LANDOVER, Md. – Trailing by six in the fourth quarter on Sunday, with time and opportunity evaporating, Mike Williams lined up for his ninth snap as a Pittsburgh Steeler.

The wide receiver was lined up wide to the left of quarterback Russell Wilson, let go and ran a go route toward the end zone. And as Wilson has done so many times in his career, he kept the snap and let it fly.

His first attempt on Williams, acquired from the Jets at the trade deadline five days ago, fell perfectly over the wide receiver’s right shoulder – and the defensive back behind – and into Williams’ arms for the go-ahead touchdown with two minutes left. . and 22 seconds remaining in the Steelers’ eventual 28-27 victory against the Washington Commanders.

“It was a big catch by Mike,” said Wilson, who recorded his 40th game-winning drive in the fourth quarter with the score, tying Matthew Stafford for the most in the NFL since 2012. “I’m just trying to give him an edge opportunity and let him do his thing. As a guy who’s had (two) seasons in his career, a guy who’s made plays, a guy who’s faced adversity, and loves when guys face adversity. have to deal with, it’s coming through the other side.

“It’s a credit to Mike for studying the film and understanding all the extra time we put in this week, and for having faith in the people around you.”

With the catch, Williams helped secure the victory for the Steelers, who entered the game as 1.5-point underdogs against the upstart Commanders and now move to 7-2 ahead of their AFC North opener against the Baltimore Ravens in week 11.

“I was just grateful for this opportunity,” Williams said. “Russ just told me to go there. He trusted me to go there, run a route and put the ball in front of me. I think it shows that this week of preparation I was catching well, a I ran some good routes and I just showed what I can do, and I had the opportunity to close the race and I did that.”

That Williams, despite his newness, made the biggest play at the most critical moment was no surprise to coach Mike Tomlin.

“He’s an experienced guy,” Tomlin said. “He’s a quick learner. We didn’t throw everything at him, but we threw enough, especially the one-dimensional ball, the passing conditions. We didn’t want him to be there with us (on the sideline) in the toughest spot.” of moments.”

With the touchdown, Williams became the fourth player in NFL history to score a game-winning fourth-quarter touchdown in his debut with a team after joining midseason, and the first since Bill Larson in 1980, according to Elias Sports Desk.

“I never thought I would have this kind of experience or anything like that,” Williams said. “You just gotta live, and you learn and just keep going with whatever God throws your way. That was my main thing. Everything happened for a reason. I’m here now and I’m grateful for the opportunity, I could change it game today. I’m just grateful.”

Before the touchdown catch, Williams had not run that go route once in the game. But when wide receiver Calvin Austin went down with an injury earlier in the drive, Williams’ number was called. And in the timeout just before the touchdown, Wilson told Williams to line up wide left.

“He told me to go there, so I kind of felt like the ball was going to go up,” Williams said. “So I ran the route, just checked the air and caught the ball.”

He added: “It was exactly what we were talking about on the sidelines. “I want you to walk this route.” Calvin went out. He walked that route all week. He actually ran it early in the race, but yeah, it was for him, and he was out.

With less than a week in Pittsburgh, Williams didn’t have much experience catching Wilson’s signature moon balls, but he used his time on the sideline throughout the game to study the passes and how other receivers adjusted to them. Until that point, Wilson’s deep ball hadn’t been the effective weapon it was in his first two starts.

Prior to the touchdown pass, Wilson was just 2 of 7 for 40 yards on passes that traveled at least 15 air yards. After nearly four quarters of studying his quarterback’s throws in the game, Williams knew exactly where to look to make sure he could secure the catch.

“I could see what he was looking at during the routes,” Williams said. “I was just watching from the sideline and seeing other guys on the route. I knew when I got the opportunity, I wasn’t going to run the route and watch him. I went to look at the sky because I saw him throwing the ball.

“I was like, if I go there, I’m going to look at the sky. And I did that and made a play.”