Calvin Austin III scores two touchdowns as the Steelers fend off the Giants, winning 26-18.

 PITTSBURGH — Before Calvin Austin III took the field for a punt return in the third quarter of a sluggish game against the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin pulled him aside. The Steelers were struggling, managing to move the ball but failing to score. Knowing Austin, the 5-foot-9, 162-pound receiver had come close to breaking a big return this season, Tomlin sensed it was his moment.

“I thought it was his time,” Tomlin said. “He thought it was his time. And he delivered.”

And deliver he did—twice.

After sharing a quick pep talk, Austin sprinted 73 yards for a touchdown on a punt return. He followed that up with a 29-yard touchdown reception, providing the necessary spark for the Steelers to secure a 26-18 victory over the Giants on Monday night.

Pittsburgh (6-2) extended its impressive home winning streak to 22 games under the Monday night lights, bolstered by Austin's dynamic plays and crucial late-game turnovers. T.J. Watt strip-sacked Daniel Jones with under three minutes remaining, halting one of New York’s drives, and rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop intercepted Jones with 42 seconds left, sealing the game.

“It wasn’t as fluid as we’d like, but that’s football,” Tomlin remarked. “We’ve got to guard against worrying about style points.”

And style points were definitely in short supply, with three potential touchdowns—two for Pittsburgh and one for New York—being nullified, as the teams combined for 16 penalties and struggled to finish drives near the end zone.

The Steelers won their third straight game and head into their bye week leading the AFC North by a game over Baltimore. After relying heavily on their defense early in the season, the offense has found its rhythm since quarterback Kenny Pickett returned from a calf injury that sidelined him for six games.

In his second home start, Pickett completed 20 of 28 passes for 278 yards. His only significant error was a fumble late in the game that temporarily allowed the Giants (2-6) to hope for a comeback.

“His unique talent and approach yield unique results,” Tomlin said of Watt.

Najee Harris had a standout performance, rushing for 114 yards—marking the third consecutive game he surpassed 100 yards for the first time in his career. Chris Boswell contributed with four field goals, helping the offense that stalled frequently in the red zone.

Pickett distributed the ball effectively, connecting with eight different receivers, a positive sign for a team that had leaned heavily on George Pickens in the passing game.

Austin finished with three receptions for 54 yards, while Van Jefferson added four catches for 62 yards. Even third-string tight end MyCole Pruitt caught a pass.

“Guys are believers,” Pickett said.

Austin perhaps believes the most. Before games, the third-year pro reviews notes on his phone from doubters who claim he’s too small to succeed in the NFL. Following the game, he enjoyed the crowd chanting his name, celebrating Pittsburgh's successful start to the season.

“We’re all competitors,” Austin said. “We’re always going to believe in ourselves.”

Giants rookie Tyrone Tracy ran for a season-high 145 yards, including a 45-yard burst early in the fourth quarter that brought New York within eight points. The Giants attempted a two-point conversion, but a poorly conceived play to rookie receiver Malik Nabers was easily thwarted.

Jones, who had been benched during a blowout loss to Philadelphia the previous week, completed 24 of 38 passes for 264 yards, but his late interception sealed the game. Darius Slayton recorded four receptions for 108 yards, and Nabers caught seven passes for 72 yards. Greg Joseph kicked four field goals for the Giants, who struggled with 11 penalties for 65 yards, allowing the rejuvenated Steelers offense to rack up 426 yards.

“There were a lot of good things, just not enough of them,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said.

This has been a recurring theme for the Giants, now 2-6 for the second consecutive season. Two years after a playoff appearance and a lucrative extension for Jones, the franchise seems to be struggling.

While there were glimpses of improvement against the Steelers, the Giants were ultimately undone by familiar issues—penalties, turnovers, and miscommunications—that have plagued them during this downturn.

“We hurt ourselves a lot tonight,” Jones acknowledged. “That’s the most frustrating part. We need to be more detailed, starting with me. The good things we did were overshadowed by our mistakes.”

Injuries
Steelers: Justin Fields served as the emergency quarterback behind Pickett and Kyle Allen after tweaking a hamstring in practice on Saturday.

Up next
Giants: Host Washington on Sunday.
Steelers: After a bye, visit the Commanders on November 10.