Steelers Hit of the Week: Kyle Dugger vs. Jared Goff

Steel City Underground hand selects the Steelers Hit(s) of the Week, a bigtime play that shook the opponents, following every game of the 2025 NFL regular season for fans to relive.

In Week 16, the Pittsburgh Steelers did something not many across the NFL – especially analysts – thought they’d do: beat the Detroit Lions. There were several nice hits by Steelers players this week to choose from, but our top one was a defensive score.

In the third quarter, the Steelers ate up a lot of time on a 10-play drive that ended near the goal line when tight end Darnell Washington had the ball stripped from his hands. As a result, the turnover set up Detroit’s offense deep in their own territory with both teams tied, 10-10.

Jared Goff threw an incompletion on first down as the Pittsburgh defense made a stand. On second down, a short pass gained just two yards. On 3rd & 8 at the DET 5, Goff was prepared to get the ball out quick and get the Lions offense into a better position on the field.

Steelers safety Kyle Dugger was playing close, and when the ball was snapped, zipped through the line to wrap up Goff for a safety and two points.

SAFETY‼️ @KingDugg_3

📺: #PITvsDET on @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/F2VXw2PJSQ

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 21, 2025

Runner-up play

We also considered a play late in the first quarter that resulted in a turnover on downs.

The Lions offense, in their second offensive series of the game, went 63 yards on 13 plays. Chewing up clock and testing the Steelers defense, Goff had his offense at the PIT 6 for 3rd & GOAL. He hit Amon-Ra St. Brown for a quick 3-yard pass over the middle.

On 4th & GOAL at the PIT 3, Goff tried to hit St. Brown again on a quick pass for a touchdown, but Joey Porter Jr. anticipated the move and hit the Lions receiver at just the right moment to break up the pass and prevent the score.

Once again Joey porter Jr will be a premier corner in the NFL sooner then most realize he’s played like a top 15 corner all season long What a game from JPJ (6 tackles 2 PBUS) Jpj now has a career high 14 pbus with 2 games remaining 🔒🔒🔒 pic.twitter.com/XjlY7UAN0l

— Grizz (@Grizzdasmoker) December 22, 2025