Carolina
Panthers
4-10
21
FINAL
33
Pittsburgh
Steelers
5-9
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a pivotal Week 16 matchup, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Carolina Panthers 33-21, solidifying their playoff aspirations as the regular season nears its conclusion. The victory not only boosts the Steelers' confidence but also positions them favorably in the playoff race, while the Panthers look to regroup ahead of their final game.
Pittsburgh's offense was led by Rico Dowdle, who rushed for 99 yards, providing a strong ground game that complemented the team's passing efforts. Bryce Young of the Panthers showcased his skills, throwing for 386 yards and three touchdowns, with Tyler Harrell emerging as his top target, racking up 171 receiving yards. Despite the Panthers' offensive fireworks, it wasn't enough to overcome the Steelers' resilience.
Defensively, the Steelers made key plays that turned the tide in their favor. Jaquan Brisker was a standout, recording five total tackles and an impressive three interceptions, which stifled any momentum Carolina tried to build. The game's turning point came when Brisker snagged his third interception, halting a promising drive by the Panthers and allowing Pittsburgh to extend their lead and ultimately secure the win.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Young | QB | 39 | 19 | 386 | 3 | 4 | 69.9 |
| Aaron Rodgers | QB | 16 | 12 | 213 | 1 | 0 | 137.4 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rico Dowdle | HB | 14 | 99 | 7.1 | 3 | 53 | 0 |
| Bryce Young | QB | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Chuba Hubbard | HB | 5 | 4 | 0.8 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Jaylen Warren | HB | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Kyle Pitts Sr | TE | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Harrell | WR | 8 | 171 | 21.4 | 1 | 65 | 0 |
| Xavier Legette | WR | 5 | 117 | 23.4 | 2 | 48 | 0 |
| Kyle Pitts Sr | TE | 2 | 88 | 44.0 | 1 | 56 | 0 |
| Chuba Hubbard | HB | 4 | 74 | 18.5 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| DK Metcalf | WR | 4 | 58 | 14.5 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| Jaylen Warren | HB | 3 | 27 | 9.0 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Michael Pittman | WR | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Rico Dowdle | HB | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Donald Parham Jr | TE | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Tetairoa McMillan | WR | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaquan Brisker | SS | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Darnell Savage | FS | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Asante Samuel Jr | CB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Alex Highsmith | SAM | 1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalen Ramsey | CB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Devin Lloyd | MIKE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Patrick Queen | MIKE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Trevin Wallace | WILL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaycee Horn | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Payton Wilson | WILL | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tre'von Moehrig | FS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DeShon Elliott | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| T.J. Watt | LEDG | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chau Smith-Wade | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Scott | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylen Everette | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Lee Hunter | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harold Perkins Jr. | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Isaiah Simmons | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Herbig | REDG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Fitzgerald | K | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Chris Boswell | K | 2 | 3 | 3 | 46 |

