The Pittsburgh Steelers blew out the New York Jets on Sunday Night time Soccer to the tune of a 37-15 end. Russell Wilson’s first begin was the story, however the Steelers obtained plenty of very spectacular performances in all three phases of the sport. Professional Soccer Focus launched its weekly grades for the sport. The prime 5 Steelers in accordance with PFF have been Keeanu Benton, George Pickens, Alex Highsmith, Darnell Washington, and Beanie Bishop Jr.
Benton and Pickens have been the one two gamers to obtain “Elite” grades of over 90.0.
That’s fairly spectacular for Benton provided that he was primarily matched up on C Joe Tippmann, who’s a really strong younger heart within the league. Aaron Rodgers was getting the ball out fast, which implies the line of defense didn’t have time to get a ton of strain or sacks, however they made up for it by deflecting passes on the line of scrimmage. Benton had two of these to pair along with his two whole tackles. PFF additionally credited him for one whole strain.
Benton has come very near posting an elite single-game grade up to now, however that is the primary one in all his profession. The primary of many, almost certainly, as one of many younger rising stars of the protection.
Pickens additionally posted an elite grade of 90.1. It’s by far his highest grade of the season to date, and possibly no coincidence that it got here whereas working with QB Russell Wilson. He hadn’t even posted a grade of 80.0 or greater this season but. He has two different elite sport grades in his profession coming in 2023.
He’s had higher video games statistically earlier than, however his well timed huge performs have been a giant purpose why the Steelers’ offense was capable of rating 37 factors. He caught 5 of his 9 targets for 111 yards and his first landing of the season. His yards per reception was all the best way up at 22.2, which is by far his highest of the season and again consistent with his 2023 excellence in that space.
Pickens additionally had a 29-yard cross interference penalty whereas being coated by Sauce Gardner earlier than halftime. That led to his receiving landing and was a giant turning level within the sport to forestall beginning out the second half in a giant gap.
Highsmith posted an 84.3 grade in his first sport again from a groin harm. His absence within the lineup was being felt in a giant means, particularly as soon as Nick Herbig injured his ankle. He had two QB hits, and was credited for 3 whole pressures by PFF.
Washington was generally known as a blocking tight finish in his rookie season final yr, however that’s beginning to flip round in a giant means. He’s nonetheless a giant menace as a blocker, however he’s now proving to be a weapon within the receiving sport. After posting 7 receptions for 61 yards in his complete rookie season, Washington already has 10 receptions for 91 yards and a landing this yr. He had a career-best 4 receptions in opposition to the Jets. He seems harmful with the ball in his palms. I wouldn’t need to sort out him.
One of many huge tales of the sport was undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop Jr. intercepting Aaron Rodgers two occasions. He utterly killed their momentum on each events. PFF gave him a 78.8 total grade for the day. That’s by far one of the best grade of his profession. That they had him down for permitting 4 receptions on 7 targets for 35 yards. That’s wonderful for a participant that many thought Rodgers can be selecting on all sport.
For anybody curious, Russell Wilson had a 64.1 total grade for the sport. His sluggish first half in all probability dragged his rating down fairly a bit, however all of us noticed how efficient he was in that second half.
