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.

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER  

Steelers Fall to the Bills After Committing Overabundance of Turnovers

The line of scrimmage in the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills on December 15, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — The last game of the 2019 NFL season at Heinz Field is an “L”. 

The Steelers lost to the Buffalo Bills Sunday in a game that could have solidified their spot in the postseason. Final score 17-10. Quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges completed 23 for 28 passes and one touchdown.
 
Devlin Hodges drops back to pass on December 15, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The Steelers fell to the Buffalo Bills 17-10. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

The statistic that stand out the most however, is that he gave up the ball 4-times by way of interceptions. Hodges had this to say about his performance, “It’s disappointing right now obviously. You hate to lose, but I think after the first loss, how you respond is going to define who I am. Hodges said. “I mean, yeah, I’m disappointed right now, but in a couple days I’m still going to be who I am. I’m still going to be confident, still going to know that I can get the job done.”

 
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin gazes at the scoreboard as the final seconds tick away in the loss against the Buffalo Bills. The Steelers fell to Buffalo 17-10 at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin when asked about his team’s performance, gave more credit to how the Bills executed in all three phases also saying his men will learn from this matchup.
 
“They are a rough and tumble outfit. We have to tip our caps to those guys and congratulate them, not only on winning the game, but not blinking and making the significant plays in the significant moments. That is something that we pride ourselves in. We didn’t make those plays today.” – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on the Buffalo Bills
 
Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner carries the ball against the Buffalo Bills on December 15, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)
Running back James Conner saw action after returning from a shoulder injury that left him sidelined since week 11. In his eyes, the determining factor to the loss was a result of poor, “…execution and making routine plays.” Conner, rushed for 8 for 42 yards and scored the Steelers’ only touchdown on a reception from Hodges. Despite the score Conner said, “We couldn’t get into a good rhythm where we could be marching up the field and putting up points.” 
 
On a lack-luster showing when attempting to stop Buffalo’s rushing attack, defensive end Cam Heyward — who is usually a dominating force — said about the inability to thwart the Bills’ offensive attack,”Too many times our tackling was very poor in this game. You can’t just bottom down we have to fully wrap and rally,” Heyward said. “They kept the ball moving, got chunk plays and then they hit us for that critical touchdown at the end.”
 
The Steelers (8-6) will play their last two games of the regular season on the road, starting with the New York Jets (5-9) who are coming off of a loss to the Baltimore Ravens 42-21.

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.
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER