- The Steelers stacked back-to-back wins for the first time this season, defeating the Atlanta Falcons, 19-16, at Mercedes Benz Stadium.
- Coach Mike Tomlin said it took all three phases to pull out the win, one that improved the team’s record to 5-7.
If you want to know the strength of the Steeler Nation beyond the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers around Pittsburgh, consider what occurred 685 miles south of Atlanta on Sunday near the Chattahoochee River.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium became Acrisure Stadium.
This was the case throughout this NFL contest, which the visitors dominated in multiple ways, but never more so than down the stretch.
There were only six minutes left.
The Atlanta Falcons were trailing the Pittsburgh Steelers 19-13, but they were driving on offence — first from their 26-yard line, then inside Steelers territory to the 23-yard line, and finally to the 17-yard line for second and goal.
Approximately 75% to 80% of the 70,325 people in attendance cheered wildly, and it wasn’t for the home team’s offensive players.
These fans waved Terrible Towels, the gold ones with black letters that represent the Steelers’ colours, because that’s what they do, but mainly because all of the Steelers defensive players on the field before the Falcons broke the huddle kept throwing their hands in the air and urging the Steeler Nation to get louder, which they did.
The Falcons were content with a field goal.
Moments later, the Steelers left town with a 19-16 victory and a 5-7 record after their third victory in four games, and they were able to credit the Heyward brothers, tight end Connor and defensive tackle Cameron. While Connor caught his first touchdown pass as a rookie, Cameron demonstrated why he is a five-time Pro Bowler in his 12th NFL season by recording the Steelers’ only sack.
Cameron also intercepted a pass and harassed Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota in general, and there was this: Earlier in the day, the brothers visited the Atlanta-area grave of their father, Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, who was a bulldozer runner for the Falcons for three seasons in the 1990s before dying of cancer at the age of 39.
Kenny Pickett, the rookie quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, compiled his own ranking of the Steeler Nation in each category.
“Yeah, it’s unbelievable. After completing 16 of 28 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown, Pickett told CBS, “Our fans are the best in the world.” “They travel to each stadium, and we feel at home in each one. They perform an outstanding job. We have a great deal of appreciation and gratitude for our devoted fans. Every Sunday, we give our all for them.”
The Falcons are in agreement.
