It wasn’t fairly, and it positively had some harrowing moments within the fourth quarter, however the Pittsburgh Steelers discovered a option to make the mandatory performs late within the recreation to select up a 26-18 win over the New York Giants on Monday Evening Soccer. They moved to 6-2 on the season and enter their much-needed bye week on a excessive notice.
Russell Wilson and the Steelers’ offense as soon as once more had one other spectacular exhibiting, shifting the ball persistently and placing up factors time and time once more towards the Giants. The protection had two pressured turnovers late to get the mandatory stops and win a recreation through which the unit wasn’t at its finest.
They don’t ask the way it appears; they solely ask what the ultimate rating is.
That mentioned, it seemed higher than the ultimate rating might need indicated, particularly on offense.
Let’s get to some grades.
QB — B
As soon as once more, Russell Wilson had a powerful exhibiting via the air. The veteran quarterback accomplished 20-of-28 passes for 278 yards and a landing. His stats line ought to have seemed even higher as he had two landing passes to George Pickens negated, one attributable to a penalty on Broderick Jones and one after Pickens didn’t get a second foot down ultimately zone.
That was actually irritating, however Wilson dealt all evening lengthy. He threw a fantastic deep ball to Calvin Austin III for a landing within the second half, and likewise had a wonderfully positioned ball to Pickens to arrange a Chris Boswell subject aim.
Wilson did take some unhealthy sacks, although, and made a puzzling determination to go hurry-up in what was very clearly a four-minute offense scenario after which fumbled on the scramble, giving the Giants nice subject place. He was bailed out by one Trent Jordan Watt just a few performs later although.
Regardless of the sacks and the fumble, Wilson performed properly, took what was there, and hit the deep pictures when he had the chance. All of it led to a different stable exhibiting offensively.
RB — B+
Najee Harris is on a heater proper now, and exhibits no indicators of slowing down.
Harris rushed for a career-high 119 yards on simply 19 carries, averaging 6.0 yards on the evening. He bought off to a quick begin and by no means seemed again. The offensive line opened up some holes and Harris flew via them, breaking tackles within the course of and placing collectively one other nice day.
Jaylen Warren had a pleasant evening, too, ending with 46 yards, averaging 5.1 yards on 9 carries. He ran onerous, hit holes shortly and carved up the Giants when known as upon. He was dynamic as a receiver, too, ending with two receptions for 13 yards, changing an enormous third down early within the recreation.
WR — B
Good evening general for the huge receivers, although there have been some errors.
Pickens led the Steelers with 4 receptions for 74 yards. He had an enormous 43-yard shot play down the left sideline from Wilson within the fourth quarter that sparked the Steelers’ offense. He additionally had a pleasant catch and run within the first half that seemingly arrange a landing.
As a substitute, Pickens didn’t get each toes down on the play and was dominated out of bounds, forcing the Steelers to accept a subject aim. Shedding a landing on a facemask penalty from Broderick Jones wasn’t enjoyable, both.
Van Jefferson completed with 4 receptions for 62 yards and made a fantastic play on a back-shoulder ball for a acquire of 36 yards that gave the offense life. It was a fantastic adjustment and nice physique management to stay inbounds and make the play. He’s turning into a key receiver for Wilson.
Calvin Austin III completed with three receptions for 54 yards, which included his 29-yard landing that seemingly broke the sport open for the Steelers. He ran a fantastic route and received simply towards man protection, and Wilson dropped it into the bucket for him.
Scotty Miller noticed some run on the evening, too, and was focused deep on one event, however the ball went via his arms. Nonetheless, good to see him get a deep shot.
TE — B-
Issues began out properly with Darnell Washington hauling in a 29-yard catch and run from Wilson on the primary drive of the sport, however after that he wasn’t focused.
Pat Freiermuth had simply two receptions for 19 yards whereas MyCole Pruitt had one catch for 10 yards. It was a quiet evening within the passing recreation for the tight ends.
Nevertheless, the group did stable work within the run recreation, significantly Connor Heyward, who was the pseudo-fullback and helped open lanes. Washington managed the road of scrimmage, too, as did Pruitt. Freiermuth has improved in that space of his recreation, too, and all of it got here collectively to result in one other sturdy speeding efficiency.
OL — C
Actually tough evening for Broderick Jones, who dedicated a penalty that worn out a landing, allowed a sack and was blown up on a draw play that led to an enormous deal with for loss. It led to criticism on social media from one OL guru about his dedication and energy.
Not nice for Jones. Actually regarding season continues for him.
Dan Moore Jr. was actually stable on the evening as soon as once more. He’s been a rock for the Steelers within the trenches. It was slightly telling that on the one play he missed backup Calvin Anderson was overwhelmed for a sack. Moore has been good within the run recreation and has been fairly regular in cross safety.
Isaac Seumalo quietly had a powerful recreation, too, exterior of a puzzling false begin penalty through which he didn’t seem to maneuver. Identical for the false begin penalty on middle Ryan McCollum through which it appeared he caught the Giants offsides however as a substitute was flagged himself.
He had struggles on the evening with Dexter Lawrence, which was anticipated. He was additionally battling an arm harm.
Mason McCormick was actually good on the evening, too, and continues to be a individuals mover within the run recreation. Nevertheless, he did permit a fast stress to Lawrence that led to a sack of Wilson.
DL — C
Cameron Heyward, in his record-setting look with the Steelers, performed some stable soccer. He completed with six tackles, one deal with for loss and two quarterback hits. However he had some points within the run recreation, very similar to many others did. He was across the soccer, although, and was stout when it mattered most.
Larry Ogunjobi quietly put up three tackles whereas Keeanu Benton began the sport quick, performed with good effort and chased the soccer time and time once more. However he had some points getting off blocks within the run recreation and wasn’t a lot of an element.
Isaiahh Loudermilk and Dean Lowry had been quiet and struggled within the run recreation, too. A bit disappointing to see the struggles within the run recreation from the line of defense.
LB — B+
Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt had been game-wreckers, interval. The pair had two sacks every whereas Highsmith blew up a 2-point conversion and Watt had a key strip-sack within the fourth quarter within the purple zone.
The Giants had no reply for both one as they turned up the warmth on Jones and the Giants’ offense. It’s outstanding to observe when these two are rolling the way in which they’re.
On the within, Patrick Queen had some good performs in protection, however he fell down on the Giants’ 46-yard landing run and took out security DeShon Elliott within the course of. Queen nonetheless had eight tackles, but it surely was among the performs he didn’t make that was irritating.
Elandon Roberts performed properly at occasions coming downhill towards the run, ending with three tackles and a deal with for loss. Payton Wilson had three tackles and two quarterback hits, being known as upon as a blitzer now and again. Make no mistake, although, the surface linebacker duo wrecked this recreation for the Steelers.
DB — C-
A very tough, regarding evening for the secondary, exterior of rookie Beanie Bishop Jr.’s game-sealing interception.
The Steelers performed smooth, conservative protection for a lot of the evening, which allowed Jones and the Giants to hit on plenty of performs.
Joey Porter Jr. led the Steelers in tackles with eight, however he was typically seen throwing his fingers up in off-zone protection trying slightly confused and pissed off that receptions had been being allowed.
Donte Jackson had struggles on the opposite facet, too, together with giving up a protracted shot to Darius Slayton early within the recreation, getting beat down the seam after Jones seemed off security Minkah Fitzpatrick to open the window.
When Jones tried Fitzpatrick, he made performs, together with blowing up Slayton on the Giants’ sideline to power a third-down incompletion within the first half.
DeShon Elliott had seven tackles and a cross breakup, however getting taken out on the Tyrone Tracy landing run was irritating, partly as a result of he didn’t assault downhill like he usually does. That allowed Queen to stumble and take him out.
Terrell Edmunds had points in protection, too, as Jones focused him just a few occasions.
Actually regarding efficiency towards an offense that wasn’t all that good. The excellent news, although, is that they negated Malik Nabers for a lot of the sport. He completed with seven receptions for 71 yards, but it surely was a quiet efficiency.
Particular Groups — A
As soon as once more, Danny Smith’s particular groups strike.
This time, it wasn’t a blocked kick, however a punt return for a landing.
Calvin Austin III raced residence 73 yards for a punt-return landing and picked up some nice blocks from Rodney Williams, James Pierre and Jeremiah Moon within the course of. It’s a tradition in Pittsburgh. Particular groups are so key.
Austin’s punt return confirmed that.
Together with the punt-return landing, Chris Boswell was an ideal four-for-four on the evening and stays on tempo to set an NFL document. Corliss Waitman was fairly good punting the soccer, averaging 43.7 yards on three punts and downing two punts contained in the 20-yard line.
The Steelers did permit a 47-yard kickoff return, which got here instantly after Wilson discovered Austin for the 29-yard landing. That kickoff return led to Tracy’s 46-yard landing run because the Giants wanted to cowl simply 55 yards on the drive.
