Blocked punts often come from the sheer speed of edge rushers getting around the outside of the group of blockers. However, Saturday saw Pittsburgh Steelers’ tight end Connor Heyward get through straight up to block a punt from the Indianapolis Colts’ Rigoberto Sanchez. That led to Pittsburgh’s Nick Herbig recovering the ball inside the one-yard line, leading to a touchdown soon afterwards on a short pass from Mitch Trubisky to Diontae Johnson:
The Steelers blocked a punt that led to another touchdown, giving Pittsburgh a 13-0 lead in Indianapolis!pic.twitter.com/kgPLlxUeEG
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 16, 2023
This was the second straight week the Steelers blocked a punt. Last week, it was safety Miles Killebrew who came up with the block (his fourth since signing with Pittsburgh in 2021) in a 21-18 loss to the New England Patriots, with him doing so by beating multiple blockers on an outside rush:
A look at the blocked punt by #Steelers special team Ace and team captain Miles Killebrew pic.twitter.com/oQX5n3GewP
— Rob Gregson (@NFL_Rob) December 8, 2023
Miles Killebrew has blocked four punts since he signed with the Steelers in 2021.
The four blocked punts are tied for the second-most by any team in the League, let alone individual player, since the start of the 2021 season.#HereWeGo #NEvsPIT #BertschyBits
— Michael Bertsch (@SteelersPRMike) December 8, 2023
The Steelers are the only team to block two punts so far this season, with Dallas and Indianapolis each blocking one so far. And doing so in back-to-back weeks is impressive, and is important for them given their offensive struggles this season. Earlier this game, they also got another bounce, with a Trubisky fumble on fourth down overturned to a touchdown on review after it was ruled that he broke the plane of the goal line:
This chaotic play was overturned to a Mitch Trubisky touchdown after review showed that he broke the plane of the end zone. pic.twitter.com/cJ3FrnTd8u
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 16, 2023
The Colts did get a touchdown of their own on the next drive, and took a 14-13 lead into the half. But with both teams 7-6 and battling for the seventh and last playoff spot in the AFC (currently held by the Steelers due to tiebreakers), this is a vital game, so that Pittsburgh punt block may wind up looming large going forward.
[The Comeback on Twitter]
