Just when it looked like the Week 11 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals was going to lack significant juice, Steelers tight end Darnell Washington made his presence felt.
Washington submitted an early nomination for Good Morning Football’s “Angry Runs” to Kyle Brandt, thanks to his 31-yard catch and run over the middle, shedding one defender with a violent stiff-arm and then trucking a defensive back out of bounds at the end of the run, sparking the Steelers.
Take a look.
Prior to the highlight-reel run from Washington, the big tight end had previously hurdled a Bengals defender on a 3rd-and-21 catch and run. But to that point in the game, the Steelers’ offense was largely stagnant after an opening-drive touchdown.
On the drive, the Steelers started deep in their own end after a bad decision by Calvin Austin III to field a punt in his own end. Then Jonnu Smith had a facemask penalty that was declined. But the Bengals went full implosion mode, with a pass interference penalty to extend the drive and then had a pair of roughing-the-passer penalties, too, giving the Steelers life.
Pittsburgh took advantage of it as quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit Washington on the run over the middle. Washington did the rest, rumbling through the Bengals’ defense, putting himself on highlight reels everywhere.
It’s not the first time Washington has had a highlight-reel catch and run. Last season in Indianapolis, Washington broke a tackle with a stiff-arm and then hurdled a Colts defender, putting him on highlight reels everywhere.
He did it again Sunday. After emerging as the TE1 for the Steelers this season, playing significant snaps and earning praise from Rodgers, Washington has played some of his best football and has become a real problem after the catch for defenders.
Unfortunately for the Bengals, some of their defenders had to find out the hard way at Acrisure Stadium.
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