A note before we begin: I know this game is almost two weeks old, but I don’t really care. Rodney Williams deserves praise for the game against the Ravens.
Rodney Williams had yet to make a name for himself, whether it be as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, or the National Football League.
A tight end out of UT Martin, Williams had found his way onto the Steelers practice squad for the 2023 season. For weeks, he waited for a call that he would be needed at the NFL level, and prior to last Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, he got it.
It was the first NFL game of the 25 year old’s career, and it would set up to be one of the wackiest chapters in the Steelers-Ravens rivalry.
An innocent looking 17-10 for Pittsburgh had, of course, been achieved in the hardest way possible. A field goal, followed by a safety, then a touchdown (with a failed two point conversion), and lastly another field goal.
Williams made his presence known on multiple plays in this game, appearing mostly as a special teamer.
Of course, we all know his almost-recovery in the endzone.
Williams was mere inches from turning 2 points into 6 (and basically 7 with the extra point), and he did put in a full effort to try and recover the ball in bounds.
The call was somewhat controversial, given just how close Williams was between in and out of bounds. Williams believed he was in, as did many of his teammates. You can see Damontae Kazee argue immediately after the play that Williams was in.
But that’s not the play I want to zero in on for Rodney Williams in this game.
After the Steelers converted a field goal from the free kick thanks to the safety, Pittsburgh’s defense was able to hold Baltimore to another punt. This time, the Ravens get the boot off successfully, and send it down the field to an awaiting Gunner Olszewski.
But poor, poor Gunner. He might be having the worst Steelers career ever, but you cannot make me not feel bad for him.
On the ensuing return, Gunner runs upfield, but has the ball popped free from his hands (with some friendly fire involved), and Baltimore pounces on it.
Kevon Seymour scoops it up and has a lane to the endzone, which would effectively end the game.
But Williams, underratedly, prevents this from going bad to worse.
Watch the rush by Williams, who is 87 in black. He never gives up on the play, and that pays off, earning him a chance to prevent Seymour from reaching the goal line.
He doesn’t make a flashy tackle, or a highlight feel hit, but he gets in the lane and disrupts Seymour just enough.
And this simple little disruption ended up saving the game for Pittsburgh.
If Seymour reaches the endzone, the Ravens go up by two scores, and it’s all over for the Steelers. I don’t think any fan had reasonable expectations that the Steelers could have come back from two scores that late in the game, especially with how abysmal the offense had looked so far that day.
It’s such a little, minuscule play in this crazy game, but those are the kinds of plays that can make all the difference, especially in extremely competitive games, which the Steelers and Ravens often offer.
Williams quietly saves a touchdown, and allows the Steelers to stay in the game. If the Steelers hold Baltimore to a field goal, it’t still a one-possession game, and a touchdown still wins it for Pittsburgh.
And of course, we all remember that the Ravens ended up getting nothing out of that drive.
But Williams staying with the play allows this to happen. A simple little interference like that saved the entire game for the Steelers, who with that win, took first place in the AFC North.
It’s the kind of effort that will set him apart in this organization, not only from his peers on the practice squad, but on the special teams unit as well. It may just keep him on the active roster.
(Featured photo by Matt Freed/AP)
Fifth Avenue Sports 
Leave a comment