Steelers Game vs. Packers Ends in Near-Brawl

A cheap shot by Green Bay Packers right tackle Zach Tom on Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Damontae Kazee started a skirmish between the two teams at the end of Sunday’s game. With the Packers trailing 23-19 and the ball at Pittsburgh’s 16-yard line, Kazee sealed a Steelers’ win with an interception off Jordan Love on the final play of the contest. Kazee was slowing down as he reached the sideline and that’s when Tom blasted him. Special teams coach Danny Smith took a brutal shot on the sideline because of it. Smith got up and appeared to be OK.

Tom will probably receive a hefty fine from the league office. It was clearly a late hit. It will be interesting to see if any other players are fined because of the near-brawl, but it didn’t appear that anything egregious happened. Just players pushing and shoving and talking.

As expected, Kazee made an exception to the late hit and went after Tom. A bunch of Steelers teammates jumped in, also. Kazee told Steeles Now’s Nick Farabaugh after the game that the hit was “totally unnecessary.”

With 3 seconds remaining and the Packers needing a touchdown to win the game, the Steelers had several players lined up at the goal-line to defend the end zone. The Steelers rushed four and Highsmith got penetration to force Love’s ill-advised throw that landed in Kazee’s hands to secure the win. All six of the Steelers’ wins this year have been one-possession games. They’ve won nine straight one-possession games, which is a franchise record.

The Steelers were also out-gained, 399-324, by the Packers. Despite being out-gained in all nine games this year, they’re 6-3. They’re the only team in the league that’s been out-gained in every game. The Steelers are the first team to be out-gained in each of their first nine games and still have a winning record.