On the final Sunday of the regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers received the assistance they required, clinching the AFC’s final playoff spot. Their prize is a meeting with the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills. Because the regular season has ended, punishments intended to end a player’s regular season are no longer in effect. This helps the Steelers’ secondary, which lost a starting safety in Week 15 due to a suspension.
After a hit on Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., Damontae Kazee was suspended for the final three games of the regular season. The league office listed various health and safety breaches committed by the Pittsburgh Steelers safety in addition to the hit. Kazee had previously been fined $59,030 five times prior to the Pittman Jr. play. Kazee’s regular-season suspension lost him more than $200,000 in compensation.
In his second season with the Steelers, Kazee started nine of the 14 games he appeared in. He has 61 tackles, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries during the season. He can now contribute to the Steelers’ postseason success.
The Steelers are still without their defensive stalwart.
While one defensive starter returns for Pittsburgh’s bid for a seventh Super Bowl, another critical piece of the puzzle is missing. T.J. Watt has already been ruled out, which will hurt the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense. Watt led the NFL in sacks with 19.0. He became the first player in league history to lead the league in sacks three times in the last four seasons. The return of Damontae Kazee is welcome, but the Steelers still have an uphill struggle on Sunday afternoon.
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