A record night that reshaped the AFC race, as late flag changes everything

The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled out a dramatic 29–24 road win over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, pushing Detroit to the brink of playoff elimination. The victory keeps Pittsburgh atop the AFC North, firmly in control of its postseason destiny and on track to win the division for the first time in five years.

Coached by Mike Tomlin, the Steelers secured their 22nd consecutive season with a winning record – 19 of them under Tomlin – breaking the NFL record for the most straight seasons finishing at .500 or better. The mark surpasses the previous standard shared with the Dallas Cowboys, who posted 21 straight winning seasons between 1965 and 1985.

The closing moments were tense for Pittsburgh after kicker Chris Boswell missed a field goal that would have extended the lead. On the ensuing drive, Detroit appeared to score the winning touchdown on the final play, with quarterback Jared Goff crossing the goal line. The play was nullified by an offensive pass interference call on Amon-Ra St. Brown, who shoved cornerback Jalen Ramsey to create separation before lateraling the ball on the scoring attempt.

The loss leaves the Lions without a path to a third straight NFC North title. While not mathematically eliminated, their playoff odds have dropped to just 8%.

Aaron Rodgers completed 27 of 41 passes for 266 yards in a performance reminiscent of his prime. “The last three weeks have been playoff-type football for us,” Rodgers said after the game.

One of the night’s most spectacular plays came from running back Kenneth Gainwell, who hauled in a 45-yard reception for a touchdown. He secured the ball while lying on the turf, pinned it underneath with his right arm, then popped up and raced into the end zone. Fellow running back Jaylen Warren also stood out, rushing for two touchdowns and setting a career high with 143 yards.

Wide receiver DK Metcalf could face discipline in the coming hours after an incident involving a fan in the stands.

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