PITTSBURGH (AP) — On the surface, the call was risky, but only to those who haven't been paying attention to how the Pittsburgh Steelers go about their business these days.
Backed up in the first quarter against Washington on Sunday and getting ready to punt, All-Pro Miles Killebrew, serving as the upback, saw one of the Commanders' gunners creep down the line of scrimmage to help out on a potential block, leaving teammate James Pierre all by himself on the outside.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14), defended by Washington Commanders cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, catches a 16-yard pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams (18) reacts after his 32-yard touchdown reception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams (18) celebrates his 32-yard touchdown reception with teammate wide receiver George Pickens (14) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin watches from the sidline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
So Killebrew, the captain of perhaps the best special teams unit in the NFL, did what longtime coordinator Danny Smith has empowered him to do: He gambled, taking the snap and flipping a pass to an open Pierre down the left sideline. Pierre, perhaps showing why he's a cornerback and not a wide receiver by trade, dropped it, giving the Commanders pristine field position that they quickly turned into a touchdown.
Ultimately it didn't matter. Not after the Steelers erased a 10-point second-half deficit to edge Washington 28-27 and improve to 7-2 following a game that in many ways symbolized the shift in the tectonic plates that long have governed arguably the NFL's most stable franchise.
Zoom out and Killebrew's decision simply falls in line with the accelerated sense of urgency that has permeated every level of the organization over the last 10 months.
Consider this: The winning touchdown was thrown by a quarterback ( Russell Wilson ) who wasn't on the roster in February and not in the lineup until October. It was caught by a wide receiver (Mike Williams) who began last week as a member of the New York Jets.
Pittsburgh spent the first two seasons of the post-Ben Roethlisberger era trying to do things the way it has always done them: methodically and pragmatically. Only Kenny Pickett didn't pan out. The offense continued to sputter under Matt Canada and the NFL's most expensive defense made enough plays to keep the Steelers competitive but not enough to close the gap between Pittsburgh and the powers that be in the AFC.
That chasm suddenly looks far more navigable than it did a month ago, when Mike Tomlin thanked Justin Fields for his solid if not always spectacular play during a 4-2 start and handed the offense over to Wilson. Fields had done everything Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith asked of him. He took care of the ball. He used his legs to make plays. He did what he could to not lose games.
The decision to go to Wilson, however, came with a message that not losing is no longer good enough. The games with Fields behind center looked like so many of them over the last half-decade or so — the defense kept things tight and a play or two from the offense created a narrow pathway to victory.
Yet the NFL's longest-tenured coach knew he hadn't seen enough. If Pittsburgh wants to end a playoff victory drought that dates to the 2016 AFC championship — the longest gap between postseason wins since the Immaculate Reception 52 years ago — Tomlin knew his offense would have to be more than serviceable for the Steelers to catch the Kansas Cities and Buffaloes of the world.
So he flipped to Wilson, who has silenced his doubters one moonball at a time. The latest proof came on that lob to the end zone in the waning minutes to Williams, something Tomlin had seen on highlight shows but developed a greater appreciation for while watching it play out in real time right in front of him.
There is a long way to go, to be sure. The final two months include six AFC North games, a trip to Philadelphia and a Christmas Day showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
If anything can be taken away from Pittsburgh's promising first half of the season, it's that it is no longer comfortable with the status quo. And Tomlin may have tipped his hand when talking about a fourth-and-1 call in the last minute that led to Washington jumping offside, allowing the Steelers to seal the game.
Asked if Wilson was actually going to snap the ball if the Commanders didn't jump, Tomlin smiled.
“We will never know, will we?" Tomlin said. "You all know I’m a degenerate.”
And no longer satisfied with trusting the process. Pittsburgh blew the way it normally does things in the offseason. Nine games in, the Steelers are reaping the benefits during a year when the ceiling appears to be rising with each passing week.
Spreading the ball around. Wilson targeted nine different players — even third tight end MyCole Pruitt got a look — and it's telling of Wilson's “throw it to whoever, whenever” approach that his bomb to Williams marked the first time he looked Williams' way all day.
Not much for a team that is a handful of plays away from being 9-0. If Williams' arrival can create more opportunities for George Pickens, the Steelers could have one of the more potent offenses in the league, something they haven't had since the height of the “Killer B's” era in the late 2010s.
Nine months after the Denver Broncos paid nearly $40 million to let Wilson walk, the nine-time Pro Bowler looks rejuvenated in Pittsburgh.
The defense is elite, but sometimes that aggressiveness can be a double-edged sword. Pittsburgh needs to avoid the kind of penalties — face masks and pass interferences, etc. — that piled up against Washington, allowing the Commanders to extend drives.
Pittsburgh will begin the stretch run relatively healthy, though depth at outside linebacker could be a concern after Alex Highsmith turned his left ankle chasing down Jayden Daniels in the fourth quarter on Sunday.
92.3 — The percentage of teams since 1990 that have started the season 7-2 and reached the playoffs.
See if they can continue to be Lamar Jackson's Kryptonite when the Baltimore Ravens visit Pittsburgh on Sunday. Jackson is just 2-4 against the Steelers in his career.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14), defended by Washington Commanders cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, catches a 16-yard pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams (18) reacts after his 32-yard touchdown reception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams (18) celebrates his 32-yard touchdown reception with teammate wide receiver George Pickens (14) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin watches from the sidline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s president replaced his defense minister Thursday as opposition parties moved to impeach both men over the stunning-but-brief imposition of martial law that brought armed troops into Seoul streets.
The Democratic Party and other small opposition parties submitted a joint motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday over his martial law declaration the previous night. Martial law lasted about six hours, as the National Assembly quickly voted to overrule the president, forcing his Cabinet to lift it before daybreak Wednesday.
Jo Seoung-lae, spokesperson of the Democratic Party, said it will push for a National Assembly vote on Yoon's impeachment motion on Saturday, calling his martial law declaration an “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup.”
On Thursday, Yoon’s office said he decided to replace Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun with Choi Byung Hyuk, a retired general who is South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Yoon’s office didn’t provide any further comments by him. He hasn’t appeared in public since his televised announcement that martial law was lifted.
The opposition parties earlier submitted a motion to impeach Kim, alleging he recommended that Yoon impose martial law. Kim had offered to resign and apologized for causing disruption and concern to the public. Kim said that “all troops who performed duties related to martial law were acting on my instructions, and all responsibility lies with me,” according to the Defense Ministry.
During a parliamentary hearing Thursday, Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho said the decision to deploy troops at the National Assembly came from Kim Yong Hyun. Army chief of staff Park An-su, who served as head of the martial law command, said he didn't know how the troops were sent to parliament.
Kim Seon Ho also said he wasn’t informed about Yoon’s decision to impose martial law until the announcement was reported by the media. He said he didn’t know who wrote the military proclamation announced after Yoon’s martial law declaration, which stated that the activities of political parties would be suspended. Park said he proposed a legal review of the proclamation to Kim Yong Hyun, and Kim said a review had been completed.
“I had fundamentally opposed the deployment of troops over this martial law and I expressed a negative opinion about it,” Kim Seon Ho said. “I would like to apologize to our citizens once again, and, on a personal level, I feel devastated.”
Prosecutors in Seoul said they imposed an overseas travel ban on Kim Yong Hyun on Thursday.
Separately, opposition parties on Thursday voted to impeach Choe Jae-hae, chairman of South Korea's auditing board, and three senior public prosecutors. The four will be suspended until the Constitutional Court rules whether to remove them from office. Members of Yoon's governing People Power Party boycotted the votes, leaving the totals far over the threshold to impeach them.
Choe has been accused of softening a review of Yoon’s 2022 decision to move the presidential office from a downtown palace to the Defense Ministry compound, which critics saw as inexplicable waste of money. The prosecutors face accusations that they watered down an investigation into suspected stock price manipulation involving Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee.
During his martial law announcement, Yoon described the Democratic Party’s continued attempts to impeach senior officials and prosecutors as “anti-state activities” and “paralyzing the government.”
The PPP said Thursday it has decided to oppose the motion to impeach Yoon. Observers say it could boycott a floor vote or cast ballots against the motion.
Impeaching the president would require support from two-thirds of the National Assembly, or 200 of its 300 members. The opposition parties together have 192 seats. Parliament's rejection of martial law passed unanimously Wednesday with support from 18 PPP lawmakers who belong to an anti-Yoon faction in the party.
But PPP leader Han Dong-hun, head of the anti-Yoon faction, told reporters Thursday he would work to defeat the impeachment motion even though he criticized Yoon’s declaration as “unconstitutional.” Han said there is a need to “prevent damage to citizens and supporters caused by unprepared chaos.”
Experts say PPP factions could unite to avoid what happened after the 2016 impeachment of conservative President Park Geun-hye with the votes of some lawmakers in her own party. After she was removed from office, the liberals easily won the presidency in a by-election as conservatives remained in disarray. She went to prison but was eventually pardoned.
If Yoon is impeached, he would be suspended until the Constitutional Court rules on whether to remove him from office or restore his presidential power. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would take over presidential responsibilities.
The impeachment motion against Yoon says he failed to meet the constitutional requirement that martial law should only be considered in wartime or a comparable severe crisis. It alleges he attempted a “self-coup” by mobilizing the military and that suspending political party activities and deploying troops to seal the National Assembly amounted to rebellion.
Thousands of protesters marched in Seoul's streets Wednesday, carrying candles and signs calling for Yoon to step down, and another large anti-government gathering was expected Thursday evening.
Reflecting the country’s deeply polarized politics, hundreds of Yoon’s conservative supporters rallied in downtown Seoul on Thursday afternoon, holding signs criticizing Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, seen as a potential successor to Yoon despite facing trials over various corruption allegations.
With Yoon’s declaration sparking concerns about South Korea’s democratic status, officials have been trying to mitigate backlash.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lee Jaewoong said the ministry sent diplomatic notes to foreign missions emphasizing that martial law was lifted through democratic procedures and that travel advisories need not change, as public safety remains stable.
When asked about the U.S. Embassy in Seoul's move this week to cancel routine consular operations, including visa and passport interviews, based on its assessment that South Korea’s “situation remains fluid,” Lee said Seoul was maintaining “necessary communication” with the Americans. The U.S. Embassy later on Thursday said those services were resumed.
Yoon’s martial law declaration came hours after his summit with Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, who traveled to Seoul on an official visit. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson reportedly canceled a plan to visit South Korea this week.
“We are continuously trying to ensure a seamless and consistent implementation of our ministry’s diplomatic policies,” Lee said.
Protesters shout slogans during a rally against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Police officers stand guard during a rally against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Protesters hold up banners that reads "Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol " at a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Protesters march after a rally against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, with the posters read "Resign Yoon Suk Yeol", in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Protesters hold up banners that reads "Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol " at a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Protesters hold up banners that reads "Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol " at a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Police officers file past supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol before a rally in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol rally in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol rally in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol rally in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol rally in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
South Korean marine veterans get their heads shaved during a rally against President Yoon Suk Yeol in front of the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol rally in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
South Korean marine veterans get their heads shaved during a rally against President Yoon Suk Yeol in front of the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol rally in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A South Korean marine veteran gets his head shaved during a rally against President Yoon Suk Yeol in front of the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
South Korean marine veterans stage a rally against President Yoon Suk Yeol in front of the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
South Korean marine veterans stage a rally against President Yoon Suk Yeol in front of the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
FILE - South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, right, looks on as South Korea's Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, on Nov. 1, 2024. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
This undated photo shows newly appointed South Korean Defense Minister Choi Byung Hyuk, a retired four-star general who is South Korea's ambassador to Saudi Arabia. (Yonhap via AP)
An elderly man holds up a candle during a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
People hold signs with writing reading "Resign Yoon Suk Yeol" and shout slogans as they march to the presidential office after a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A woman looks up near a police barricade with rows of police officers blocking a protest march to the presidential office after a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
People hold candles and signs with writing reading "Resign Yoon Suk Yeol" during a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A protester holds up a sign with writing reading "Resign Yoon Suk Yeol" as he joins others in a march to the presidential office after a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A protester holds up a candle and a sign with writing reading "Resign Yoon Suk Yeol" near a police barricade set up to block a protest march to the presidential office after a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A woman walks near banners depicting the strong relationship between South Korea and the United States, in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Attendees light each other's candles during a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
People hold candles during a candlelight vigil against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
