Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Timmons, revitalize­d defense specializi­ng in big stops lately

- By Gerry Dulac

Lawrence Timmons didn’t look like a 10-year NFL veteran when he jumped in the air, picked off Eli Manning and began accelerati­ng down the sideline as though he were doing a 0-to-60 test run.

It was early in the second quarter and the Steelers had one big defensive play already from James Harrison, who drew a holding penalty in the end zone that resulted in a safety. Now Timmons was delivering another.

“I tried to take it to the crib,” Timmons said. “But I couldn’t quite get there.”

Timmons returned the pass that was intended for Giants tight end Larry Donnell 58 yards before he was finally caught. Running back Rashad Jennings was the player who finally caught up to Timmons, but that wasn’t what he meant.

“Thirty caught up to me,” Timmons said, referring to his age. “I wish I was 25. I would’ve scored.”

Three plays later, the Steelers did. Antonio Brown made a great leaping catch in the back of the end zone while being blanketed by cornerback Janoris Jenkins for a 22-yard touchdown and an 11-0 lead. The Giants never recovered.

“I tried to squeeze it in there,” Manning said. “Lawrence Timmons has played a long time and made a lot of plays. He got a little wider than I thought. Any intercepti­on is a bad decision. It obviously hurts when it takes away points.

The Steelers have done a good job the past two games of taking away points.

In addition to Timmons, rookie safety Sean Davis intercepte­d a deep Manning pass for wide receiver Sterling Shepard at the Steelers 6 in the fourth quarter.

On Thanksgivi­ng night in Indianapol­is, safety Mike Mitchell had an intercepti­on at the Steelers 10 and cornerback William Gay had a pick at the Steelers 24.

That’s four intercepti­ons near their goal line in the past two games, three in the fourth quarter. It’s huge because it kills the momentum of the drive we’re going against,” Timmons said. “They’re about to score and you get out on downs or get a pick, that kills the morale. That’s huge for us.”

The Steelers have been doing a little of that, too. After putting up two goal-line stands against the Colts, the defense had three more fourth-down stops against the Giants.

Ryan Shazier broke up a pass for tight end Will Tye on a fourthand-1 at the 3, Davis had his first intercepti­on when he picked Manning on fourth-and-13 at the 35 and Ricardo Mathews sacked Manning on fourth-and-9 at the 24.

Throw in Timmons’ thirddown intercepti­on at the Steelers 2 and that’s a half-dozen deflating stops for a defense that has suddenly developed a penchant for big plays.

“It’s part of doing our job and being in the right place at the right time,” said Davis, the second-round pick who tied Timmons and cornerback Artie Burns with a team-high seven tackles. “And then going up and getting it.”

No play was bigger than Timmons, who ended a drought of 26 games without an intercepti­on. And, if age didn’t catch up to him, he might have eclipsed his 89-yard intercepti­on return in New England in November 2008.

“That was huge,” said Harrison, who has four sacks in his past five games. “Lawrence was just doing his job, reading the quarterbac­k, getting into coverage and making plays.”

 ?? Matt Freed/Post-Gazette ?? Offensive coordinato­r Todd Haley celebrates after linebacker Lawrence Timmons intercepte­d a pass in the second quarter against the New York Giants Sunday at Heinz Field.
Matt Freed/Post-Gazette Offensive coordinato­r Todd Haley celebrates after linebacker Lawrence Timmons intercepte­d a pass in the second quarter against the New York Giants Sunday at Heinz Field.
 ?? Peter Diana/Post-Gazette ?? Giants quarterbac­k Eli Manning looks for a pass interferen­ce penalty against the Steelers Sunday at Heinz Field.
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette Giants quarterbac­k Eli Manning looks for a pass interferen­ce penalty against the Steelers Sunday at Heinz Field.

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