In a game with major playoff implications, the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers were deadlocked at halftime during their Week 16 tilt.
Pittsburgh started and ended the half with scores. Trailing late in the first half, the Steelers tied the score at 10 when Kenny Gainwell scored an improbable, 45-yard touchdown on a pass thrown by Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers went 14 of 24 for 141 yards in the first half, but he endured two sacks by Lions pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
Trailing 3-0 after one quarter, Detroit scored 10 unanswered points in the second quarter that included Jared Goff’s go-ahead touchdown pass to Isaac TeSlaa with 2:07 left in the first half. The touchdown pass was part of a big first half for Goff, who threw for 162 yards on 15 of 20 passing. Goff’s passing made up for a Lions running game that gained just 18 yards on 11 carries.
The first half also included a heated moment involving DK Metcalf, who threw a punch at a Lions fan. The sequence was part of a forgettable first half for Metcalf, who caught just one pass on six targets.
Pittsburgh (8-6) is trying to maintain its lead over second-place Baltimore in the AFC North standings, while Detroit (8-6) needs a win to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Which team will come out on top? To find out, follow along in our live blog below, where we’ll be providing updates, highlights and analysis throughout the second half.