The Giants cut into the lead on their next possession, with Jones converting a third-and-16 to Malik Nabers to set up a 45-yard touchdown run by rookie Tyrone Tracy.
The Giants went for a two-point conversion, but Highsmith sniffed out an attempted trick play on which New York had five offensive players split wide to the left with Nabors behind them. Jones immediately threw the ball to Nabors, but Highsmith arrived with the ball, forcing an incompletion and keeping New York from cutting into a 23-15 lead.
That would prove to be big, as Wilson connected with Pickens for a 50-yard gain to set up a 27-yard Boswell field goal to push the Pittsburgh advantage to 26-15 with just over seven minutes remaining.
The Giants, however, weren’t done, as Jones again connected with Slayton, who had four catches for 108 yards, this time for an 18-yard completion on third-and-8, to help set up a 48-yard Joseph field goal with 5:06 left in the game that cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 26-18.
On the second play of the ensuing possession, Wilson stepped up in the pocket and scrambled for a 1-yard gain. But as he went to the ground, the ball was popped out by Bobby Okereke, who recovered it at the Pittsburgh 37 for the game’s first turnover.
But Watt quickly recorded the game’s second turnover, as he sacked Jones on third down, stripping him of the ball and falling on it to give the ball back to the offense.
“I’m not surprised by it, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not appreciated,” Tomlin said. “I just come to expect it because he’s got a unique talent, a unique approach. Usually that produces unique results with a really consistent tone to it and usually at the most timely moments.
“I think the new Steelers are shaking their heads. I think the guys that have been here kind of expect it.”
The Steelers moved the ball to the New York 43, forcing the Giants to use all of their timeout before punting the ball back at the two-minute warning to the 7-yard line.
But as the Giants attempted to go the length of the field, Jones overthrew running back Devin Singletary and Joey Porter Jr. tipped the ball into the air, where it was intercepted by Beanie Bishop, his third interception in the past two games, to secure the win.
“It seems like a lot of times when we have the lead, on too many drives we’re either ending the game with a sack or we’re getting a pick,” said Highsmith, who along with Watt had two sacks. “That’s what happened tonight. Shout-out to Beanie for getting his third in two games.”