The Pittsburgh Steelers escaped the Green Bay Packers with a 23-19 victory during Week 10. But the Steelers couldn’t depart to the locker room after the victory without a postgame scrum.
Safety Damontae Kazee intercepted quarterback Jordan Love’s pass at the 2-yard line to seal the Steelers victory on the final play of the game. Rather than sliding down, though, Kazee began running up field for an interception return.
With the clock expired, Kazee ran out of bounds after a 30-yard return. But a couple steps into the sideline, Packers right tackle Zach Tom delivered a late hit on Kazee.
That led to a scrum on the Pittsburgh sideline. Video of the return, late hit and fight went viral on X (formerly Twitter) in the hours after the game.
“Huge fight at the end of the Steelers and Packers game,” JPAFootball wrote.
“I don’t know what happened aside from I do know I got tackled out of bounds. It was just uncalled for. I’ve been an injured guy, I’m just trying to stay healthy,” Kazee told reporters after the game.
Kazee’s interception came with the Packers positioned at the Pittsburgh 18-yard line and trailing by four points with three seconds remaining in regulation.
After things settled down and the postgame handshakes began, the officials called an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Packers.
Steelers Intercept Jordan Love Twice in Victory
The Pittsburgh defense struggled to slow down the Packers passing attack at various points during Week 10. Green Bay finished with 283 passing yards, including 6.9 net yards per pass attempt.
Love completed a pass of 20 yards or more to four different receivers. To begin the final drive, Love found wide receiver Jayden Reed for a 46-yard play.
But when it matter most, the Steelers held up on defense.
On four trips into the red zone during the second half, the Packers managed just two field goals. On the other two possessions, the Steelers intercepted Love passes.
The first pick came off a tip pass from cornerback Patrick Peterson. That allowed safety Keanu Neal to intercept the ball in the end zone.
Peterson also blocked an extra point during the first half.
“I just love the spirit and wisdom that he brings, man,” head coach Mike Tomlin said during his postgame press conference. “He is always a calming voice, a steadying presence.”
The interceptions from Neal and Kazee came on the final two Packers drives of the contest.
Pair of AFC North Showdowns Loom in Week 11
The scrum to end Week 10 may prove to be a tune-up for the Steelers. Pittsburgh will face four AFC North rivals in the final eight weeks of the season.
All of those division opponents are above .500 after Week 10.
The Steelers will visit the Cleveland Browns on November 19. Pittsburgh’s other two division rivals — the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals — will square off on Thursday Night Football.
If the Bengals win that primetime showdown, the Steelers will technically move into first place of the AFC North ahead of their trip to Cleveland.
Baltimore sits in first place at the moment with a 7-3 record. The Steelers and Browns are both 6-3, but the Steelers currently hold the tiebreaker with Cleveland because of the teams’ head-to-head Week 2 matchup.
The Steelers also have the tiebreaker against Baltimore because of their victory over the Ravens in Week 5.
The Ravens, Bengals and Browns all have suffered at least two losses in the AFC North. The Steelers are 2-0 inside the division.
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Fight Ensues After Packers’ Illegal Hit on Final Play Against Steelers [WATCH]