Getting the sword out of there was a good call, for multiple reasons. Removing distance and a need for both of them to think quite so hard - or in Clint's case be careful at all, are a couple of the biggest from Steve's perspective.

It letting Clint let go enough to get to desperate, hard, feral fighting though is by far the biggest. It is the point - for Steve, anyway - above and beyond him being able to precisely hurt Clint in ways that won't hinder him but will stick. Something in the emotional release, mental shut down and physical release.

All of which is part of why when Clint doesn't get back up but is still clearly frustrated and trying to, Steve just... drops down over him, kneeling across him and shoves Clint onto his back and holds him there with one hand on Clint's shoulder.

Could he have stopped sooner? Yep. But if Clint's trying to fight, he's... still trying to fight. Exhausted and frustrated, but not exhausted enough. Besides, Clint knows damn well how to tap out. All he really has to do is ask.

One of them can totally let go, give everything they've got and then some. That's not Steve for very obvious reasons, but Clint can.