New kicker Bullock jumped into fire and came through

The life of an unemployed kicker in the NFL consists of working and waiting by the phone. Since being cut by the Giants after the season opener, Randy Bullock did just that for the past three months. He was starting to wonder if he ever would get that call this season.

Then late Friday, he got the call from the Steelers after Chris Boswell suffered an abdominal injury after practice. He arrived in Pittsburgh via Houston at 1 a.m. Saturday, got a few hours of sleep before attending the team walk-through and getting a few kicks in with holder Jordan Berry and long snapper Greg Warren.

Then a little more than 24 hours later, Bullock booted field goals of 44, 34 and 38 yards in a 24-14 victory against his former team at Heinz Field.

Not bad for someone who had no idea he would be kicking in an NFL game when he woke up Friday. “I’m used to it,” Bullock said. “That’s the life of a specialist. Anything can happen. You just have to be ready to go.”

Bullock previously kicked for the Texans (201215), the Jets (2015) and the Giants. Heinz Field might be a tough place to perform for some kickers, but Bullock improved to 6 for 6 in the stadium. He also was 3 for 3 when the Texans played here on a Monday night in 2014.

“To be honest, I didn’t think about the conditions,” Bullock said. “It was kind of windy at the one end. It is what it is and you have to adapt.”

Coach Mike Tomlin didn’t believe Boswell’s injury was long term so Bullock might have merely earned one game check before going back to Houston. At the very least, he put a quality performance on his resume for a team that is jostling for playoff position.

“When you talk about special teams you have to highlight the efforts of Randy Bullock to come in here under those circumstances and deliver the quality play he gave us,” Tomlin said. “We’re just really appreciative.”

Other injuries

In addition to Boswell’s abdomen injury, defensive lineman Javon Hargrave and safety Shamarko Thomas left the game to be evaluated for concussions and did not return.

Beckham goes off

Giants receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. wasn’t pleased with the pass interference penalty that was called on him in the first half or with the officiating overall in the game.

“I went up to ask the official what was going on, what was the flag for and he told me, ‘Get out my face,’ and so like I said you just have to keep it moving,” Beckham said. “I am trying to turn over a leaf. I am trying to play football the way I love to play football and it is almost a disrespect thing. I’m trying to figure out what I did wrong so I can learn from it and don’t do it again and you are going to sit there and tell me ‘get out of my face.’ I don’t really understand that, it is not really how I was raised or anything like that.”

Beckham said the Giants should not have to play another game with Terry McAuley’s officiating crew again. “You can’t sit there and rely on the refs,” he said. “Obviously we can’t sit there and rely on them if anybody watched the game [Sunday]. I’m not sitting here saying the refs are the reason we lost the game, but there are plenty of calls in the game and anybody can go watch the film and see exactly what was going on.

“I don’t really think that we should have this crew any more when the Giants are playing with the past history and everything that is going on.”

Quick hits

Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown connected for their 49th touchdown pass, tying them with Terry Bradshaw and Lynn Swann for most in franchise history. … Roethlisberger has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 43 consecutive home games, the third-longest streak in NFL history. … Brown went over 1,000 yards receiving for the fifth time in his career. … After his 22-yard touchdown catch, Brown now has 54 touchdowns in his career and moved past Swann for sole possession of fifth place in the team record books. … Le’Veon Bell recorded his third consecutive 100-yard game, the first time he has done that in his four-year career. … Linebacker James Harrison recorded a sack in three consecutive games for the fifth time in his career. ... The Steelers game at Cincinnati Dec. 18 was flexed from 8:30 p.m. to a 1 p.m. kickoff.

Inactives

In addition to Boswell, the Steelers also deactivated running backs DeAngelo Williams and Daryl Richardson, offensive lineman Brian Mihalik, receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, quarterback Zach Mettenberger and tight end Xavier Grimble.