Blocked punt proves pivotal in Steelers win at Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – The first play of the season was a dud for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ special teamers. It took the unit three quarters to more than make up for it.

A blocked punt returned for a scoop-and-score touchdown was one of the major plays of the Steelers’ 23-16 win against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Offseason free-agent signee Miles Killebrew’s block of a Matt Haack punt was picked up by Ulysees Gilbert III, who waltzed into the end zone with 9 minutes, 49 seconds left in the game to give the Steelers a 10-point lead.

“The blocked punt for a touchdown, I mean, goodness gracious,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “Special teams touchdowns are huge. (Special teams coordinator) Danny Smith, awesome job.”

Smith’s scheme called for Killebrew to break through the middle of the formation. He’d get face-to-face with Haack as Haack was dropping the ball to his foot, seemingly with as much chance to tackle Haack as block the punt.

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— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 12, 2021

Asked if the play was more of a credit to Smith’s plan or Killebrew’s execution, coach Mike Tomlin said “six or half a dozen.”

“I’m appreciative of the efforts of Miles,” Tomlin said, “and ‘UG’ (Gilbert). … We needed a splash play like that. … It’s always both. It’s always scheme and individual play effort.”

Smith and the special-teams corps wanted it after allowing a 75-yard return by Isaiah McKenzie on the game’s opening kickoff. Even when the defense held with a three-and-out, it spotted the Bills three points when they kicked a field goal.

“At halftime, I heard a lot of the core special teams’ players, (captain) Derek Watt and others, saying that we had to even the score from that perspective,” Tomlin said. “We needed splash in that phase of the game. And boy, they delivered and delivered big.”

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