What Tomlin knew about Peterson as a rookie came to fruition against Packers

by Bo Marchionte
Published November 12, 2023, 06:07 PM

Pittsburgh, Pa – It looked like the Steelers preseason offense this afternoon under warm skies at Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh opened the game with two touchdown scoring drives en route to their 23-19 win over Green Bay. The win closes the gap all-time between the two historic franchises with the Packers leading 20-17 which includes Green Bay’s Super Bowl XLV 31-25 win.

A successful lineage is the theme of both organizations and it’s also correctly describing Steelers Patrick Peterson, 33, who helped seal the win for Pittsburgh with two critical plays against the Packers. Only one player on the Steelers roster is older than Peterson and that’s Cameron Heyward at 34-years old.

I just love the spirit and wisdom that he brings,” Mike Tomlin said of the eight-time Pro Bowler. “He is always a calming voice and presence.”

The future Hall of Fame defensive back made two splash plays early in the game and late with the Packers searching for the lead in the game. In the second quarter, Packers Jordan Love connected with receiver Jayden Reed on a 35-yard touchdown pass.

Packers’ kicker Anders Carlson trotted out to attempt the extra point to make the score 17-14 Pittsburgh, but the football was blocked by the 12-year veteran Peterson. Usually in those cases it comes back to haunt a team and it’s fair to say that happened to Green Bay.

“That’s something I’ve always taken pride in,” Peterson said after the game. “That’s just another opportunity and another play for me to do something great for our team.”

It’s something Peterson was known for leaving LSU in 2010 prior to being the fifth player selected in the 2011 NFL Draft. During the postgame press conference Coach Tomlin addressed it vividly when recalling a game the Steelers had against Arizona in Peterson’s rookie season.

“Pat was a rookie, and he had a reputation for that,” Tomlin said. “We double cadenced him and I think we got him to jump offside. We were playing them out in Arizona, and we got him to jump offsides as a rookie. Then he and I had a little exchange or laugh about it in game. He’s a dynamic player in that area.”

After the game I asked Peterson if he remembered the conversation dating back to more than over a decade ago on October 23, 2011, when during the fourth quarter of the game he jumped offsides to add another five-yards in the favor of Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham to connect on a 42-yard field goal.

“That’s exactly why we double counted you,” Peterson said of what Tomlin told him after the play. “We know that you’re effective when coming off the edge.”

The effectiveness was evident this afternoon as well as his ability to cover and make plays in the secondary. The game had three touchdowns scored in the first half but both teams were unable to capitalize on getting another touchdown that increased the pressure on Green Bay to dial up points to erase the missed extra point attempt. Each team would make two field a piece in the second half of the game leading to Peterson’s blocked extra point as one of the most significant plays in the game.  

Late in the fourth quarter with the Steelers leading 23-19 needing a touchdown to take the lead, Love threw to the left corner of the south end zone at Acrisure Stadium and Peterson broke up the pass intended for receiver Christian Watson. The deflected pass never made it to the ground as Steelers safety Keanu Neal plucked it out of the air and returned the football out to the Steelers 24-yard line.

“He works well with Joey (Porter Jr.),” Tomlin said of all the positives Peterson brings to the Steelers since signing with the team as a free agent earlier this spring. “When I’m talking to the group and I’m looking around. He is always giving me that knowing nod. It’s just good to have that veteran player that’s a quality human being like him. He is very much a component of raising some of the young ones that are contributing and contributing big.”

The contributions are paying dividends to a team that finds themselves in first place in the ultra-competitive AFC North.

When I told Peterson that the Cleveland Browns defeated the Baltimore Ravens as time expired on a field goal, he smiled, put in his index finger, and said excitingly, “So, where in first place now.”

Yes, Mr. Peterson the Steelers are in first place and one of the reasons is for the on and off field contributions made since arriving in Pittsburgh. 

Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com