Pittsburgh Steelers Give Up Great Field Position On The Best Fake Punt Of All-Time That Didn’t Work

The Pittsburgh Steelers gifted the Washington Commanders with incredible field position on the greatest fake punt of all-time that didn’t work. Yes, you read that sentence correctly.

Mike Tomlin dialed up a trick play during the first half that looked for a moment like it was going to go for six… until it didn’t.

Punter Corliss Waitman lined up with his back against the goal line on 4th-and-15 during the first quarter. Pittsburgh was already up 7-0. However, he did not kick the ball away!

Safety Miles Killebrew intercepted the snap from the personal protector position and immediately looked to pass. Washington’s return team never saw it coming.

Defensive back James Pierre was split out wide to the left as a gunner. The Commanders, which brought pressure to try and block the punt, did not mark him. He was out there all by himself.

Unfortunately, the old adage applies and there is a reason Pierre plays corner and not receiver— his hands. Or, rather, a lack thereof.

Killebrew fired a high-arcing pass out to the edge before Washington’s rush could penetrate into the backfield. It was wide open. If Pierre caught the pass and turned up field, he would’ve had just one man to beat down the sideline.

He could not make the catch. He dropped it.