PHOENIX, Ariz. — Diontae Johnson ran for an 85-yard touchdown on a punt return and caught a pass for another score to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Arizona Cardinals 23-17 on Sunday.
Pittsburgh's defense had three crucial interceptions in the second half — two by Joe Haden and another by T.J. Watt —- to end Arizona drives, including two that had ventured into Steelers' territory.
PHOTOS: Steelers hang on for 23-17 victory over Cardinals
Pittsburgh (8-5) won for the seventh time in eight games to stay in the AFC playoff race. Rookie free agent quarterback Devlin Hodges made his third career start, completing 16 of 19 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown.
Stay with Channel 11 following Sunday Night Football and the 11 pm news for the Black and Gold Zone. We'll break down all the action from Arizona!
Hodges didn't need to make many tough throws but came through with a good one in the third quarter, hitting Johnson in the front corner of the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown that gave the Steelers a 20-10 lead.
Hodges also finished with 34 yards rushing.
Arizona's Kyler Murray completed 20 of 30 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns, but his three interceptions were very costly.
The Cardinals (3-9-1) lost their sixth consecutive game.
They pulled within 20-17 on Murray's 24-yard touchdown pass to David Johnson with 6:44 left, taking advantage of a short field after Steelers punter Jordan Berry fumbled. The Cardinals had a chance to win on the final drive, but Murray's desperation fourth-down heave was intercepted by Haden.
The Steelers never trailed, pulling ahead 10-0 late in the first quarter after Johnson's 85-yard touchdown. He caught Andy Lee's 60-yard punt, used a few blocks and then cut across the field to his right, where he found lots of room to run.
TRENDING NOW:
- Steelers WR Juju Smith-Schuster posts heartfelt tribute after rapper's death
- FDA investigates diabetes drug for possible contamination with cancer-causing agent
- Steelers WR Juju Smith-Schuster posts heartfelt tribute after rapper's death
- VIDEO: 8-month-old dog abandoned near Wilkinsburg elementary school with severe infections
- DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
From that point, he was escorted down the sideline by a handful of teammates, running into the end zone untouched.
The Cardinals spent the second quarter slowly recovering from the slow start. They capitalized after Pittsburgh's Benny Snell Jr. fumbled, ending the ensuing drive with a 30-yard field goal to pull within 10-3.
Murray hit Charles Clay for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:51 left in the second quarter to tie the game at 10.
Pittsburgh took a 13-10 halftime lead on Chris Boswell's 37-yard field goal as time expired. Boswell made three field goals.
JONES MAKING PLAYS
Cardinals LB Chandler Jones forced his sixth fumble of the season in the second quarter when he smacked Hodges' right arm just as he was trying to throw. Pittsburgh recovered the fumble.
The play was also Jones' 14th sack of the season and his 55th in 61 games since joining the Cardinals in 2016.
INJURIES
Steelers: TE Vance McDonald left with a concussion.
UP NEXT
The Steelers host the Bills next Sunday.
The Cardinals host the Browns next Sunday.
___
More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Associated Press
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/04-19-2024/t_c091c1951d7141898980ea42c6448bdc_name_t_940de251e54b4db09cf9c3659504987c_name_towtruckcharges11pp041824_transfer_frame_344.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/MCHNJ6IKGNHYHMG6QQJTP6ICJY.jpeg)
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/04-19-2024/t_2b16a3c2f5e3422580ea335732dbd92e_name_ambridgechase12pp060923_transfer.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/W3Q5W65YHVHNLFPJFHHN7P6Y6M.jpg)
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/04-19-2024/t_6c81d54904a34e18ac69f83c30e89335_name_waterdamvehinlake430av041924_transfer_Copy_01_Copy_01_frame_806.jpeg)