PITTSBURGH — When it comes to the New England defense, no one consistently plays better against the Steelers than Duron Harmon.
He had a pick in the second quarter and another in the fourth quarter on Sunday against the Steelers, giving him the first two-interception game of his career, and a total of five against Pittsburgh over the course of his career.
Harmon now has the most interceptions of anyone in the league against any opponent since 2013. He has five against Pittsburgh and five against Miami, tying him with Reggie Nelson, who also has five picks against the Steelers in the same span. He also became the first Patriots’ defender with a two-interception game since Malcolm Butler picked off a pair of passes in a dec. 24, 2016 win over the Jets.
However, the two interceptions were overshadowed by the 17-10 loss.
“That’s lost. It is what it is,” said a disconsolate Harmon on the locker room after the game. “At the end of the day, I play this game to win. Not for stats. Not for self-glory. For team-glory. Being the best at the end of the year. It is what it is with (the interceptions).”
His first pick came just past the midway point of the second quarter. The Steelers were sitting on a second-and-10 at the New England 46. Ben Roethlisberger dropped back and eyed JuJu Smith-Schuster across the middle of the field. J.C. Jackson was running stride-for-stride with the receiver, forcing Roethlisberger to go a little higher than usual with the ball. Harmon was there to collect.
4 interceptions in 5 regular season games vs. Pittsburgh for @dharm32.#NEvsPIT | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/BgnnUytdra
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 16, 2018
.@BumpNrunGilm0re defends it, @dharm32 steels it.#NEvsPIT | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/t9ZDnaF0JX
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 16, 2018