Wow. Simply wow.
That’s actually all there may be left to say about what occurred Sunday at Northwest Stadium between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Commanders.
What as soon as seemed to be a disappointing exhibiting popping out of the bye week for the Black and Gold become an exhilarating, late-game comeback win. It featured some new additions making monster performs, the protection within the second half placing the clamps on a high-powered Commanders offense, and the Steelers doing simply sufficient to grind out a win in an enormous matchup.
Sitting at 7-2 on the season, issues are wanting excellent for the Steelers shifting ahead.
Let’s get to some grades.
QB — B-
When it mattered most, Russell Wilson made some big-time throws and linked on some pivotal passes, main the Steelers to an enormous fourth-quarter comeback on the street. His 32-yard landing move to Mike Williams on third and 9 with simply over two minutes left within the sport was as large because it will get.
These are the sorts of moments Wilson was delivered to Pittsburgh for, and he delivered.
Previous to that throw, although, issues have been only a bit shaky all through the day for Wilson. His trademark deep ball wasn’t working all that a lot as he was off on connections to Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson. He did have an ideal throw to George Pickens down the sideline within the second half on which Pickens bought his ft in bounds. He additionally had an ideal throw to Pickens for a 16-yard landing.
Exterior of that, Wilson was simply off. He misfired throughout the center to tight finish MyCole Pruitt on one throw, overthrew a deep shot to Pickens that resulted in an interception, and simply usually seemed off whereas below duress within the pocket.
However he made the performs after they mattered most.
RB — C+
If not for a Jaylen Warren fumble on the aim line, this grade would look a bit higher.
The Steelers rushed for 140 yards and a landing as Warren led the best way with 66 yards on 14 carries. He bought fairly a bit of labor after Najee Harris exited the sport with an ankle damage within the second half earlier than coming again late.
Warren seemed relatively explosive and had some key runs that gashed the Commanders’ protection. However the fumble on the aim line put the Steelers at a extreme drawback within the second half. Although they have been capable of overcome it, it was one other show of questionable ball safety for Warren, even when the play ought to have been blown useless.
Previous to the ankle damage, Harris was having a strong sport, making some defenders miss within the backfield whereas operating exhausting downhill. He had a 1-yard landing run within the first half and was beginning to get going within the second half earlier than getting rolled up on. He needs to be wonderful shifting ahead for the matchup towards the Ravens.
WR — B+
What a efficiency by George Pickens.
The third-year receiver began off with a bang towards the Commanders, hauling in a leaping 16-yard landing from Wilson by which his physique management and acrobatics have been on full show. He constructed off it with some nice performs down the stretch, together with an enormous 34-yard catch and run and an ideal toe-tapping catch down the Commanders’ sideline later within the sport.
He completed with 91 yards and a landing on 5 receptions, making play after play.
In his first motion with the Steelers, Mike Williams noticed 9 snaps. He wasn’t utilized a lot or had a lot of a task — till the Steelers’ ultimate snap. Williams hauled in Wilson’s game-winning 32-yard landing move, successful deep on third and 9. Working a route he hadn’t labored on in apply all final week after being acquired by way of commerce, he received it in a significant means.
Hopefully there may be extra of that shifting ahead.
Calvin Austin III bought loads of work Sunday, seeing six targets. He hauled in simply two passes for 20 yards, however he noticed fairly a little bit of motion his means, particularly down the sector. With Williams’ presence and Pickens taking part in at a excessive degree, perhaps these deep photographs open up only a bit extra.
Van Jefferson was largely a non-factor. He noticed some seems to be downfield however didn’t come shut to creating a play.
TE — B-
The numbers don’t look all that good, however the tight finish room had a strong afternoon.
Pat Freiermuth hauled in three passes for 17 yards and a landing. He must be utilized extra within the passing sport, however when he was given some seems to be, he produced.
Darnell Washington had one reception for six yards, which occurred early within the sport as soon as once more, getting a glance off a play-action bootleg in the best flat. He was strong as a blocker as soon as once more, too, however he didn’t get his head round shortly sufficient within the second half on a route, leading to an incompletion.
OL — C-
Whereas the Steelers rushed for 140 yards, they managed simply 3.3 yards per carry and actually struggled to deal with the trenches towards the Commanders. There simply wasn’t that constant push and displacement, and it felt just like the Commanders persistently had free defenders within the field.
From a pass-blocking perspective, Wilson was below duress fairly a bit. Washington had three sacks and 6 quarterback hits, together with 5 tackles for loss, too. The All-22 will inform the story early within the week, however preliminary returns from the sport are that the offensive line struggled total.
DL — B+
Cameron Heyward was merely dominant Sunday.
The 35-year-old defensive finish recorded two sacks, had a move breakup by battling the ball on the line of scrimmage that almost led to a T.J. Watt interception, and was largely immoveable towards the run. His energy stays jaw-dropping.
Larry Ogunjobi quietly had a powerful sport, too, recording three tackles and a sort out for loss. His sort out for loss was pivotal within the second half and helped maintain the Commanders to a subject aim after a brief punt.
Keeanu Benton had only one sort out and one move breakup, however his sort out on Jayden Daniels late within the sport on a scramble, holding Daniels to at least one yard, was large. It is going to be a forgotten play, nevertheless it was big.
LB — B+
Coming into the matchup, I felt like Patrick Queen was going to be the Steelers’ X issue towards the Commanders. Boy, was he. Queen had his greatest sport as a Steeler, recording a team-high seven tackles, two tackles for loss and a key move breakup on third down.
He was flying in every single place making tackles in house and was arguably the most effective defender for the Black and Gold.
Elandon Roberts was relatively strong subsequent to him, recording 5 tackles whereas taking part in downhill with power towards the run. He’s a tone setter, and when he’s rolling the Steelers’ protection is rolling.
Exterior, Alex Highsmith was having an ideal sport till he rolled his ankle and needed to exit the sport. Highsmith generated a handful of pressures on Daniels and had one sack worn out as a result of a penalty in protection. He was a power all through the sport and couldn’t be blocked one-on-one.
The Commanders despatched fairly a little bit of consideration at T.J Watt, and it paid off as Watt was quiet. He had only one move breakup and two QB hits. He ought to have drawn a penalty in the long run zone within the fourth quarter on the Commanders, however the officers refused to throw a flag on the clear maintain.
Preston Smith, in his first sport as a Steeler, was very impactful. He had three tackles, a sack and a key sort out for loss, recording an 11-yard TFL on a WR display. He was in every single place and made performs in 23 snaps. He was precisely what the Steelers have been hoping for after they traded for him.
DB — C+
On a day by which Daniels and the Commanders have been held to only 180 yards passing, it’s exhausting to be actually upset with the secondary. However the defensive backs actually struggled at occasions, significantly Joey Porter Jr.
Porter dedicated three penalties and was beat downfield twice for large performs by Commanders WR Terry McLaurin. There have been some questionable penalties towards Porter, however they have been nonetheless known as towards him and it value the Steelers.
Minkah Fitzpatrick had a key missed sort out on McLaurin’s 54-yard catch and run to open the second half. However, for probably the most half, he performed effectively, ending with 4 tackles and persistently serving to take away the center of the sector.
DeShon Elliott had a powerful sport once more, ending with 5 tackles. He’s an ideal tackler and persistently makes performs in house.
Donte Jackson had some points at occasions and finally left the sport with an damage. He was too passive on a third-down completion from Daniels to McLaurin within the first half that arrange considered one of Austin Ekeler’s landing runs, which was one other instance of a few of his points in current weeks.
With Jackson down as a result of damage, James Pierre stepped up and had a key move breakup on Noah Brown on the Commanders’ ultimate drive. He had a mistake on particular groups (extra on that later), however he held his floor defensively.
Good to see Cameron Sutton again on the sector. He had a move breakup in restricted work and allowed Fitzpatrick to maneuver round a bit, which was good to see.
Particular Groups — C+
Not an ideal exhibiting from particular groups total, and it was as a result of execution.
The faux punt on the examine name from the Steelers at their very own 15-yard line was the best learn from Miles Killebrew. Pierre simply has to catch the ball. They labored on all of it final week in apply, apparently, and within the sport he simply botched it. It led to a Commanders TD three performs later, which was a troublesome capsule to swallow.
Whereas the Commanders had their very own points on particular groups with two muffed punts, one which Ben Skowronek recovered for the Steelers, the Steelers struggled in kick protection, permitting a 39-yard kickoff return to Ekeler to midfield, giving up 29.5 yards per kickoff return on the afternoon.
Punter Corliss Waitman made some large punts, together with one which pinned the Commanders at their very own 5-yard line. However he additionally had a 34-yard shank that arrange Washington on the Pittsburgh 42 and led on to a subject aim within the second half, making it a 27-21 sport.
Calvin Austin III fielded a punt inside his personal 10-yard line and was decked on the play, which was a relatively puzzling resolution from him.
