Steelers Beat Giants

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Tied at 9-9 midway through the third quarter with the New York Giants Monday night at Acrisure Stadium, the Steelers needed a spark.

Calvin Austin III, the smallest player on the team at 5-foot-9, 162 pounds provided that spark.

Actually, Austin provided two of them.

Austin returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter and also caught a 29-yard touchdown pass as the Steelers defeated the Giants, 26-18, here to win their 22nd consecutive Monday night football home game.

"Can't say enough about Calvin," said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. "I thought that's a big play, that punt return. It was a catalyst for us."

The win, the third-straight for the Steelers, improves their record to 6-2 heading into the bye week. It also puts them in first place by themselves, a game ahead of the Ravens (5-3) who lost in Cleveland Sunday in the AFC North standings.

Making his second start of the season, Russell Wilson completed 20 of 28 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers also rushed for 169 yards, as Najee Harris went over 100 yards for the third consecutive game, picking up a season-high 114 yards on 19 carries.

Cam Heyward played in his 202nd career game with the Steelers, breaking Pro Football Hall of Fame member Donnie Shell's team record for the most games played with the franchise by a defensive player. Heyward had six tackles, two quarterback hits, and a pass defensed in the game.

The Steelers took the opening kickoff and marched to the New York 11 on just seven plays when Wilson threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens.

But a face mask penalty on right tackle Broderick Jones negated the score and the Steelers were forced to settle for a 31-yard Chris Boswell field goal.

The Giants (2-6) answered, as Daniel Jones completed a 43-yard pass down the seam to wide receiver Darius Slayton to set up a 29-yard Greg Joseph field goal to tie the game at 3-3.

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