From the first play to the Ravens' field goal miss, Cameron Heyward refused to act his age.
In fact, he may have been playing at another, otherworldly level.
"He was," said defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. "But he's been that way. He's played well all year. He's always been, as we all know, really good against the run. But you watch in terms of his effort and his leadership and all that stuff, it's just top notch. And when you get into thick moments like that, when you get into games where every snap is counting, a win-or-go-home moment, you like those guys to be out in front. And he was right out front."
Heyward, the Steelers' 36-year-old reigning first-team All-Pro defensive tackle, led the Steelers with 5 solo tackles against the Ravens and a total of 7 tackles, which tied linemate Keeanu Benton for team lead. Heyward finished the season with his most tackles (78) since 2021.
But it was more than statistics that defined Heyward's game Sunday. The jaunt downfield in pursuit of Derrick Henry sent a message to his younger teammates that Heyward was all about beating the Ravens.
"Our best players right now for us, they're our best leaders and our best examples for our guys," Austin said. "So, they've always been that way. Shoot, I watch Cam chase guys all the time and it still amazes me. I watch him and you just watch how he runs and how he plays. There are young guys that don't do what he does. So, he's a unicorn in a lot of ways. But he's also a unicorn in terms of his demeanor and leadership and all that other stuff. We've got good leadership. We've got good things. And I think that brings the rest of your guys along all the way, because they know how much they care.
"Your best players don't push stuff aside. It means a lot to them. And so, I think that has a really good trickle-down effect on everyone."
Watt doesn't surprise
When Austin said that his best players are also his best leaders, he was also talking about T.J. Watt, who played 43 snaps, or 83% of the total defensive snaps.
Watt's interception of a batted pass against the Ravens made him the second player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 to compile 9 interceptions and 100 sacks in a career.
None of it came as a surprise to Austin.
"I'm not surprised at anything I get from T.J.," he said. "Because I know the way the guy is always in shape. He had a setback, but it wasn't one of those things where you worry about him getting so far out of shape or so weak that he wouldn't be able to work. So, it was good to get 43 snaps out of him.
A few times during the game, Austin asked Watt how he was feeling.
"He was like, 'Yep, I'm good to go.' So, I'll trust him," Austin said. "If he tells me he's good to go, then he's good to go."
Not that it was easy for Watt.
"You got a guy," Austin said, "that's missed three or four weeks and coming back and, everybody thinks, 'Oh, I'll just come back in and be the same guy I was.' It's going to take you a minute to get your legs underneath you, get used to the timing of everything. People don't realize how much pass rush is a lot about timing and hand usage. There's a whole bunch that goes into it, and as you get back, and get back into the game, you have to get those things working again. I assume he'll be better this week than he was (last) week, and we'll take it from there."
Smith on 'big-time moment'
The Steelers' division-clinching touchdown pass with 55 seconds left in the season was a testament – according to offensive coordinator Arthur Smith – to bringing in smart players.
"We were in a third-down call," said Smith. "Like a lot of the things we build in, Aaron (Rodgers) does a terrific job with the protections and different mechanisms. ... Every year you're trying to build in when you've got smart players like we do that can adjust, and he does as good a job as he has the last 20 years."
Rodgers said after the game that while the play suited the formation-strong right side, he told Calvin Austin III in the huddle to run an out-and-up on the back side. Just in case.
Rodgers said that out of the corner of his eye he saw the cornerback slip and didn't hesitate to throw deep to Austin for the easy 26-yard touchdown.
"As he told Calvin, we were looking for a double move," Smith said. "We tried one, two plays before. He got the matchup he wanted, told Calvin in so many words to run it. He made a terrific throw, and Calvin ran a great route. Just a big-time moment. I think that situation also helped, too, because corner was so far off. Knowing that the situation you got two downs, I mean, you're at the got-to-have-it moment. And it was a cool thing to watch. The whole last fourth quarter was awesome."
Rodgers, with a 130.1 passer rating, enjoyed his best single quarter of the season when it mattered. Of course, he and Smith passed around the credit for the Steelers' strong offensive play.
"It's a combination of a lot of things and that's why this is the ultimate team game, and people forget that sometimes," Smith said.
