Why Steelers do QB sneak with a TE, Connor Heyward

Everything about it was unexpected.

The first touchdown of Monday Night Football in Week 15 came from the Pittsburgh Steelers' fourth-string tight end. And it was on a run.

Connor Heyward is the guy who did that, getting pushed in on a pseudo-QB sneak from the 1-yard line.

The Steelers aren't the only team to use a tight end for short-yardage runs. The Ravens do it with Mark Andrews.

It's still quite funky.

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Why do the Steelers do QB sneaks with TE Connor Heyward?

It's mostly about keeping Aaron Rodgers healthy.

The 42-year old quarterback can't be putting himself in that physical situation in the center of the line. 

Rodgers also isn't the strongest player ever. He's not a great force moving forward on such a play.

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The Steelers put the sturdy tight end Heyward there, then they let the 311-pound TE Darnell Washington push from behind, and it's a lot of force.

And on Monday night, it was working well.

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