Broncos pick on fill-in CB James Pierre, but Pierre got decisive ‘pick’ for Steelers

Seventeen seconds to play, fourth-and-goal at the 3, one-possession game. What is James Pierre thinking?

“I knew they was coming at me,” the young Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback said. “I (had) got beat (earlier). I knew they was coming at me again.”

Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater did just that. But Pierre didn’t get beat this time. He intercepted Bridgewater’s pass intended for Courtland Sutton in the back-left portion of the end zone, sealing the Steelers’ 27-19 win Sunday.

JAMES PIERRE CALLED GAMEpic.twitter.com/RgDvuh3MeF

— PFF PIT Steelers (@PFF_Steelers) October 10, 2021

Pierre making the decisive play was fitting during an afternoon when he had his fingerprints all over the game — good and bad — as a fill-in making his second career start.

“I know they comin’,” Pierre said of Bridgewater and Denver play-caller Pat Shurmur targeting him as a second-year former undrafted player. “I know they comin’. And I love it. I love it. It just gives me (an opportunity) to show everybody what I can do. Fight for my team and just keep fighting no matter what happens.”

James Pierre on his bounce-back from a bad 4th qtr to get the game-clinching INT for Steelers pic.twitter.com/oWaZxQ5bbU

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) October 10, 2021

Pierre kept fighting despite getting beaten clean while in single coverage on a 39-yard touchdown from Bridgewater to Sutton earlier in the fourth quarter. That was the biggest play of many made by a Denver receiver with Pierre in coverage.

Pierre, who made the team as a 2020 undrafted free agent, gradually clawed his way up to meaningful role on defense as a rookie. This season, he became their No. 3 outside cornerback but was pressed into every-down duty twice when a starter missed a game because of injury: Joe Haden was out Week 2, and Cameron Sutton did not play Sunday.

“He stayed in the fight,” coach Mike Tomlin said of Pierre. “Man, young guys, they are going to come after you. They are going to get some plays. You’re going to have to make some plays. It’s an education of a corner in the National Football League. I appreciate his mentality. He was tough-minded about it and stayed in the fight.”

Mike Tomlin on James Pierre’s eventful day as a fill-in starter for the Steelers pic.twitter.com/8quIrVgHpo

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) October 10, 2021

Tomlin and Pierre credited the Steelers’ veteran defensive backs for aiding in Pierre’s development, Haden in particular.

“He told me like, ‘It happens,’ ” Pierre said of Haden’s message after giving up the Sutton touchdown. “‘You just got to try to win more than you lose. Doing what we do at cornerback, everybody sees it, so you’ve got to be technical sound, every time. Every play counts at corner.’’

Even on running plays, as Pierre learned first-hand during Denver’s biggest gain of the game. Javonte Williams broke a third-and-1 run from near midfield and appeared on his way to a touchdown that would have tied the score 10-10, but the speedy Pierre caught Williams from behind and brought him down at the 2.

“Big-time hustle play,” Tomlin said.

Pierre, again, credited Haden for setting the example.

“I (saw) Joe running,” Pierre said of Haden’s hustle, “so I did the same thing Joe was doing.”

The hustle paid off when the Broncos ultimately settled for a field goal. In what ended up a one-possession game, those four points could have proved crucial.

“It was a big lesson for me because on the sideline (after Pierre’s hustle tackle) all the older guys, they were excited,” Pierre said. “(Because of) their juice, their energy. I just knew it was an important play. I didn’t know being so young, but everything counts, each inch, everything.”

Especially keeping an even keel after a big play goes against you, leaning on the likes of Haden and secondary coach Teryl Austin to keep his focus straight.

It paid off in the interception that assured victory.

“Doing what Coach (Asutin) asked me to do on the phone,” Pierre said. “I just listened to my coach. That’s basically what I did. Just kept my eyes on my work … kept two steps at the receiver and looked back for the ball and caught the ‘pick.’

“It was crazy.”

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