Steelers Win Turnover Battle, Beat Saints 20-10

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers got two second-half interceptions and made a fourth-down stop, dominating the turnover battle in a 20-10 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 10.

Damontae Kazee made his Steelers debut with an interception of Andy Dalton, Robert Spillane made a fourth-down stop on a Dalton sneak and then Levi Wallace ripped the ball away from a New Orleans receiver for three second-half takeaways to help secure the team’s first victory in three games.

The Steelers never trailed in the game, with rookie wide receiver George Pickens scoring on a 1-yard run in the first quarter and newly signed kicker Matthew Wright adding a first-half field goal.

The Saints charged back with a Will Lutz field goal, and then Dalton connected with tight end Juwan Johnson on New Orleans’ final drive of the first half to tie the game. Johnson got loose in coverage behind inside linebacker Spillane, who started and played nearly the entire game despite Myles Jack being cleared from his knee injury and dressing in the game.

The Steelers moved the ball well enough through the game despite a rare inefficient afternoon from rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett. He finished 18 of 30 for 199 yards. The Steelers had four drive stall in field goal range, but Wright made only two of his four attempts, hooking the other two left.

The Steelers got a strong rushing performance from a three-way attack. Najee Harris ran 20 times for 99 yards. Jaylen Warren rushed nine times for 37 yards. Pickett contributed nine rushes for 51 yards.

After Wright’s second field goal gave the Steelers the lead in the third quarter, Kazee intercepted a pass that went off the hand of Saints slot receiver Jarvis Landry.

On the ensuing possession, the Steelers drove down to the 1-yard line, aided by a New Orleans pass interference penalty, and Pickett dove in for the score.

Pickett did not have a high completion percentage, and didn’t light up the stat sheet. Diontae Johnson was his leading receiver with four catches for 63 yards. But Pickett importantly did not turn the ball over, after having nine in his first five games, allowing the Steelers to win the turnover battle and eventually the game.

T.J. Watt had two tackles on his first three plays after returning from a torn pectoral muscle, but the Saints quickly shied away from going his direction. He finished with four tackles and a quarterback hit.

The Steelers improved to 3-6. They will stay at home to take on the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday at 4:25 p.m.