The Pittsburgh Steelers only knew one way to score on Sunday.
If they were 45 yards out, they were going to end up in the end zone. Otherwise, no touchdowns.
This is how that broke down on Sunday against the Lions in Week 16: The Steelers scored three TDs, and all three were from exactly 45 yards out.
Kenneth Gainwell had the first one. It was on a wild catch from Aaron Rodgers in which Gainwell was interfered with, fell, caught the ball on his backside, got up and sprinted away and into the end zone.
Then it was the same guy, twice: Jaylen Warren.
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He ran for one 45-yard touchdown to go up 22-10.
Then he ran for another one to go up 29-17.
Both epic Warren runs came in the fourth quarter.
It's exactly what the Steelers ordered. They entered the day with a one-game lead in the AFC North on the Baltimore Ravens, but going up against the formidable Lions in Detroit wasn't a given.
Pittsburgh doesn't get a lot of big plays. Their scoring drives are often long and plodding and tight end-heavy.
On this evening, though, the Steelers dialed up the big plays thrice, each from exactly 45 yards out. That was the sweet spot for the Steelers.
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