The Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 short-yardage struggles were on full display in 2024. One of the league\u2019s least-effective teams when needing a yard, troubles began early and ended late. They included a fourth-down stuff at the hands of Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin, beating a block and tackling Steelers quarterback Justin Fields short of the market to help lead the Colts to a 27-24 win.<\/p>\n
If the Steelers ever get in the same situation against Franklin going forward, he\u2019ll be ready.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got a stop on third and short,\u201d Franklin told Up and Adams\u2019 Kay Adams<\/a> as he walked through the play. \u201cI think our offense was rolling at the time. Mike Tomlin gave J-Fields the go-ahead to keep going. We actually had a blitz going. Somebody was lined up wrong so I just ended up making it right. I felt like Justin was going to keep the ball. Once I saw the guard pull, see ball, hit ball. Just ran through and hit a big play.\u201d<\/p>\n Indianapolis raced out to a 14-0 lead, putting the heat on Pittsburgh even after losing starting quarterback Anthony Richardson early in the game. Taking a gamble to climb back into the game, Tomlin and the Steelers\u2019 offense went for it on fourth and one from Pittsburgh\u2019s own 39-yard line. Franklin knifed through and hit Fields at the line for the stop and turnover on downs. Here\u2019s the play, right guard Spencer Anderson pulling with Franklin (No. 44) charging downhill.<\/p>\n While the Colts evidently had their own issues, so did the Steelers. Franklin beat No. 62 Ryan McCollum, who had reported as a tackle-eligible. An interior offensive lineman normally, he isn\u2019t used to working outside the tackle like this play and was called upon largely due to right guard James Daniels tearing his Achilles<\/a> earlier in the game. Franklin beat McCollum on his way to Fields.<\/p>\n \u201cHad to hit my celebration,\u201d Franklin said. \u201cSki mask on over to Mike Tomlin. Just to let him know, don\u2019t try me like that. Much respect\u2026no disrespect. But I had to let him know, you\u2019re on my field. You can\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n There was no smack talk from Franklin, but his confidence is clear. He wasn\u2019t letting Pittsburgh\u2019s offense win the day. A tackling machine throughout his career, he finished the win over the Steelers with nine stops. He ended the season with a league-high 173 of them, earning the first Pro Bowl bid of his career.<\/p>\n