Steelers defeat Rams, 17-12

The Steelers held on late to defeat the Los Angeles Rams, 17-12, to win their fourth straight game and improve their record to 5-4 on the season. The Rams had one final shot at the end of the game and it would be Minkah Fitzpatrick who shut the door with an interception to seal the win.The Rams got the ball back with 2:46 to play and Jared Goff led them down the field. On third and 10 with 1:34 to play, Cam Heyward batted down Goff’s pass, forcing the Rams to go for it on fourth down. Goff’s pass in the end zone was broken up by Terrell Edmunds. Chris Boswell gave the Steelers some breathing room with 2:46 to play when he hit a 33-yard field goal, for a 17-12 lead. Los Angeles pulled to within two at 14-12 when defensive tackle Aaron Donald and outside linebacker Clay Matthews tackled Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph in the end zone for a safety with 12:40 left in the fourth quarter.The Rams’ offense didn’t change the scoreboard until 11 seconds remained in the third, when kicker Greg Zuerlein’s 30-yard field goal trimmed a seven-point Steelers’ lead to four, at 14-10. Los Angeles rushed for just 39 yards in the first half but managed 35 yards on the ground on six carries on the 11-play, 76-yard drive for a field goal in 5:32. The Steelers took their first lead of the game on their third defensive touchdown of the season. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave got to Rams quarterback Jared Goff and forced a fumble on third-and-7 from the Los Angeles 41-yard line just inside the two-minute warning. Goff’s fumble forward was recovered by free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and returned 43 yards for a touchdown, Fitzpatrick’s second TD in as many weeks. Kicker Chris Boswell’s extra point gave the Steelers a 14-7 lead with 1:44 left in the second quarter. Fitzpatrick became the first Steelers defensive player with touchdowns in back-to-back games since cornerback Sam Washington on Sept. 16 and Sept. 23, 1984.Zuerlein missed a 56-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the first half. Zuerlein’s try was preceded by a 13-yard completion from Goff to wide receiver Robert Woods on third-and-20 from the Rams’ 49 that dropped Los Angeles to 0-for-8 on third down-conversion attempts in the opening two quarters. Disaster struck on the Steelers’ third offensive snap. Center Maurkice Pouncey’s snap on second-and-10 from the Steelers’ 40 eluded Rudolph and was recovered by Rams outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., who returned it 26 yards for a touchdown. Zuerlein’s extra point gave the Rams a 7-0 lead after a mere 14 seconds had elapsed. The Steelers got even with 34 seconds left in the first quarter. Rudolph capped a nine-play, 82-yard drive in 4:14 with a 3-yard touchdown pass on a fade to wide receiver James Washington over cornerback Troy Hill. Rudolph’s second-and-goal connection to Washington and Boswell’s extra point made it 7-7.Big plays on the drive included a 30-yard completion to wide receiver Diontae Johnson on third-and-7 from the Steelers’ 41 and a 19-yard pass interference penalty against cornerback Jalen Ramsey while covering Johnson out of the slot that gave the Steelers a first down at the Rams’ 20.

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Steelers defeat Rams, 17-12