LANDOVER, Md. — Rookie Zach Frazier did his part to sell it. Russell Wilson deployed his veteran savvy to deliver the proverbial kill shot.
Washington rookie Jer’Zhan Newton took the bait — and it sealed a big Pittsburgh Steelers win.
Newton jumped offsides when the Steelers lined up for a fourth-and-1 from the Commanders 49 yard-line with 1 minute, 2 seconds left in Sunday’s game and Washington out of timeouts while down by one point.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin sent his offense onto the field after a Commanders timeout. Washington would have had 50 or more seconds to get into range for a winning field goal if it got the ball back — and if the Steelers turned it over on downs the Commanders might have only needed one first down to have a chance to win it.
It was never truly a gamble, though — the Steelers had no intentions to run an actual play. They were just hoping to end the game by getting the Commanders to jump. Newton did, and the flag flew for the neutral-zone infraction that effectively ended the game and set off a celebration from several Steelers players.
This is why Russell Wilson is the GOAT.
This was an obvious “draw him offsides” situation and RUSS PULLS IT OFF! #HereWeGo is SUPER BOWL BOUND!
— Dylan Wilkerson (@wilkersonadylan) November 10, 2024
“I just sprinted up to the ball,” Frazier, the center, said, “everyone sprinted up the ball, and I got down and acted like we were gonna sneak it.”
The Steelers were not going to, though. No play was called.
“You just hope that they jump off,” Frazier said, “and they did.
“I think for me it was just I wanted to break the huddle and sell the sneak, as far as when I am attacking the ball, and since there is no play called so I am not moving.”
A 13-year veteran, the 35-year-old Wilson has surely attempted the “hard count” myriad times over his career.
“He has a really good cadence,” tight end Pat Freiermuth said, “and he did a really good job getting them to jump offsides.”