PITTSBURGH — Calvin Austin III made a significant impact on the field, returning a punt for a touchdown and catching a touchdown pass from Russell Wilson, as the Pittsburgh Steelers claimed a 26-18 victory over the New York Giants on Monday night.
Austin, who stands at 5-foot-9 and weighs 162 pounds, showcased his speed by racing across the field and sprinting down the sideline for a 73-yard punt return touchdown in the third quarter, which turned the game’s momentum in favor of the Steelers (6-2). He subsequently extended the lead with a remarkable 29-yard reception from Wilson early in the fourth quarter, contributing to Pittsburgh’s impressive streak of 22 consecutive home wins on Monday nights and placing them one game ahead of Baltimore in the AFC North.
Austin ended the game with three catches totaling 54 yards. Wilson demonstrated precision in his second start, completing 20 of 28 passes for 278 yards and notably connecting with Austin. Despite a fumble with 4:42 left that gave the Giants a brief opportunity, T.J. Watt, a standout linebacker for Pittsburgh, thwarted the threat by strip-sacking quarterback Daniel Jones shortly after.
In a desperate last-minute push, the Giants attempted to advance into Steelers territory once more, but Jones was intercepted by rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop, marking New York’s third consecutive defeat.
Naje Harris had a standout performance on the ground, accumulating 114 rushing yards and achieving over 100 yards for three straight games for the first time in his professional career. Kicker Chris Boswell provided additional support with four field goals, crucial in moments when the Steelers’ offense struggled to capitalize in the red zone.
On the other hand, Giants rookie Tyrone Tracy shined with a season-high 145 rushing yards, including a robust 45-yard dash in the early fourth quarter, narrowing the gap to eight points. The Giants attempted a two-point conversion that backfired when a play for rookie receiver Malik Nabers was swiftly defended.
Daniel Jones, who had been benched during a prior game against Philadelphia, completed 24 of 38 passes for 264 yards, ending the night with a late interception. Darius Slayton contributed four receptions for 108 yards, while Nabers made seven catches totaling 72 yards. Kicker Greg Joseph also made four field goals but faced challenges as his team was hampered by 11 penalties totaling 65 yards, while allowing the Steelers’ increasingly effective offense to gain 426 yards.
Austin’s punt return, the first touchdown of that kind for Pittsburgh since 2019, provided the team with a spark following a lackluster first half filled with missed opportunities. The Steelers saw multiple touchdown passes from Wilson to George Pickens negated, one due to a facemask penalty and another overturned upon video review, despite Pickens appearing to secure the touchdown as he was pushed out of bounds by Deonte Banks of the Giants.
The Giants, appearing more coordinated than in their previous game, faced a touchdown call back due to a penalty when a lateral from Jones to Chris Manhertz was negated by an illegal shift penalty on Nabers.
Injury Update: The Steelers had Justin Fields serve as the emergency quarterback behind Wilson and Kyle Allen, as he tweaked a hamstring during a practice session on Saturday.
Looking ahead, the Giants will host Washington on Sunday, while the Steelers have a bye week before they visit the Commanders on November 10.