Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett found a wide-open Calvin Austin for a 72-yard touchdown early Sunday night against the Raiders. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Kenny Pickett made history in Las Vegas on Sunday night.
Pickett threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III in the first quarter of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday night, ending the game 7-7.
That deep ball, which hit a wide-open Austin in the middle of the field at Allegiant Stadium, is the longest touchdown pass the Steelers have scored against the Raiders in team history.
Although a 72-yard touchdown pass is by no means the longest in league history – there have been several touchdown receptions of 99 yards – it marks a great moment in Steelers history. The touchdown passed the legendary “Immaculate Reception” as the longest the team has ever scored against the Raiders.
This touchdown pass thrown by Terry Bradshaw to Franco Harris in the 1972 playoffs is one of the most famous touchdowns in NFL history. Bradshaw, down with the Steelers facing a deep fourth down late in the fourth quarter, had his pass tipped and Harris picked it up and ran it into the end zone to win the game and send the team to the AFC to send to the championship game.
Harris died last year at the age of 72, just days before the play’s 50th anniversary.
The Steelers and Raiders entered Sunday night’s game at 1-1 this season. The touchdown was Austin’s first of the season. The 24-year-old, who the Steelers took in the fourth round of last year’s draft, had 47 yards on seven receptions this season.