Steelers vs. Rams score, takeaways: Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh's offense come alive in second half of win

Pittsburgh outscored the Rams 14-0 in the fourth quarter

During the second half of Sunday's game, the Pittsburgh Steelers looked like the team many thought they would be when the regular season started six weeks ago. In all three phases, Mike Tomlin's team outplayed the Rams in the second half en route to a 24-17 win. 

Trailing, 9-3, at halftime, an interception by T.J. Watt deep in L.A. territory jump-started the Steelers' big second half. Pittsburgh took the lead moments later on a short run by Kenny Pickett, who used his legs and his right arm to lead the Steelers to victory.

Pittsburgh (4-2) was also aided by three missed kicks by Brett Maher that included a 51-yard attempt that would have given the home team a 10-point lead with 1:22 left in the third. Pittsburgh responded by scoring a touchdown on its next two drives while forcing the Rams into a pair of punts over that span. 

Los Angeles (3-4) lost despite a big day from rookie wideout Puka Nacua, who caught eight passes for 154 yards. Nacua's big game, however, wasn't enough to mask Cooper Kupp's almost invisible stat line of two catches for 29 yards. Kupp dropped two passes early, and his only catch in the second half was on a Rams two-point conversion. 

Here's a full breakdown of the Steelers' first win in Los Angeles over the Rams since defeating L.A. way back in Super Bowl XIV. 

Why the Steelers won 

Pittsburgh played complementary football while also capitalizing on Rams mistakes. Watt's pick at the start of the second half was huge, but so was Pickett's 39-yard completion to Diontae Johnson three plays after Maher's missed field goal attempt late in the third quarter. The completion to Johnson set up Jaylen Warren's game-tying touchdown run. 

The Steelers' offense then capitalized on the defense forcing the Rams into their only three-and-out of the day on L.A.'s ensuing drive. Pittsburgh's offense got the ball back and took control of the game by moving 80 yards on 10 plays. Pickett had four key completions and one third-down conversion with his legs on the drive that was punctuated by Najee Harris' first touchdown run of the season. 

 Pickett then iced the game with his successful fourth-down sneak just before the two-minute warning. 

Why the Rams lost 

Los Angeles should have had a bigger lead at halftime. They led by just six points despite Nacua's big first half (94 yards on five catches) and Pittsburgh's offense failing to convert on a single third down. But a missed field goal and point-after attempt by Maher contributed to the Rams' inability to distance themselves from Pittsburgh in the first half. 

The Rams ran the ball well (Royce Freeman and Darrell Henderson Jr. combined to run for 127 yards and a score on 30 carries), but their passing game just wasn't good enough, especially with Kupp's minimal contributions. Defensively, the Rams didn't put more pressure on Pickett while allowing him to make several key plays with his legs. They also allowed too many big plays, especially on completions from Pickett to Johnson and fellow wideout George Pickens. 

Turning point 

Despite Watt's pick, the Steelers found themselves trailing after a neutral zone penalty on Watt set up the Rams' only score of the second half. But Pittsburgh re-gained momentum following Maher's missed field goal by tying the game on its ensuing possession. The Steelers received stellar play during this sequence of the game from Pickett, who finished with 250 yards on 17 of 25 passing. 

Sandwiched between those scoring drives was rookie Joey Porter Jr.'s heads-up breakup of Stafford's third-down pass to Nacua. Porter made a couple of big plays Sunday while contributing to Pittsburgh's defensive success. 

Play of the game 

There's a lot of plays that could have been chosen (including Tutu Atwell's touchdown and Nacua's 32-yard grab in the second half), but the nod goes to Watt and his pick of Stafford on the first play of the second half. It was the first interception of the season for Watt, who is making a strong case to win his second Defensive Player of the Year award in three years. 

Quotable 

"I can, because I've seen it so many times. So grateful for our fans. They come out here and travel. Truly believe we have the best fans in the world. It's like a home game when we're on the road. Huge shout out to them." -- Pickett to Fox Sports after the game when asked about the overwhelming amount of Steelers fans that flooded SoFi Stadium on Sunday 

What's next 

Los Angeles will head to Dallas to take on the Cowboys on its first of two road games before a bye week. The Cowboys took a 4-2 record into their Week 7 bye. 

Pittsburgh returns home to face a Jaguars team that is 5-2 and atop the AFC South division standings. The Steelers have historically had issues with Jacksonville. Pittsburgh is 13-14 all-time against Jacksonville that includes two postseason losses. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 7:04 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Huge win for the Steelers, who are now 4-2 on the season. The Rams fall and drop to 3-4. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:58 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Pickett sneaks, and the Steelers keep possession. Pickett's running has been big today. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:53 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Former Steeler Ahkello Witherspoon flagged for DPI on Johnson on big third down. But Johnson flagged for taunting, so it wipes out the first down and Steelers have to replay third down. 

Robinson catches Pickett's third down pass, but is short of the first. Steelers may elect to go for it. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:49 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Here's a look at the Steelers' first rushing TD of the season. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:48 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

That's now three straight punts for the Rams' offense. Los Angeles got pass happy at the end of that last drive after having success on the ground for most of the day. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:44 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Questionable illegal contact penalty against Peterson, who was covering Kupp. The amount of Steelers fans in attending this game is unreal. You can hear thousands of boos when they threw the flag. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:41 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Harris punches it home for his first score of the season, and the Steelers have the lead. Really nice design from Canada, who had Warren and Harris in the backfield and put Heyward in motion. That spread the Rams' defense out and helped give Harris space. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:39 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Pickett is looking as good as he's looked all season the past two drives. Pickett hasn't missed a completion on either drive and is getting help from the Steelers' running game. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:35 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Taunting penalty on Pickens wipes out an 18-yard completion. Carless penalty that could come back to haunt Pittsburgh. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:30 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Joey Porter Jr. breaks up Stafford's third down pass for Nacua. Porter picking up where he left off in Pittsburgh's win over Baltimore. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:25 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Jaylen Warren goes in on the next play and the Steelers have two offensive TD's this half. Great block by Isaac Seumalo on the TD. Steelers tie up the score. 

That's Pittsburgh's first rushing TD of the season. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:24 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Pickett hits Johnson for 39 yards on the first play of the fourth quarter. Steelers now in the red zone for the second time in this game. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:18 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Pressure on Stafford leads to an incomplete pass on third down. Maher misses a 51-yard attempt, so Steelers still only down by one score. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:15 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

That's now two neutral zone infractions against Steelers OLBs. This one's on Highsmith, and it helps Stafford picks up a first down with his legs on third-and-7. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:09 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

No trick plays, no bubble screens, no jet sweeps. Just not much creativity. 

All that said, Pittsburgh's offensive players also aren't making enough plays. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:08 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Steelers punt on ensuing drive. Just can't get anything going on offense. Have to think more pressure from the outside will be coming regarding Matt Canada's job status if this continues. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 6:01 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Here's a look at Nacua's 32-yard grab that set up the short TD run. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 5:59 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Henderson smashes it in and the Rams re-gain the lead. Nacua's 32-yard catch was big, but so was the penalty on Watt that extended the drive. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 5:58 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Nacua with a tough catch and run and the Rams are inside the Steelers' red zone for the first time. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 5:54 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

The catch stands, so Nacua now has six catches for 126 yards. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 5:52 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Questionable neutral zone infraction penalty gives the Rams a fresh set of downs. Nacua makes a big catch downfield, 32 yards, on the next play but Tomlin is challenging it. It looked like Nacua somewhat made the grab despite taking a shot by Minkah Fitzpatrick as he was coming down with the ball. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 5:44 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Here's Watt's pick to start the second half that sets up Kenny Pickett's TD. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 5:42 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

First half starts with T.J. Watt's pick of Stafford, who never saw him cutting across the field. Stafford was trying to get it to Kupp but Watt snares it down. Steelers have first-and-goal at the 7. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 5:35 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Here's a look at the only TD scored in the first half: 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 5:34 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Halftime stats

Score: Rams 9-3
First downs: Rams 10-5
Third down: Rams 5-9, Steelers 0-5
Total yards: Rams 226-91

Stafford: 9-16, 147 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 2 sacks
Pickett: 6-13, 78 yards, 2 sacks

Harris: 6 carries, 23 yards 
Nacua: 5 catches, 94 yards 
Kupp: 2 catches, 29 yards 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 5:25 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Crazy TD pass from Stafford to Tutu Atwell. Highsmith pressured Stafford to the outside, but Stafford keeps play alive and burns Wallace for the score. Rough first half for Wallace. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 5:18 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Nacua continues to hurt the Steelers' secondary. Just burned Levi Wallace upfield and got a nice block downfield in en route to a 36-yard-gain. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 5:06 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Joey Porter Jr. with a nice breakup of a third down pass for Puka Nacua. The Rams are still able to get a FG while tying the game. A big completion from Stafford to Nacua set up the Rams' first points. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 5:01 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Steelers rookie LB Nick Herbig gets his first NFL sacks. Pittsburgh has done a great job applying pressure on Stafford so far. 

[Oct 22, 2023 at 4:59 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Steelers offense still trying to get in sync. An incomplete pass to Johnson on first down doesn't help. Seems like a recurring theme for Steelers this year has been too many pass obvious situations on third down.