The Pittsburgh Steelers survived a chaotic finish Sunday, holding off the Detroit Lions 29-24 in a game that swung wildly in the final minutes and pushed the Lions to the brink of playoff elimination.
Detroit appeared poised to steal the win after erasing a 12-point deficit with just over four minutes left. But the Lions’ late-game heroics unraveled when a fourth-down touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown was negated by an offensive pass-interference penalty. Officials huddled on the field before announcing the call, sparking dismay among the home crowd at Ford Field.
On the play, rookie Isaac TeSlaa was called for pass interference for setting a pick that freed up St. Brown, nullifying Goff’s apparent 1-yard TD. The drama capped a wild sequence in which Detroit had two touchdowns erased by penalties in the final minute.
The loss drops the Lions (8-7) into a precarious playoff position, with only an 8% chance of making the postseason and effectively ending their bid for a third consecutive NFC North title.
For the Steelers (9-6), the win extends a three-game winning streak after a midseason slump and puts them atop the AFC North with just two games remaining. Pittsburgh also extended its record streak to 22 consecutive seasons with at least a .500 record, breaking the NFL record previously shared with the Dallas Cowboys. Head coach Mike Tomlin has now finished at .500 or better in each of his 19 seasons.
The running game was a decisive factor. Jaylen Warren exploded for two 45-yard touchdowns in the fourth quarter, finishing with a career-high 143 rushing yards. Pittsburgh dominated the ground battle, outgaining Detroit 230-15 on the ground. The Steelers’ offense racked up a season-high 481 total yards, but still saw kicker Chris Boswell miss a potential go-ahead 37-yard field goal with 2:05 remaining.
Detroit’s offense fought valiantly. Goff, finishing 27 of 41 for 266 yards, threw a 45-yard touchdown to Kenneth Gainwell just before halftime after a review overturned an initial incompletion call. However, Goff was sacked by blitzing Kyle Dugger for a safety in the third quarter, and the Lions’ fourth-quarter push was thwarted by penalties and a stout Steelers defense.
The game also featured an unusual sideline scuffle when Steelers receiver DK Metcalf swiped at a fan leaning over the railing during the second quarter. The league is reviewing the incident, though officials did not call a penalty during the game.
The Steelers will travel to Cleveland next Sunday with the AFC North lead on the line, while the Lions will try to salvage their playoff hopes against the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day.
Pittsburgh’s resilience and opportunistic play in the trenches ultimately proved decisive, leaving Detroit to rue what might have been in a game that will be remembered for its dramatic, controversial finish.
