Thread by @ASaunders_PGH

Kickoff and we’re underway between #Steelers and #Lions at Heinz Field.

@PghSteelersNow #Steelers offensive starters:

Rudolph
Harris
Freiermuth
Washington, Johnson, McCloud
Moore-Dotson-Green-Turner-Okorafor

@PghSteelersNow BREAKING: Mason Rudolph and James Washington played together in college.

Also hearing Derek Watt and T.J. Watt might be related.

@PghSteelersNow Eric Ebron returns to action against his former team with a tough catch over the middle.

@PghSteelersNow Touchdown, Oklahoma State.

Rudolph to Washington nine yards on the fade.

@PghSteelersNow Bo$ XP is good.

Pokes 7
Lions 0

@PghSteelersNow #Steelers defense starts in Nickel:

Wormley-Heyward
Watt-Bush-Schobert-Highsmith
Haden-Fitzpatrick-Edmunds-Sutton
Norwood

@PghSteelersNow I spent all week building up the Lions as these devil-may-care risk takers and they run on 3rd and 12?

Aren’t going to bite any kneecaps that way.

@PghSteelersNow Rudolph throws behind Kalen Ballage and it’s intercepted by Julian Okwara.

@PghSteelersNow END 1

#Steelers 7
#Lions 0

@PghSteelersNow #Steelers CB Joe Haden is getting checked out in the medical tent on the Pittsburgh sideline.

@PghSteelersNow Haden out of the tent and doing some test runs on the sideline.

@PghSteelersNow James Pierre takes his place on the field for now.

@PghSteelersNow Touchdown, #Lions.

Jermar Jefferson 28 yards right up the middle.

@PghSteelersNow Did people not think Ray-Ray was going to be the starting slot and a big part of the offense with the players they have available?

@PghSteelersNow #Steelers LG Kevin Dotson is in the medical tent.

J.C. Hassenauer replaces him.

@PghSteelersNow #Steelers will kick on 4th and goal from the 2.

@PghSteelersNow Bo$ doesn’t miss from there.

20-yard chip shop makes it

#Steelers 10
#Lions 7

@PghSteelersNow Kevin Dotson is being taken off on a cart. He’s not putting any weight on his right leg.

@PghSteelersNow #Steelers have ruled Dotson out for the rest of the game with a right ankle injury.

@PghSteelersNow #Lions having success running the ball, even with the #Steelers in base.

Really where they miss Tuitt & Alualu.

@PghSteelersNow #Steelers defense holds the #Lions to a chip shot FG attempt.

@PghSteelersNow Ryan Santoso hits the 20-yarder.

HALF

#Steelers 10
#Lions 10

@PghSteelersNow 58,716 is today’s attendance.

Apparently, #Steelers run D amongst the no-shows.

@PghSteelersNow #Steelers CB Joe Haden (foot) has been downgraded to out.

@PghSteelersNow #Steelers FS Minkah Fitzpatrick slow to get up.

@PghSteelersNow Fitzpatrick right back on the field.

@PghSteelersNow Touchdown, #Lions.

Godwin Igwebuike goes 42 yards through the #Steelers defense.

@PghSteelersNow Minkah Fitzpatrick and Devin Bush both with missed tackles on that run.

Lions miss the XP.

Detroit 16
#Steelers 10

@PghSteelersNow Might take Ben five more seasons to match Mason’s rushing total from that play.

@PghSteelersNow Not Dionte Johnson’s best game so far.

Two into his hands and a penalty.

@PghSteelersNow … and gives way a free play with OPI.

@PghSteelersNow Did not know Mason had a truck stick.

@PghSteelersNow Rudolph bounces a would-be TD to Ray-Ray.

Hate not running after 1st and goal at the 5.

@PghSteelersNow Bo$ chip shot is true.

#Lions 16
#Steelers 13

8:26, 3Q

@PghSteelersNow If you can get half of that 5 1/2, it gets you into the 2PC plays. There’s just so much more you can call from the 2 that you can’t from the 5. Also lets you go for it on 4th pretty easily.

@PghSteelersNow If any OC the rest of the season calls “naked boot to T.J. Watt’s side,” the QB should just refuse to run it.

#Lions going for it on 4th and 5 at the PIT 39.

Nope, just taking the delay of game.

Great heads up play by Ray-Ray there.

After Lions touched the ball first, zero risk in attempting return.

Trai Turner is not in the game at RG for the #Steelers.

Usual tackle Joe Haeg in his place.

Turner is in an overcoat on the #Steelers sideline, standing next to Zach Banner and OL coach Adrian Klemm.

T.J. Watt slow to get up after he and Joe Schobert collided knee-to-knee sacking Jared Goff.

Watt walks off the field under his own power. Pointing to his left leg.

Watt into the medical tent.

Taco Charlton into the game at LOLB.

END 3

#Lions 16
#Steelers 13

Detroit about to punt from its own 13.

Watt out of the tent and staying on the sideline for now.

Idk bout that OPI call. Ended up not mattering, though.

Bo$ bangs it from 51.

#Steelers 16
#Lions 16

11:31, 4Q

Running into the punter of Miles Killebrew is going to give the #Lions a first down.

Officially, Tre Turner ankle, questionable to return.

T.J. Watt, hip, questionable, to return.

Apparently, it will not be a first down. 4th and short for Detroit.

Lions have run for it on 3rd and long more today than every other team I’ve covered this season combined.

Man, Johnson stopped in the hole and Rudolph continued to lead him. Just missed a big play.

Exactly what it was.

https://twitter.com/JGaret167/status/1459985953527840780

#GrownAssMan

Heyward sacks Goff at the 2. #Lions to punt.

Rudolph had Pat Freiermuth uncovered on third down. Not sure he had time to see him after bobbling bad snap.

I wonder how much of this game plan has been modified to accomodate Rudolph being made the starting QB ~14 hours before game time.

It sure doesn’t look like much of it.

Things like slants and rhythm passing are what late-career Ben has made a living on, but that is Rudolph’s worst skill.

He’s best at throwing deep balls.

Of course, down 2 OL and 2 WRs, too.

Really nice PBU by Tre Norwood. Slightly out of phase, but made a great play on the ball.

#Steelers have 1 timeout and the ball at their 22 with 19 seconds left.

And they’ll give up on the 19 seconds.

END REGULATION

#Steelers 16
#Lions 16

I don’t get that decision at all.

Throw it up and hope for DPI.

#Lions win the overtime coin toss.

#Steelers will defend the south end zone.

Cam Heyward is having himself a hell of a season.

#Lions punt. #Steelers with the ball at their 17.

Next score wins.

Rudolph completes the deep ball to Johnson, but he fumbles at the DET 42.

Lions take the ball back at the DET 45.

Former #Steelers CB Mark Gilbert forced the fumble after he was beaten in coverage.

Goff intercepted by Minkah Fitzpatrick, but it’s coming back. Holding on Terrell Edmunds.

Correction, that’s holding on Devin Bush.

Roughing the passer on Tre Norwood and that’s going to put the Lions into field goal range.

After not throwing for the entire game, the Lions throw on 3rd and 4 and offensive holding will take them back out of field goal range.

No one deserves to win this game.

Lions will attempt a game-winng approximately 47-yard field goal into the open end.

Precipitation falling, wind is still.

Ryan Santoso doesn’t even come close.

#Steelers take over with 4:03 left in OT.

(Deletes third game story lede)

Snap goes over Rudolph’s head.

Steelers handled that better than the last time, which isn’t saying much. Harris falls on it for a 19-yard loss.

Steelers will punt with 2:36 on the clock.

Drives since the start of the 4th quarter:

51-YARD FG
PUNT
PUNT
PUNT
PUNT
PUNT
KNEEL OUT THE CLOCK
PUNT
FUMBLE
MISSED FG
PUNT

PUNT

Steelers call the game’s final timeout (blessedly) with 29 seconds left at the DET 49.

Diontae Johnson out of bounds at the DET 39. 15 seconds on the clock.

Pat Freiermuth fumbles. Lions ball.

There are 8 seconds left.

FINAL

#Steelers 16
#Lions 16

There are no losers in a tie. Unless you sat in the 30-degree rain to watch that game.

FWIW, I don’t know if the Steelers get lined up to spike the ball in eight seconds, even if Freiermuth hadn’t fumbled.

Also photographers. They lost. Shout out @ThompsonFoto12 getting it done in miserable conditions.