Steelers win season opener in dramatic fashion

Steelers Wide Receiver Diontae Johnson scores the team’s first touchdown against the Buffalo Bills on September 12, 2021 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

ORCHARD PARK, NY (GSM) — After a slow start to the 2021 season opener against the Bills, the Steelers got the “splash plays” they were hoping for.

Johnson had a modest 5 receptions for 36 yards. However, his score put the Steelers ahead of 12-10 in the fourth quarter. After the extra point, Pittsburgh was ahead by three and followed up with a blocked punt on the ensuing drive to quickly increase the score to 20-10 (including the extra point).

Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith runs in a blocked punt for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills on September 12, 2021 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

Steelers’ Head Coach Mike Tomlin said about his defense and special teams, “We needed a splash play like that. We spotted them three to start the game. At halftime I heard a lot of the core special teams players Derek Watt and others saying that we had to even the score from that perspective. We needed splash in that phase of the game, and boy they delivered and delivered big.”

Steelers’ Head Coach Mike Tomlin speaks to his team after a big defensive play against the Buffalo Bills on September 12, 2021 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

The final score was Steelers 23 – Bills 16. Pittsburgh will host the Las Vegas Raiders on September 19th in the 2021 home opener at Heinz Field.


BRIAN COOK IS AN EMMY-NOMINATED INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SINCE 2005. HE CAN BE REACHED AT BCOOK@GOLDENSKYMEDIA.COM.

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