The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to do what they do best: win in a very unconvincing fashion.
It was a hot start for the Steelers on Sunday, as they scored 17 points in the first half. The second half was a completely different story, and the offense only managed to kick a pair of field goals. Thankfully, the defense held strong enough for Pittsburgh to pick up a victory.
The offensive game plan was simple: run the ball, and Pittsburgh did just that. Both Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris scored touchdowns while also combining for 183 rushing yards. They ran hard, often going multiple yards after contact.
The offensive line was another big contributor to the offense’s success. Guards Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels were effective in the run game.
Rookie offensive tackle Broderick Jones also impressed in his third career start. Jones replaced Chukwuma Okorafor in the previous week’s game against Tennessee. Since then he has more than proved that he belongs as a starting lineman in the NFL.
The Steelers are now 2-0 with offensive coordinator Matt Canada on the sideline. It would be a stretch to say Canada’s switch from the booth to the field is the reason the Steelers are winning.
Has the offense been better since his relocation? Sure. Improvement is one thing, but the offense still lacks consistency and any true passing game. Matt Canada may have moved down to the sideline, but he certainly hasn’t gotten off the “hot seat”.
The Steelers’ defense wasn’t terrible. There were a lot of blown coverages. The secondary looked vulnerable, and the pass rush was subpar. However, it is worth mentioning that T.J. Watt recorded a sack, increasing his league leading total to 10.5.
The absence of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was palpable, as his replacement Keanu Neal was inconsistent to say the least. Neal, along with a few others, blew multiple coverages, which led to Green Bay scoring. On the other hand, Neal also came away with a key interception in the fourth quarter.
The veteran presence and consistency of Minkah Fitzpatrick will only help the defense when he makes his eventual return. Though that may not be for some time, as hamstring injuries are known to be tough to come back from in the NFL.
The Steelers will head to Cleveland next week to take on their division rivals. The Browns are coming off of an important win over the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers beat the Browns in Pittsburgh earlier this season, though an away game against a division rival is always a tough task.
