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Mason Rudolph Goes Deep for TDs Twice in First NFL Start

Pittsburgh fell short in Rudolph’s first start.

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5 years ago

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[Credit: Steelers.com]

Mason Rudolph started his first NFL game on Sunday as the win-less Steelers went on the road to face the undefeated 49ers. Both teams continued on the same trend.

It was a back-and-forth defensive struggle early, full of turnovers and field goals. Neither team scored a touchdown in the first half and the Steelers held a 6-3 lead going into the third quarter. San Francisco finally found pay dirt in the third to go up 10-6.

Then, later in the third quarter, Rudolph found JuJu Smith-Schuster for this 76-yard touchdown to take the lead.

San Francisco’s go-ahead score in the waning seconds of the third quarter made it 17-13.

Early in the fourth, Rudolph had his former No. 1 target in college, James Washington, wide open 30-plus yards down the field. Unfortunately Washington was tackled in his route and the pass interference saved what could have been the pair’s first pro TD connection.

But a play later, Rudolph found rookie Diontae Johnson for a 39-yard score to put Pittsburgh up 20-17.

The game appeared to be Pittsburgh’s to lose when T.J. Watt recovered a fumbled San Francisco snap in the Steelers’ red zone with just under seven minutes to go. But on the ensuing possession, Pittsburgh running back James Conner fumbled himself and gave the ball back to the home team. The 49ers were able to score with 1:15 remaining to retake the lead for good, 24-20.

Rudolph and Steelers still had one more chance. With the game-deciding drive on the line, and on fourth-and-long, he turned again to Washington but the college teammates couldn’t quite connect and the 49ers took over on downs.

Of the Steelers’ five forced turnovers, Rudolph and Co. was only able to manufacture six points to show for it. A fact he pointed to after the game.

“We’ve got to get more out of it,” Rudolph told Steelers.com. “A lot of that falls on my shoulders, getting us in the end zone and converting on possession downs.”

Rudolph finished his first start 14-of-27 for 174 yards, throwing two touchdowns and one interception. The loss fell on more shoulders than just Rudolph’s, but he took the blame anyway.

His Pro Bowl receiver was more than happy with his new QB’s effort in Start No. 1.

“For a young guy to come in and start his first game, an away game all the way on the West Coast, going against a great team, he handled himself well,” Smith-Schuster said. “On situations where we messed up on plays and didn’t execute and turned the ball over, he stayed positive and he kept us going.”

The Steelers fall to 0-3 and Rudolph is 0-1 as as starter. A  learning curve is to be expected, but he at least showed that the moment was not too big for him. More than that, he showed that he knows Rule No. 1 of the QB position owning a loss.

“We just came out slow,” Rudolph said. “I’m more to blame than anyone.”

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