Calvin Austin III’s two TDs steer Steelers past Giants
Calvin Austin III scored touchdowns on a 73-yard punt return and a 29-yard toss from Russell Wilson to push the host Pittsburgh Steelers past the New York Giants 26-18 on Monday night.
Austin broke a 9-9 tie in the third quarter with his thrilling return, and on the Steelers’ next possession, Wilson capped an 80-yard drive with a floater to Austin at the goal line. Wilson completed 20 of 28 passes for 278 yards in his second start of the year, and Najee Harris added 114 rushing yards on 19 carries.
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The AFC North-leading Steelers (6-2) won their third straight game and extended an NFL record by winning their 22nd straight home game on “Monday Night Football,” dating to 1992.
Giants rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. rushed for a career-high 145 yards and a touchdown on 20 attempts but left in the fourth quarter with an apparent head injury. Daniel Jones connected on 24 of 38 passes for 264 yards and an interception, with Darius Slayton making four grabs for 108 yards for New York (2-6).
Austin fielded the pivotal punt near the right sideline. He sped to the opposite sideline before turning the corner, headed downfield and slipped between some blocks on his way to the house. It was his first career return touchdown.
After Austin’s TD reception made it 23-9 with 13:16 to play, the Giants scored their first touchdown in nine quarters when Tracy broke off a 45-yard run. However, an attempted gadget play for the two-point conversion was incomplete.
Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell (27 yards) and New York’s Greg Joseph (48) traded field goals in the fourth quarter, just as they did throughout the first half. Both kickers went 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts.
The Giants had two late opportunities to drive for a touchdown, the first when Bobby Okereke poked the ball free from a scrambling Wilson and recovered it at the Pittsburgh 37. However, with three minutes to play, Steelers star T.J. Watt strip-sacked Jones and landed on the ball.
New York drove to the Steelers 35 in the final minute before Beanie Bishop Jr. intercepted a tipped pass, ensuring the Giants’ third loss in a row.
Watt and teammate Alex Highsmith each notched two sacks as Highsmith consistently beat starting left tackle Chris Hubbard, a journeyman New York signed off the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad to make his first appearance of 2024.
