC North game for a Week 6 victory, 23-9. Pittsburgh broke the game open, offensively, in the third quarter with a smartly orchestrated pass play for a touchdown.
Ahead 9-3, the Steelers defense forced a three-and-out in the opening minutes of Q3. That set up Aaron Rodgers and company, who had made it down the field in the opening half only to set up three Chris Boswell field goals, for an opportunity to find the end zone.
After an incomplete pass on 3rd & 4 at the PIT 27, punter Corliss Waitman got the ball away but was hit by C. Thomas – the officials called a penalty (running into the kicker) and Pittsburgh got the ball back. After a 10-yard jet sweep by tight end Jonnu Smith and an 11-yard run by Jaylen Warren with Spencer Anderson providing extra blocking, the Steelers converted a 2nd & 10 for 25 yards (Rodgers to D.K. Metcalf).
Three plays later, on 2nd & 10 at the CLE 12, Rodgers took the snap, rolled out right, motioned for tight end Connor Heyward to adjust his route in the end zone, and delivered a strike across his body. Heyward nabbed the ball to give the Steelers a touchdown; it was Heyward’s first of the 2025 NFL season.
8️⃣3️⃣ for six!
#CLEvsPIT on @ParamountPlus pic.twitter.com/SWeXUiJBpr
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 12, 2025
Ahead of the bye last week, rumors floated that the tight end usage had become solely a blocking situation with Rodgers as quarterback, and that Pat Freiermuth was a likely trade candidate. Those rumors got louder as early as three days before the Week 6 victory despite Freiermuth signing a 4-year, $48.4 million contract extension in September 2024.
Across the board, the tight ends – including Heyward – have seen less targets than initially predicted. According to a FantasyPros report, Steelers tight ends have been targeted 42 times with Smith (20) and Freiermuth (11) leading the positional group through six weeks. That ranks as 10th in the league – hardly a glaring issue. In the same report, the Steelers targeted tight ends 41 times (121 total times during the entirety of the regular season season.)
Heyward made the most of his lone target in this game, second of the season, by putting six points on the scoreboard.
Energy is ‼️ pic.twitter.com/BvJuZToMrW
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 12, 2025