Kenny Pickett threw for 230 yards and ran for a touchdown as the Pittsburgh Steelers overcame a sluggish first half to pull off a 24-17 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.
Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris each rushed for fourth-quarter touchdowns as Pittsburgh (4-2) erased a seven-point deficit over the final 15 minutes. The Steelers won despite scoring just three first-half points and gaining 91 yards of total offense before halftime.
In his return from a Week 1 hamstring injury, Steelers wideout Diontae Johnson had five receptions for 79 yards and George Pickens had five receptions for 107 yards.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 231 yards and a touchdown, while rookie Puka Nacua had eight receptions for 154 yards. Nacua delivered his fourth game of at least eight receptions and his third of at least 140 yards.
Royce Freeman rushed for 66 yards on 12 carries for Los Angeles (3-4), while Darrell Henderson Jr. gained 61 yards and scored a touchdown in his return to the team. Henderson was signed last week after running backs Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers were placed on injured reserve.
The Steelers took a 10-9 lead early in the second half on Pickett’s 1-yard sneak after T.J. Watt set up Pittsburgh on Los Angeles’ 7-yard line following an interception. The Rams answered with a nine-play, 75-yard drive capped by Henderson’s 1-yard TD run and Cooper Kupp’s two-point reception for a 17-10 lead.
After Rams kicker Brett Maher missed a 51-yard field-goal attempt late in the third quarter, the Steelers tied the game 17-17 with 13:49 remaining in the fourth on a 13-yard run from Warren to cap a five-play, 59-yard drive.
The Rams were held to a three-and-out on their ensuing possession, and the Steelers went on a 10-play, 80-yard drive, taking the lead for good on Harris’ 3-yard TD run with 7:20 remaining.
In a first half dominated by defense, the teams traded field goals in the second quarter as the Steelers’ Chris Boswell hit from 53 yards and Maher converted from 41 yards to make it 3-3. Maher missed a 53-yard attempt in the first quarter.
The Rams took a 9-3 lead with 17 seconds remaining in the first half when Stafford rolled out to his left and hit Tutu Atwell for a 31-yard scoring strike. Maher missed the extra point.
–Field Level Media
