LANDOVER, Md. — Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin took the blame on the first quarter fake punt mishap following Sunday’s 28-27 win over the Washington Commanders. Tomlin said he wanted to be aggressive in a hostile environment, so he wasn’t going to live in his fears.
“On the fake punt, that is me. I own that, but I’d do it again,” Mike Tomlin said after the game. “We didn’t execute, so it was a bad idea. But our guys fought, they didn’t blink. We got contributions in all three phases. We got contributions from old Steelers like Cam Heyward who’s been around forever. We got contributions from new Steelers like Mike Williams and Preston [Smith]. We’re just appreciative of all parties involved. This is a good team win.”
Washington tied the game at 7-7 after the fake punt pass by Miles Killebrew to James Pierre fell incomplete from the Steelers 16-yard line. Pierre just dropped the ball. Three plays later, Austin Ekeler plunged in for a 1-yard touchdown.
With the Steelers close to their own end zone, the Commanders chose to go for a block against punter Corliss Waitman, bringing their jammer in and leaving Pierre uncovered on the far left. The play was there to be had but Pierre just didn’t execute.
“I knew it was coming all week. I practiced all week for it. Called it all week,” Pierre said of the fake punt mishap. “When it came, I was ready to go. Too ready, I missed the ball. Called it all week and we get to the game, I drop it. I was really hard on myself but my teammates helped me out. The coaches lifted me up. (Moved on) to the next play.”
Killebrew also said that the Steelers were prepared to run the fake punt. Special teams coordinator Danny Smith had it mapped out.
“We checked into it. We knew that they had a tendency to send extra guys. Danny had us prepared to throw it if we saw the look. Down and distance didn’t matter. We’ve completed it in practice. It’s just one of those things, I’m not a quarterback and he’s not a wide receiver. That’s why I love Danny. He’s going to take those chances. We’re out here playing football.”
Pierre rebounded on the Commanders’ final possession with a key pass breakup on third-and-9 at the 50-yard line. Washington turned the ball over on downs on the next play.
“Just staying even keel. Just knowing I got other opportunities to go down the ball, force fumbles. Just do my job,” Pierre said.
Killebrew praised Pierre for his resilience.
“I love how this game is. You keep your head down and you keep on going, and he ended up having the game-winning pass breakup. I just love how that works. We’ll get them next time.
