Sorry it’s a damaged report story, one other sluggish begin within the first half on the scoreboard. Tied at 9 at halftime, however fortunately turned it up within the second half with large performs in all three phases for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ third straight win (26-18).
On this article, I’ll present knowledge from Professional Soccer Focus (PFF) and takeaways from watching the movie.
Offense:
Wonderful (90-Plus Grades):
TE Darnell Washington (92.2 grade, 30 snaps) was the very best grade on offense and general. Not the amount of final recreation as a receiver, however impactful. One goal, an explosive 29-yard catch, getting open on a nook route and practically tight roping the sideline for a possible home name. The primary of two back-to-back explosive performs on the second drive, however the offense sadly stalled on each purple zone journey of the sport (0-4). Nice blocking general, which PFF agreed with. 81.6 RBLK was the second-best of Week Eight and 74.4 PBLK.
Nice (80-Plus Grades):
WR George Pickens (81.6, 53) caught 4/5 targets for 74 yards however no TDs. Two had been close to scores, one negated on the primary drive (T Broderick Jones facemask). Would have been refreshing for this sluggish begin offense and the opposite crazily not getting two ft down with room at the back of the top zone. Caught an excellent deep throw from Russell Wilson on a nook route for a double-explosive 43-yard achieve, the longest play for Pittsburgh’s offense, together with YAC. Season-high 29 YAC and three/4 catches additionally went for first downs.
Good (70-Plus Grades):
T Dan Moore (75.6, 65) led the o-line, deservingly IMO. Led the crew in Week Eight with 75.1 RBLK and 70.3 PBLK. Two pressures, a rush, and QB hit. Pittsburgh was zone run heavy within the recreation, and Moore fared nicely in that, together with only some misplaced reps on 30 run block snaps. Extra misplaced reps in go professional for positive. Additionally bought dinged, forcing him to exit, however returned after one play through which backup Calvin Anderson allowed a sack. Knock on wooden, continued well being after lacking his first snap of his stable 2024 marketing campaign.
WR Van Jefferson (74.8, 53) matched or had season-highs in targets (5), catches (4), yards (62), yards per catch (15.5), two missed tackles compelled, first downs (three), and longest catch (36 yards). That explosive play was an superior catch on an underthrow, making an excellent adjustment to his back-shoulder to make the contested catch. Additionally famous an general robust outing as a blocker, which PFF agreed with (71.9 RBLK). Good contributions general.
The Dangerous (Beneath 50 Grades):
G Mason McCormick (44.5, 66) had the bottom offensive grade. First time on this tier in six video games performed. Not all dangerous, however detrimental performs soured his recreation. Most egregious: handily pancaked in go professional, sack allowed, holding penalty, on the bottom a number of instances, and poor go block on Wilson’s fumble turnover. Two notable reps on explosive performs: Pickens’ 43-yarder, and RB Najee Harris’ 26-yard explosive run. 53.9 RBLK, and abysmal 16.3 PBLK, together with two hurries (no sacks). PBLK felt low and thought Jones had a worse recreation.
Protection:
Wonderful (90-Plus Grades):
EDGE T.J. Watt (91.7, 69) was the highest-graded defender and his standard clutch self. Most notable was a fourth-quarter strip sack, and he recovered his personal compelled fumble to rectify QB Wilson’s demoralizing fumble turnover the prior drive late within the recreation. Seven complete tackles, 4 stops, two TFLs, six pressures, and two QB hits that had been each sacks (T-NFL finest in Week Eight), and a FF in one other star efficiency. In 2024, 93.7 DEF (second), 93.2 RDEF (first), and 90.9 PRSH (fourth). Dominant.
Nice (80-Plus Grades):
Three right here. EDGE Alex Highsmith (87.5, 64) had a career-high 12 pressures and whopping six QB hits, rating first within the NFL in Week Eight, 4 hurries, 4 complete tackles (all stops), and two sacks (T-first) in a monster recreation. Created havoc for a lot of the sport, benefiting from all the eye Watt garners. Anticipated an elite grade. So nice to see him one other week more healthy, in comparison with a lesser efficiency in his first recreation again from harm final week.
The EDGE duo had all 4 of Pittsburgh’s sacks, all within the second half, and had the 2 finest PRSH grades of Week Eight. Wow.
Cam Heyward (86.7, 49) was additionally robust, making a three-headed monster from Pittsburgh’s d-line that NY struggled with. Seven complete pressures, 5 hurries, two QB hits, six complete tackles, and 4 stops, all in opposition to the run. 79.7 PRSH, 73.5 RDEF, and 71.1 TACK this recreation. 91.0 DEF, 84.4 RDEF, 78.1 TACK on the season leads all IDL via Week Eight, and 87.9 ranks third. Animal.
LB Elandon Roberts (81.3, 24) excelled in his standard methods in RDEF (81.0) and TACK (79.5). Three complete tackles, all stops in run protection, together with a TFL showcasing his stellar downfield talents and plus pursuit on one other. On the season, 89.9 DEF (third) and 93.3 RDEF (first). Taking part in his function to a T general.
Good (70-Plus Grades):
Two gamers. CB Joey Porter Jr. (77.4, 72) tied for a crew lead in complete tackles (eight). Coming down to complete performs from deep zone protection typically (greater than my liking, TBH), equating to solely three stops. Charted for six targets, three catches, for less than 16 yards, for a pleasant 56.3 score in opposition to. Stable recreation grades throughout the board: 81.4 TACK (sixth league-wide), 76.5 COV, 70.4 RDEF. Encouraging general, with an asterisk subsequent to some debatable DPI no-calls.
S Minkah Fitzpatrick (76.5, 72) had one significantly pleasing play in protection, a third and three, the place he delivered a giant hit on the receiver to jar the ball unfastened for the incompletion. 4 complete tackles as nicely, two for stops, for his highest particular person 78.4 TACK grade. 71.8 COV was additionally stable, incomes a team-high 39.6 score in opposition to on that PBU, his lone goal. Fitzpatrick’s 90.6 season TACK is first amongst safeties, and 82.1 ranks fifth.
The Dangerous (Beneath 50 Grades):
5 right here. EDGE Jeremiah Moon (49.1, 7) was up and down, within the dangerous tier for the third week in a row (4 video games performed). I famous just a few constructive reps, together with a stress on an incompletion, setting the sting in run protection, and one other plus go rush within the waning moments. Some negatives included being pancaked on a double crew in opposition to the run and dropping on a go rush. Bit decrease DEF grade than I anticipated, and PFF’s particular person grades had been greater that that mark: 57.9 RDEF, 53.7 PRSH.
DL Dean Lowry (44.0, 9) lands right here once more, doing so in 5/6 video games in 2024. No pressures or sacks on six go rush snaps (53.1 PRSH). Famous him getting a push on a pair events, however extra misplaced reps. Famous one plus rep in run d, however the different was removed from fascinating. Particular person grades had been all greater than his DEF as nicely: 55.0 RDEF, 53.1 PRSH.
DL Keeanu Benton (43.4, 37) was a responsible get together to Pittsburgh’s struggles in run protection. Pushed again, washed, on the bottom, together with a 17-yard chunk run, a third and 1 conversion allowed, and a missed run deal with. Famous just one constructive run d rep. Move dashing, whereas not stellar, was higher. Had an assisted QB hit on a pleasant swim transfer, however his solely charted stress. Just one deal with, a cease, monitoring down a third and 12 display limiting it to seven yards. Second recreation within the dangerous tier, fingers crossed extra consistency post-bye.
S DeShon Elliott (42.1, 54) had his first dangerous grade of 2024. Worst 39.4 TACK and 33.8 RDEF. A deflating missed deal with on the Giants fourth quarter 45-yard TD run lower into Pittsburgh’s beforehand comfy 23-9 lead with loads of time left. One other poor angle, with a gaping gap for a ten-yard chunk. Did have seven complete tackles (T-third on the crew) however simply two stops, encouragingly for no achieve. The latter’s been extra typical in 2024, along with his 83.4 season RDEF rating fourth amongst safeties. However the dangerous outweighed the great in Week Eight.
DL Larry Ogunjobi (36.3, 48) was the lowest-graded defender. You guessed it, struggled in run protection and tackling as nicely (35.7 RDEF, 30.1 TACK). Additionally had a missed run deal with, with two significantly poor reps in my notes on chunk 17 and 26-yarders. This, together with the amount, double-digit misplaced reps had been painful, sadly. There was some good, like a pleasant TFL on a QB draw, however should be higher general. Move rush was higher, however extra losses in my notes there too. Right here’s to hoping crew run protection appears a lot better post-bye.
Particular Groups:
Wonderful (90-Plus Grades):
NONE.
Nice (80-Plus Grades):
Austin (86.9, 4) lands right here with the aforementioned 73-yard punt return TD, the jump-for-joy turning level of the sport. This was the primary TD for both crew, not coming till late within the third quarter. He additionally loved a good catch bluff, with the punt crusing over his head for the touchback. Did elect to subject one as an alternative of a good catch, taking an enormous hit that was harmful.
Good (70-Plus Grades):
Two right here. James Pierre (74.4, 22) had a robust exhibiting general. 24-yard assisted kickoff-return deal with, nice punt protection, together with a two-yard deal with, a block on Austin’s explosive return, and protection on the Steelers’ final punt that was honest caught on the seven-yard line. Some cons had been being blocked on an extended 45-yard kick return and never touchdown a block on the punt return unit.
Damontae Kazee (74.3, 4) had an excellent block on Austin’s large punt return, and good to see PFF taking discover in his return from a two-game absence to harm.
The Dangerous (Beneath 50 Grades):
NONE.
Surprises:
- Higher than anticipated offensive grades: Calvin Anderson – 60.0 grade, one snap, a sack allowed, 0.0 PBLK…huh? Although Broderick Jones (56.9) could be within the dangerous tier.
- Decrease than anticipated offensive grades: Austin (66.6, particularly explosive TD) and RB Najee Harris (63.1) on one other nice 100 rush yard recreation, together with 5 performs of 10-plus yards.
- Beanie Bishop’s 64.5 COV grade given his game-sealing interception. Was charged by PFF for some chunk yardage (of the cleanup selection), and a rub idea bought him on a 4th and a pair of conversion. However nonetheless decrease than I anticipated.
Who had been yours?
STEELERS WEEK 8 VS. GIANTS & TOTAL REGULAR SEASON SNAPS:
WEEK 8 SNAP LEADERS:
OFF- B.Jones, M.McCormick, R.McCollum, Ru.Wilson.
DEF- M.Fitzpatrick, P.Queen, D.Jackson, J.Porter.
ST- J.Pierre.
