For the second week in a row, the Pittsburgh Steelers discovered themselves embroiled in an unpleasant recreation, this time on the highway towards the Denver Broncos.
As soon as once more, the Steelers discovered a technique to win, shifting to 2-0 on the season with a 13-6 victory over the Broncos. After leaping out to a 10-0 halftime lead, the Steelers held on late, selecting off rookie quarterback Bo Nix on the ultimate play of the sport to seal the win. They discovered a technique to come out on high in a recreation which they have been known as for 10 penalties, a few of which worn out key performs for the Steelers.
However, a win is a win. That’s all that issues.
Issues want cleaned up and discovered, however the Steelers are doing that every one whereas successful video games, leaning on an elite-level protection.
Let’s get to some grades.
QB — B-
One other week, one other underwhelming statistical efficiency from Justin Fields. However his stats don’t inform anyplace near the complete story within the win over the Broncos.
Fields completed 13-of-20 for 117 yards and a landing within the win and added eight carries for 27 yards. Penalties took away some large performs from Fields within the passing recreation, together with an absurd 51-yard strike to George Pickens on the play that was negated by a Broderick Jones holding penalty.
He ought to have had a second landing cross on the day, too, however his landing to Pickens late within the first half was negated by an offensive cross interference penalty, resulting in the Steelers calling on Chris Boswell for a area purpose.
Fields attacked downfield fairly a bit, drawing one cross interference name on the Broncos and a private foul later within the recreation, too. General, he didn’t make any unhealthy selections within the passing recreation, outdoors of taking a nasty sack within the pink zone off play-action. He made up for it two performs later although with excellent ball placement to tight finish Darnell Washington for a 5-yard landing.
As a runner, Fields had a pleasant 16-yard scramble on the scoring drive within the first half. However he was restricted total after that because the Broncos did effectively to largely include him.
RB — B+
The Steelers did a pleasant job total operating the soccer on the day. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren mixed for 111 yards on 26 touches. That’s good for 4.3 yards per carry. That they had fairly a little bit of success on the day and will have had higher days total if not for some penalties.
Harris began off sturdy, operating arduous and discovering some large lanes. Warren appeared totally wholesome with no restrictions and was shot out of a cannon. Harris is the actual thunder between the tackles and Warren brings the lightning.
There’s a transparent method there for the Steelers, and it labored effectively on Sunday. It’s disappointing they couldn’t be rewarded additional for it, although.
Within the passing recreation, Warren had two catches for 19 yards, together with a key 12-yard catch and run to maneuver the chains with the Steelers deep in their very own territory. Harris had a 5-yard catch on the afternoon.
Behind Harris and Warren, Cordarrelle Patterson had two carries for 3 yards because the Steelers tried to work him in some.
WR — C-
Getting into the sport towards the Broncos, the matchup between Pickens and Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II was a giant one to observe. Pickens, to his credit score, had quite a lot of success towards Surtain.
Two catches for 29 yards won’t be a lot to be blissful about, however he had a landing wiped off the board on an offensive cross interference penalty on Van Jefferson that was questionable. He additionally had a 51-yard catch over Surtain worn out on account of a holding name on Broderick Jones.
Pickens did draw a key cross interference on Surtain later within the recreation, too. He ought to have had larger numbers if not for penalties, which is irritating for him.
Jefferson had that questionable name go towards him. He didn’t seem to do something fallacious, however it did take a landing away. He additionally had simply two catches for 14 yards, although he drew a key cross interference penalty on Broncos nook Riley Moss.
Calvin Austin III had a pleasant 6-yard catch to transform a 3rd down within the first half and later took an enormous hit from Denver security P.J. Locke to choose up a primary down, however he was largely invisible as a receiver.
This group actually wants an alternative choice at receiver. Hopefully Roman Wilson will get a helmet in Week 3.
TE — C+
It was nice to see Darnell Washington get some work as a receiving tight finish, exhibiting off nice physique management to haul in a back-shoulder throw from Fields for the sport’s solely landing. He was cut up out broad and received simply on the back-shoulder fade, which was actually encouraging.
He additionally had a terrific block earlier within the drive, combining with Dan Moore Jr. to break down that aspect of the Broncos’ protection and spring Jaylen Warren for an 11-yard run.
Pat Freiermuth hauled in 4 passes for 39 yards and received some work in the midst of the sphere, which was encouraging.
Exterior of that although, the tight ends have been moderately quiet and didn’t appear to have a huge effect within the run recreation, particularly within the second half.
OL — D+
Penalties, penalties, penalties.
If not for the penalties, this was a strong outing for the offensive line. Pittsburgh ran the ball effectively, grinding out roughly 4.0 yards per carry. At one level, the offense was taking it to Denver.
However the penalties have been an actual drawback.
Dan Moore Jr. had a holding name wipe out a first-down conversion from Fields to Austin. Broderick Jones had three penalties in a single drive, resulting in his benching
Troy Fautanu performed effectively in his NFL debut whereas Zach Frazier actually received after issues within the run recreation, too. However total the penalties actually harm this group, and particularly in large spots. Laborious to miss these.
DL — A-
The Steelers held the Broncos to simply 64 dashing yards on 19 carries, making them solely one-dimensional late within the first half and by no means trying again.
Cameron Heyward had a robust recreation as soon as once more and continues to be a rock towards the run. He had three tackles within the win and likewise had three quarterback hits, together with producing a key stress on Bo Nix’s important end-zone interception to maintain factors off the board.
Keeanu Benton additionally had three tackles and a quarterback hit and was significantly better towards the run in comparison with final week in Atlanta.
Larry Ogunjobi had a quiet evening however did draw a holding name towards Mike McGlinchey, and Isaiahh Loudermilk had a key batted cross on the line of scrimmage within the pink zone to power a area purpose. Additionally nice to see Montravius Adams producing as soon as once more, producing a stress and ending with two tackles.
LB — A
Coming into the sport, I anticipated Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt to have large video games. They did simply that, combining for 2 sacks, 4 tackles for loss and 7 complete tackles.
Highsmith was a power going towards Garett Bolles whereas Watt had his approach with Mike McGlinchey. Neither have been rewarded with some penalties, both, as officiating let Denver get away with fairly a bit.
However ultimately, the 2 made performs.
Nick Herbig drew a key holding name on Bolles within the second half, successful inside shortly and forcing Bolles to seize maintain of him and cling on. That trio, when rolling, is difficult to cope with. Denver and Bo Nix discovered that out.
Inside, Patrick Queen had a pleasant bounce again from a troublesome Week 1. He had 4 tackles, broke up a key cross on fourth down, practically intercepting it, and was across the ball all through the sport. Elandon Roberts had two tackles and once more cut up time with Payton Wilson, who didn’t file a sort out however was all around the area.
DB — B-
If not for some penalties towards Joey Porter Jr., this is able to be a bit increased of a grade.
Porter was known as twice for penalties in protection, together with one weak holding name towards Courtland Sutton that gave the Broncos new life on a drive.
However outdoors of that, the Steelers’ secondary was excellent.
DeShon Elliott was excellent, main the Steelers with 9 tackles, recording an enormous sort out for loss on a 3rd and quick to power a punt. Minkah Fitzpatrick had a terrific recreation, too, recording seven tackles, taking part in downhill shortly to attempt to bounce routes because the Steelers stored virtually the whole lot in entrance of them.
Donte Jackson battled damage all through the sport, however he had a terrific sort out for loss towards the run, flying downhill to take out the legs of the Denver ball service in picture-perfect vogue.
Cory Trice Jr. had the play of the day, leaping a cross ultimately zone from Bo Nix for the interception, making a play on the primary snap within the recreation for the injured Jackson. It was a terrific read-and-react play in zone protection and he stepped up in a giant approach.
Damontae Kazee received beat deep on the 49-yard cross from Nix to Josh Reynolds on a trick play, however he sealed the win with an interception on the ultimate play.
Particular Groups — C-
Chris Boswell was clutch as soon as once more, drilling each area targets, together with a 53-yarder within the Mile Excessive Metropolis. When known as upon, he’s cash. He proved that once more Sunday.
Stepping in for the injured Cameron Johnston, Corliss Waitman had a extremely good recreation. Waitman punted the ball eight occasions in his return to Denver and averaged 53 yards. He had three touchbacks and two punts downed contained in the 20-yard line.
His final punt of the sport was big because it hung up lengthy sufficient, permitting the Steelers to get downfield and restrict Marvin Mims Jr. to only a 9-yard achieve, draining a while off the clock, too. Gunner Ben Skowronek had a pleasant recreation in that function, making the sort out on the ultimate punt, and likewise drew a holding name earlier within the recreation as he was getting mugged all through.
Darius Rush had a nasty play early on particular groups, getting fooled by Mims on a Waitman punt and failing to chase the ball, leading to a touchback. It appeared that he wasn’t the gunner within the second half and was changed by Cordarrelle Patterson, however I’ll need to take an additional take a look at that.
Calvin Austin III had some success within the return recreation, returning 5 punts for 27 yards, however he would have had a much bigger day if not for some penalties that negated sturdy returns. Jaylen Warren had a muffed kickoff, leading to a brief 13-yard return that put the Steelers in a troublesome spot offensively.
Miles Killebrew practically blocked the primary punt of the sport, which might have been fairly the assertion from the All-Professional particular teamer.
