Macafee: Austin lauds Smith, 'my guys' for sensational 73-yard punt return

Calvin Austin III has been talking with teammates all season about "finishing" punt returns. The third-year receiver out of Memphis has come close to breaking one for a touchdown at times this season, so much so that Mike Tomlin and Alex Highsmith both said in their own way that Austin was due for a big play at some point. Turns out, they were right.

With 4:58 left in the third quarter Monday night, Austin caught a Matt Haack punt at the Pittsburgh 27 and broke toward the left sideline, just like the play called for. He received a few key blocks ... actually, I'll let the video speak for itself as it sparked the Steelers en route to a 26-18 victory over the Giants at Acrisure Stadium.

"We had a left return call and all week, I mean all year, we have been talking about just finishing and everything, and my guys, they set it up very well," Austin said. "My boy Rod, (Rodney Williams) had the block that got me around the edge and once it was there, in the open field, everything is just football at that point. It was just really good to just get in the box for my guys and coach Danny (Smith)." 

At that point, the game was deadlocked at nine and nothing but field goals had put points on the scoreboard. Tomlin called the play a "catalyst" that swung the momentum in favor of the Steelers as they scored 14 unanswered to pull ahead for good.

It shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise as special teams have been a strength for the Steelers this season and they were again on this night. The whole unit contributed to Austin weaving his way through the Giants' punt coverage team for the touchdown.

First, Austin had to make his way from the numbers on the right side of the field to the left sideline. Then, as Williams threw his hands fully in the air, not wanting to draw a penalty, he threw a perfect block to spring Austin around the edge. Williams would later say: "No way I'm getting a penalty there. No way. I'm clean."

Mark Robinson then threw a similar block further up the sideline that allowed Austin to show off his track speed and sprint for the end zone.

"(Special teams) is a legitimate phase of the game for us," Tomlin said. "We give it that respect, not only in words but in our approach, in how we work. The guys make it real with their efforts. Not only Calvin, but I saw a couple of guys that secured really sharp blocks, man. They're blocking toward their inline and they shielded as opposed to forcible blocks. It's just a display of football understanding. We're not going to be great unless we're not only good at techniques but display football understanding."

Austin's punt return touchdown was the first for the Steelers since Diontae Johnson returned one 85 yards against the Cardinals on Dec. 8, 2019. It was also the first one at home since Antonio Brown recorded a 71-yarder against the Colts on Dec. 6, 2015.

Leading into Monday night's contest, Austin had returned 14 punts for 133 yards this season, averaging 9.5 yards per return, which ranks ninth in the NFL. His longest return of the season was a 30-yarder against the Colts on Sept. 29. But, he felt like one was coming sooner or later. So did Tomlin, who said: "He'd been close for a couple of weeks. I thought it was his time." 

Highsmith said something to the same effect: "I knew he was going to get it soon. He's a guy who comes in every day, he works his butt off. He's humble. He's levelheaded. He's a great dude. Seeing him get those two touchdowns today, especially that punt return, was awesome. That's just huge for him."

While thinking about the impact he had on Monday's game -- he also caught a beautiful 29-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson on the Steelers' next offensive drive that Chris Halicke is highlighting in his Chalk Talk -- Austin said it was cool that he was able to get in the end zone, but he wants to make it happen consistently moving forward.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed in like last year and the beginning of this year because that's something that I'm supposed to do," Austin said. "I'm very blessed and I thank god that I was able to get into the end zone but that's something that, for me, should be more common."

If he does, this Steelers team could become more dangerous in the second half of the season as they've found ways to win games in a multitude of ways, special teams included.