“Coach (Mike Tomlin) always talks about the standard is the standard,” Herbig said. “When your number is called, you have to uphold that standard.”
He wasn’t the only young gun growing up in Week 17. In one of the biggest games of the season, almost every rookie had his fingerprints on a pivotal victory that kept the Steelers’ playoff hopes alive.
First-round pick Broderick Jones paved the way at right tackle for a rushing attack that put up 202 yards, the team’s second-best performance of the season. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. shadowed DK Metcalf and, while he gave up some completions in the first half, forced a pair of incompletions near the goal line in crunch time. Defensive lineman Keeanu Benton continued to do his thing up front. Tight end Darnell Washington literally dragged Najee Harris into the end zone for a touchdown.
When the NFL conducts its 272nd and final game of the regular season Sunday night, the Steelers could be perched in front of their TV sets, at home following a trip to Baltimore and watching helplessly as two other AFC teams decide their playoff fate.
This year, it’s the Buffalo Bills playing at the Miami Dolphins. In 2021, it was a game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers that raised the Steelers’ collective pulse rate to uncharted levels.“Craziest game I’ve ever seen,” outside linebacker Alex Highsmith said.
“I was on my couch and screaming at the damn TV,” defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said.
Special teams ace Miles Killebrew offered a more PG response.
“Oh my goodness,” he said. “That was crazy.” The New York Jets are signing former Steelers running back Xazavian Valladay to their active roster, according to Mike Garafolo. The Steelers lost Valladay to the Jets when they signed him after Valladay was released during final cut-downs. Now, they have added two years to his contract, and he could be someone who ends up having a long-term future there.
