I'll call today's game a small step in the right direction. This was the first game in a long time that our offense actually looked like an NFL offense with 421 yard total offense. The first time since Week 2 2020 vs the Broncos that the Steelers have gained over 400 yds total offense. The big difference today was the use of the middle of the football field and 3rd down conversions for the Steelers offense. Kenny Pickett was efficient today 24 for 33 278 yds for a QBR of 97.8. I thought Kenny did a better job today (15 first downs via pass) of pushing the football down the field 8.42 YPA which is a big improvement vs his usual 4.5-5.0 YPA. The running game today was once again excellent and Najee's running today was excellent 99 yds 6.6 YPC.....he ran hard today and finished his runs strong. Time of Possession today for the Steelers was 37 minutes to 23 minutes and you could see the Steelers wear down the Bungles front 7 late in the game. I would have liked to see the Steelers offense put up more points especially when you gain 421 yards on offense but Pickett was very accurate throwing the football today and seeing the offense use the entire football field was refreshing to say the least. if there was any downside in this game I saw several plays where I saw a lack of effort from Dionte Johnson...especially on Warren's fumble in the red zone Dionte didn't even react to it and you watch his eyes see the fumble and he did nothing. That's the type of **** that really gets under my skin. Can you imagine him doing that if Chuck Noll was the Head Coach?
Defensively the Steelers Defense really capitalized on Browning making his first NFL start. They were able to keep pressure on him the entire game. The Defense held the Bengals running game in check as Mixon had 8 carries for 16 yds the entire game putting all the pressure on Browning to deliver and he couldn't get it done. If not for 2 tipped balls caught by Jamarr Chase the Bengals really only had a screen pass that Mixon took 40 yds into Steeler territory to setup their final FG to make it 16-10.
I felt that this game could have been a blowout for the Steelers, perhaps it should have been a blowout but I'll take the win as the Steelers improve to 7-4 on the season and head home to take on the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday.
A few random thought.....I wish the Steelers could hit Darnell Washington out there in stride on a wheel route over the middle of the field. My god I just want to see it happen! Nick Herbig is too dynamic of a football player to not be out there for a majority of snaps. He's a player but can this kid play ILB?
What does everyone think of this performance by Kenny Pickett? One some of his deep throws he had a real nice touch on his passes downfield. I was pleased.....he's still a work in progress but he seemed quite a bit more comfortable out there than I can ever remember him being in his brief NFL career as QB. Seeing him enganged on the sidelines with Eddie Faulkner discussing the offense was night & day vs seeing him on the sidelines last week with Matt Canada.
Per Tomlin's Post Game:
George Pickens - Wind knocked out of him
Calvin Austin - Hurt ankle late in the game not sure of the severity of it
Game Balls:
Kenny Pickett - 24 for 33 278 yds - Good performance on the road with pressure on him to perform better and he delivered. Congrats to the longest streak for a Steelers QB without an INT.
Najee Harris - 15 car 99 yds 1 TD. He ran hard today and finished his runs with power
Pat Freiermuth - 9 rec 120 yds....his best game of his career as a Steeler
TJ Watt - 5 tackles, 2 sacks.....he was all over the field today
Chris Boswell - Hopefully there will come a time where we won't need to rely on Boswell's leg for points but we are lucky to have him. He's having a great year!
Trenton Thompson - 5 tackles, 1 INT......who is this guy?
Game Goats:
Dionte Johnson - I can overlook the dropped TD throw but I can't overlook the No Effort performance Dionte showed on Jaylen Warren's fumble. I mean the ball bounced right towards him and he looked at it and didn't even move.....even after the Defender picked it up and ran with it....he didn't even pursue the ball carrier. Man that is bush league crap.....the guy would have been cut if Chuck Noll was the Head Coach.
FU's:
Matt Canada - **** MATT CANADA because he ******* SUCKS! I'm glad he's gone!
Defensively the Steelers Defense really capitalized on Browning making his first NFL start. They were able to keep pressure on him the entire game. The Defense held the Bengals running game in check as Mixon had 8 carries for 16 yds the entire game putting all the pressure on Browning to deliver and he couldn't get it done. If not for 2 tipped balls caught by Jamarr Chase the Bengals really only had a screen pass that Mixon took 40 yds into Steeler territory to setup their final FG to make it 16-10.
I felt that this game could have been a blowout for the Steelers, perhaps it should have been a blowout but I'll take the win as the Steelers improve to 7-4 on the season and head home to take on the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday.
A few random thought.....I wish the Steelers could hit Darnell Washington out there in stride on a wheel route over the middle of the field. My god I just want to see it happen! Nick Herbig is too dynamic of a football player to not be out there for a majority of snaps. He's a player but can this kid play ILB?
What does everyone think of this performance by Kenny Pickett? One some of his deep throws he had a real nice touch on his passes downfield. I was pleased.....he's still a work in progress but he seemed quite a bit more comfortable out there than I can ever remember him being in his brief NFL career as QB. Seeing him enganged on the sidelines with Eddie Faulkner discussing the offense was night & day vs seeing him on the sidelines last week with Matt Canada.
Per Tomlin's Post Game:
George Pickens - Wind knocked out of him
Calvin Austin - Hurt ankle late in the game not sure of the severity of it
Game Balls:
Kenny Pickett - 24 for 33 278 yds - Good performance on the road with pressure on him to perform better and he delivered. Congrats to the longest streak for a Steelers QB without an INT.
Najee Harris - 15 car 99 yds 1 TD. He ran hard today and finished his runs with power
Pat Freiermuth - 9 rec 120 yds....his best game of his career as a Steeler
TJ Watt - 5 tackles, 2 sacks.....he was all over the field today
Chris Boswell - Hopefully there will come a time where we won't need to rely on Boswell's leg for points but we are lucky to have him. He's having a great year!
Trenton Thompson - 5 tackles, 1 INT......who is this guy?
Game Goats:
Dionte Johnson - I can overlook the dropped TD throw but I can't overlook the No Effort performance Dionte showed on Jaylen Warren's fumble. I mean the ball bounced right towards him and he looked at it and didn't even move.....even after the Defender picked it up and ran with it....he didn't even pursue the ball carrier. Man that is bush league crap.....the guy would have been cut if Chuck Noll was the Head Coach.
FU's:
Matt Canada - **** MATT CANADA because he ******* SUCKS! I'm glad he's gone!
