By: G.Stryker, Twitter @SNStryker and Instagram @SNStryker
SteelerNation.com
Every game is like a soap opera with a pivotal moment where victory is decided. Not always the game winning play, but a play that determines the outcome, and if it went differently, a different result could happen. So each week we will explore the exact moment of drama where the game pivots on: As the Game Turns.
This week, the drama unfolded late in the fourth quarter. A Benny Snell fumble paired with a couple touchdowns by the Denver Broncos ended up giving the visiting squad a chance to win the game down by five points. After sacking Denver six times in the first half, the Pittsburgh Steelers had yet to record a sack on backup quarterback, Jeff Driskel in the second half.
Under two minutes with the ball on the 15-yard line, the Broncos were facing a 4th down and 2 yards to go. The slot receiver goes into motion and Mike Hilton begins to follow him, but stops when he gets between Cam Heyward and Bud Dupree. Since Hilton had been an active blitzer all game, Driskel thinks the blitz is coming from this side and looks that way at the snap of the ball. However, the blitz doesn't come from that side, as Hilton drops back into the short zone. On the other side, Terrell Edmunds is lined up near the line of scrimmage. The tight end, running back, and motion receiver all run pass patterns at the snap, ignoring Edmunds who blitzes. Driskel peeks at Hilton and sees him drop, looks back for his tight end, but he’s covered by Devin Bush, then appears to flinch as he’s surprised Edmunds is there that quickly. He has no time to get rid of the football as Edmunds finishes with a nice tackle.
Edmunds has been the source of ire for a lot of Steeler Nation. Lack of production and inconsistent play, paired with his first round draft status, raises the expectations that fans have for him. Though his play is still developing, there is no denying that Terrell Edmunds won this game for the Pittsburgh Steelers on the only sack of the second half, which ended up being the most important play of the game.
#SteelerNation
