Jaylen Warren etched his name in Steelers history with 143 rushing yards and two 45-yard touchdowns, powering Pittsburgh to a 29-24 thriller over Detroit and extending their win streak to three (9-6). A controversial offensive pass interference call sealed the win, while Mike Tomlin notched his 19th straight non-losing season amid tight AFC North race.
Building on their Week 16 victory at Ford Field—detailed in initial coverage—the Steelers leaned on a dominant second half to hold off a late Lions rally. After tying at 10-10 on Kenneth Gainwell's acrobatic 45-yard touchdown reception from Aaron Rodgers before halftime, Pittsburgh surged ahead with a safety and field goals before unleashing Warren.
Warren's explosive 45-yard bursts in the fourth quarter pushed the lead to 29-17 with 6:41 left, finishing with 143 yards on just 14 carries. This marked the first such performance (100+ yards, 2 TDs on 15 or fewer carries) for a Steeler since Franco Harris in 1972. The defense, featuring standout play from Derrick Harmon and Cameron Heyward, crushed Detroit's run game, limiting Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to 15 yards on 12 carries combined—earning praise from analyst Conor Orr for Harmon's 'huge' impact against elite rushers.
Detroit clawed back to 29-24 with 4:11 remaining, aided by a botched bad snap on Chris Boswell's 37-yard field goal attempt that preserved their hopes. The Lions reached the goal line as time expired, but Amon-Ra St. Brown's offensive pass interference on a lateral to Jared Goff nullified the score, per referee Carl Cheffers' ruling.
The win bolsters Pittsburgh's AFC North title push—they need a Week 17 victory or Ravens loss—and solidifies tiebreakers. For Lions (likely 8-7), the loss hampers playoff odds. Tomlin's streak continues, underscoring the Steelers' resilience.
