The Pittsburgh Steelers won their sixth game of the season in an exciting climax to their Sunday afternoon matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The game’s final seconds were not without drama, though, as an all-out brawl between the two teams resulted from a game-ending interception.
The Crucial Interception: With the Packers positioned on Pittsburgh’s 16-yard line in the closing seconds of the game, quarterback Jordan Love tried a touchdown throw to receiver Christian Watson that would have won the game. Damontae Kazee, a cornerback for the Steelers, showed incredible defensive ability as he leaped the route and intercepted the ball, securing the victory for the team.
The Scuffle: Kazee chose to run the ball back upfield instead of just running out the clock. Zach Tom, the offensive tackle for the Packers, gave Kazee a hard shove as he approached the 32-yard line and started to go out of bounds. A physical argument ensued as a result, and Kazee ran into a Steelers coach on the sidelines.
The Situation Gets Serious: Kazee quickly stood back up and confronted Tom on the ground, which caused both teams’ players and coaches to dash to the scene. There was a wild scene of pushing and shoving as players from the Packers and Steelers sides joined the growing altercation.
The Steelers had already won 23-19, and the referees moved quickly to try and bring the game back under control. In order to protect the players’ safety and stop any further escalation, the officials worked hard. Luckily, the altercation did not turn into a more serious one, and the players separated to their own locker rooms.
Individual Performances: Danmontae Kazee had a noteworthy game with five total tackles, four of which were solo. Kazee also made the game-sealing interception. Despite the altercation, the Steelers played strong defense the entire time. Kenny Pickett, the quarterback for the Steelers, completed just 14 of his 23 passes for 126 yards passing on a really quiet day. Running backs Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris were the team’s mainstays. Warren led the ground game with 101 yards on 15 carries and a score, while Harris added 82 yards on 16 touches and another touchdown.