Author: Christina Tina Rivers

Watch: Austin grabs go-ahead TD against Browns

Steel City Underground will pick an exceptional play of the game as a highlight each week of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 NFL regular season. Stay tuned as we hand-select the very best from the Black and Gold!

In the middle of near-white out conditions in Cleveland on Thursday night, the Steelers trailed the Browns, 13-18, in the fourth quarter after another disappointing first half of play. But, shortly after a strip-sack recovery, Pittsburgh scored the go-ahead touchdown that definitively got them within minutes of a comeback win.

With 7:10 left on the game clock, the Browns lined up on 2nd & 9 from their own 25 with Jameis Winston in the shotgun. With snow falling heavily, outside linebacker Nick Herbig was able to beat the outside block and strip the ball out as he made the sack on his birthday. DeShon Elliott recovered the fumble.

The Steelers offense took over within striking distance of the end zone. On 3rd & 6 from the Cleveland 23, Russell Wilson took the snap from shotgun and saw Calvin Austin streaking towards the end zone. Despite low visibility and less than ideal conditions, Wilson loosed a perfect, deep touch pass that cleared defenders and made it easy for Austin to secure the pass in stride for a 23-yard touchdown strike to move the Steelers to a 19-18 lead.

Pittsburgh’s 2-point attempt was thwarted when a pass to Cordarrell Patterson fell incomplete. That left the final minutes up to the Steelers defense to earn the stop. Unfortunately, the Browns were able to get into the end zone two series later to win, 24-19, and end the Steelers’ four-game win streak.

 

Watch: Austin grabs go-ahead TD against Browns appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Takeaways: Steelers streak iced, lose to Browns

Steel City Underground offers post-game takeaways for every 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers NFL regular season game, focusing on the black and gold, just for members of Steelers Nation.

Four games. That’s how many wins the Pittsburgh Steelers had stacked sequentially since Russell Wilson became their starting quarterback. On Thursday night, in a primetime showdown on the road against the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers saw that streak iced in the midst of near-whiteout conditions. It wasn’t that Pittsburgh didn’t have opportunities to succeed; they squandered them. Here are our biggest takeaways from the 24-19 loss.

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What’s up, Coach(es)?

Fingers will be pointing and tongues wagging after another loss by the Steelers to an “inferior” team during head coach Mike Tomlin’s tenure. In fact, the final score had barely become official before fans took to social media to put the Steelers coaching staff on blast. After this game, it was admittedly difficult to be completely impartial. There were several questions about decisions made in this game that can freely be scrutinized.

Without diving into the pile-up, from an analytical perspective the play-calling on offense was vanilla. The offense wasn’t nearly as prepared for the pressure the Browns threw at them, and it showed. Wilson took shots here and there, sometimes a chunk was earned in the ground game, but overall the offense resembled a sandlot squad for the majority of the first 90 minutes of play.

Why, if the offense was underperforming, would Arthur Smith or any member of the staff decide it was a good idea – when weather conditions were more ideal – to not utilize Chris Boswell in the first quarter for two field goals and, instead, choose to go for it on 4th & 2 at the Cleveland 38? Because it was early? Maybe. Instead, they trotted Justin Fields out and he lost two yards and the ball was turned over on downs. And it wasn’t the only time they had Fields come in, with mixed results.

Early in the second quarter, DeShon Elliott forced a fumble that the Steelers recovered. Six plays later, on 4th & 1, Jaylen Warren was smothered and another turnover on downs occurred.

Some will argue that Tomlin and company wanted to be the aggressors, that those plays were aggressive calls. They are when things are working correctly. On Thursday night, things weren’t. Not in the first half.

Things got marginally better once Nick Herbig got a strip-sack on Jameis Winston (recovery Steelers) and Donte Jackson intercepted a pass. The offense capitalized by scoring two touchdowns. Marginally better is not the play the Steelers need this deep into the season, especially after beating the Baltimore Ravens with field goals.

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Disappearing act

The Steelers did not look like they’d recovered from the physical pounding they took in the win over the Ravens because there were times, against the Browns, where it was as if a player here or there simply disappeared amidst the snow squall.

Routes were wide open, or completely left uncovered. Guys weren’t getting off of blocks to stop runs. It was a hodgepodge of good mixed with bad that took away from spectacular moments.

Steelers players making snow angels in celebration would have made every fan of the team feel a lot more joy… if they hadn’t been made in the midst of an AFC North divisional loss.

 

There were two penalties in this game that should disappear, if we all had the power to make it so.

Following the 2-minute warning, the Browns down by a single point in the fourth quarter, Patrick Queen got a free ticket through the line with a bead on Winston. Winston, as he was being sacked inside the pocket, threw the ball into the hands of one of his offensive linemen, who dropped it. The officials flagged the play for “illegal touching” instead of intentional grounding. Deliberation and changed minds made the next play 4th & 1, but then the Steelers sideline opted to accept the five-yard penalty.

On 3rd & 6, Winston threw a pass to Jerry Jeudy who went down but did not looked to have been “downed,” which lead to Beanie Bishop touching Jeudy who was on his way back to the huddle. Bishop was flagged for delay of game, giving Cleveland an extra five yards on the gain. The Browns then found the end zone with Nick Chubb finding a hole in the Steelers defense to sneak through two plays later for the win.

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Time to regroup

The loss is what it is. As Cameron Heyward mentioned in his post-game press conference, moments like Thursday night humble people.

Pittsburgh needs to get right back to work a fix their inability to convert fourth downs and trips in the red zone. Those components are absolutely taking them out of serious contention if they’re not remedied offensively. They also need to address sloppiness in areas across the defense; clean things up and get back to better communication.

The Steelers will be on the road Sunday, December 1, at Paycor Stadium to face the Cincinnati Bengals in the first divisional meeting between the two teams this season.

Takeaways: Steelers streak iced, lose to Browns appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Steelers at Browns: Keys to victory in Week 12

The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2) will be on the road to face the Cleveland Browns (2-8) in Week 12 of the 2024 NFL regular season for Thursday Night Football at Huntington Bank Field on November 21, at 8:15 p.m. EST. While Pittsburgh has surged over the last few weeks, Cleveland has struggled to compete. Still, this rivalry is alive and well in the AFC North, making it a game that can’t be overlooked.

That’s the special thing about this group is you don’t really have to (tell guys not to overlook an opponent)… We all understand.” – T.J. Watt.

We look at the key things that must be addressed if the Steelers hope to escape a short week of prep in order to secure a victory over the Browns.

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Offense needs to put points on the scoreboard

The Steelers, with Russell Wilson as the starting quarterback, have had back-to-back games that has seen two different sides to their offense. Against the Washington Commanders, things seemed to be clicking while, against the Baltimore Ravens, the offense stalled out short of the end zone.

The Browns defense is ranked near the bottom of the league in nearly every statistical category. Heading into Week 12, they are 19th in yards allowed per game (342.70), 24th in points allowed (24.8), 16th in passing yards allowed (211), and 24th in rushing yards allowed (131.70). Cleveland has logged 2 interceptions and 28 sacks.

A balanced offense, built off of the run, can get the Steelers back on track offensively this week.

It will require that the offensive line stay feisty and secure gaps. Wilson was heavily pressured in Week 11, and that led to disrupted rhythm in the first half of that game.

Cleveland’s defensive front is formidable, and have made most of the difference-making plays this season. Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith, at the defensive end positions, have cumulatively recorded 12.0 sacks. The Browns elevated Sam Kamara (DT) and Elerson Smith (DE) to the active roster from the practice squad after moving Mike Hall Jr. (DT) to injured/reserve this week.

Run-pass option plays should help create targets in the open field for Wilson to hit. Once the Browns’ second line of defense is breached, teams have found success against them offensively. The Browns linebackers – especially Owusu Koramoah – have defensed passes this season, so crossing routes will have to be sharp. Getting George Pickens and Mike Williams involved early on the outside will allow Pittsburgh to move the ball down the field and convert critical downs.

“They’re doing a nice job utilizing (Pickens) in a bunch of different ways… he’s obviously a down the field threat, as everybody knows, and he can go down on those 50/50 balls one-on-one. But he can catch quick game, they can run jailbreak screens to him. There’s really a bunch of different things that they’re doing with him.” – Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski

The Steelers can’t sustain their dominance by relying on the leg of placekicker Chris Boswell; they’ve got to get their offense into scoring range and capitalize on mismatches, motion, and wearing the Browns defense down to get into the end zone.

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Defense should exploit Browns weaknesses

The Steelers defense is playing at a high level, and that’s something the Browns are wary, and aware, of. Cleveland’s offense is ranked 20th in passing yards (202.8), 29th in rushing yards (88.5), 27th in total offensive yards (291.3), 31st in points scored (16.2) per game. Pittsburgh has a way of sniffing out weaknesses, and the Browns have many.

The Browns want to get the ball out of their quarterback’s hand faster. Against the Saints, Jameis Winston held on to the ball for an average of 2.76 seconds per passing play and it led to 395 passing yards and a 106.7 passer rating. Pressure from Watt, Nick Herbig, Cameron Heyward, and the Steelers defensive line can disrupt that, but it will require the Steelers interior linebackers and corners to be sharper in coverage.

The Browns have utilized seven different rushers in their offense this season, not including quarterbacks. Although the Steelers can’t give up on run defense, they’re not facing the same challenge they did with Derrick Henry in Week 11. They can be fundamentally strong while shifting some focus to preventing quarterback draws and keepers for big gains.

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Win the turnover battle

The Steelers enter the game with a plus-11 turnover margin and are tied for fourth-most takeaways in the NFL. Although they statistically outmatch Cleveland, Pittsburgh will need to continue to utilize good ball security offensively while looking for opportunities to create turnovers on defense.

 

Steelers at Browns: Keys to victory in Week 12 appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Watch: Payton Wilson grabs freak INT against Ravens

Steel City Underground will pick an exceptional play of the game as a highlight each week of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 NFL regular season. Stay tuned as we hand-select the very best from the Black and Gold!

The NFL Week 11 division rivalry game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens was yet another close match. The Steelers won, 18-16, but it wasn’t the offenses that really stood out as much as the defenses of both teams.

There were several plays we could have chosen to highlight; T.J. Watt‘s or Dean Lowry‘s sacks of Lamar Jackson, Nick Herbig‘s early strip of the ball from Derrick Henry, Patrick Queen‘s forced fumble and recovery, or Joey Porter Jr’s stop on the 2-point attempt that would have allowed the Ravens to tie the game late in the fourth quarter.

Instead, we focused on the freakish play that resulted in Steelers rookie linebacker Payton Wilson‘s interception.

Pittsburgh had marched down the field in the 4th to get inside the red zone only to have a connection between Russell Wilson and Darnell Washington end up in the hands of a Ravens defender for a pick in the end zone. That put the Steelers right back on the field with their defense.

Jackson kept the ball on 1st & 10 at the Baltimore 20 for a 25-yard gain. On 1st & 10 at the 45, Jackson dumped the ball off to Henry for a 15-yard gain, but the Ravens were penalized for an ineligible player downfield on the pass.

After an official time out, the Ravens lined up on 1st & 15 and Jackson took the snap from shotgun. He threw the ball deep, targeting Justice Hill. Payton Wilson shadowed the running back and was able to get an arm inside Hill’s as the ball arrived. As the pair went to the ground, that arm was able to knock the ball loose and Wilson was able to secure it for the takeaway. Wilson attempted to hand the ball off to Minkah Fitzpatrick to keep the play alive, but officials whistled the play dead.

It was Wilson’s first NFL career interception and helped set up Chris Boswell‘s sixth successful field goal kick. The Steelers defense, as a unit, held Jackson to his lowest overall grade and lowest passing grade so far this season, per PFF.

 

Watch: Payton Wilson grabs freak INT against Ravens appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Takeaways: Steelers 8-2 after ugly win over Ravens

Steel City Underground offers post-game takeaways for every 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers NFL regular season game, focusing on the black and gold, just for members of Steelers Nation.

On Sunday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Steelers narrowly defeated the Baltimore Ravens, 18-16, at Acrisure Stadium to move to 8-2 on the season and take full control of the AFC North. There was little doubt that the division rivalry game would be a close, physical one, but fans know these two teams are unpredictable when they face each other. We present our top takeaways from the Week 11 battle.

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Steelers offense was shaky

In our keys to a victory, before the game, we stated that the offense would need to get off to a quicker start and test the Ravens’ defensive backfield. The offense got off to a shaky start and, despite several positive plays, had trouble converting key downs and never did get into the end zone. Their third-down conversion efficiency was 4-16 with a 0-1 fourth down efficiency. Their red zone efficiency was 0-4.

Typically, those numbers indicate a disastrous performance and equate into a loss in the NFL. This week, though, the Ravens didn’t do much better offensively in what quickly turned into a battle of defenses.

Russell Wilson had his first subpar performance as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback, taking four big sacks and nullifying potential points on the scoreboard when he threw an interception in the end zone on a pass meant for tight end Darnell Washington who didn’t make an attempt on the ball. Still, the veteran remained calm under near-constant pressure to complete 23-of-36 passes for 205 yards. He just couldn’t lead the offense into the end zone.

Wilson did test the Ravens defensive backfield, but they looked better than they have in weeks. Nearly every catch was contested, including eight that George Pickens reeled in. That led Wilson to adjusting to more quick-passes and shorter attempts in the second half to keep the offense balanced and moving downfield.

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The wizard was perfect

The Steelers need to thank their lucky stars that Chris Boswell is on their roster. While Ravens kicker Justin Tucker missed 2-of-3 field goals, Pittsburgh’s wizard was a perfect 6-of-6, putting the only points on the scoreboard for Pittsburgh.

It’s not the first time in Steelers history that Boswell has been the goat, but counting on him to be the sole scorer isn’t tenable if Pittsburgh wants to remain a contender in the NFL this season.

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Defense came through

The Steelers were certainly challenged on defense by Lamar Jackson and company. Early, though, Nick Herbig – starting in place of injured outside linebacker Alex Highsmith – was able to strip the ball from bruising rusher Derrick Henry that the Steelers recovered. Whether that play had an effect on Henry or not, Pittsburgh limited him to just 65 yards on 13 carries. Henry did punch in a goalline run for a touchdown.

T.J. Watt and Dean Lowry did earn a sack apiece, but the pressure on Jackson was more of a contain situation, keeping the quarterback from gouging them with designed plays utilizing his legs.

The Steelers only allowed the Ravens offense a 4-11 third down conversion rate and didn’t stall in keeping the Ravens from converting fourth downs, forcing four Jordan Stout punts in the game and the lone touchdown.

When Baltimore wasn’t shooting themselves in the foot with penalties, they were working to spread the offense to keep themselves in the game after a costly two fumbles (both recovered by Pittsburgh) and a freak contested catch that ended with a Payton Wilson interception.

Jackson was hit six times, disrupting his rhythm, and had three passes batted down – two by Cameron Heyward – before they could reach a targeted receiver. Jackson finished the game with 16-of-33 passes completed.

At 8-2, the Steelers have a hold on the top spot of the AFC North and will travel in Week 12 to face another division rival in the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland lost their Week 11 game to the New Orleans Saints to fall to 2-8 on the season.

Takeaways: Steelers 8-2 after ugly win over Ravens appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Top 4 keys to a Steelers win over Ravens

The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11 of the 2024 NFL regular season at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers (7-2) hold a slim lead in the AFC North and the Ravens (7-3) look to spoil Pittsburgh’s three-game win streak. If the past is any indicator, the game will be fiercely contested abd the score close; nine of the last 10 rivalry games have been decided by seven or fewer points. Below, we look at the top four keys that should bring the Steelers their fourth consecutive win.

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Getting the offense moving early

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has an opportunity to solidify his position in Pittsburgh – to fans – this week by calling the right plays to foil the Ravens defense. Over the past three weeks, since Russell Wilson took over as the starting quarterback, the Steelers have averaged 30.3 points per game and 382.3 yards per game offensively.

The Steelers can’t afford to allow the Ravens to stall offensive drives, which means they’ll need to open the entire playbook and get into the end zone early. That won’t be an easy task due to the strength of the Baltimore defensive front.

“Every game our job is to outscore their team’s offense. A lot goes into games like this. It feels like a playoff game as much as it can feel in the regular season…” – Arthur Smith

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Test the Ravens’ defensive backfield

With the addition of Mike Williams to the roster, Pittsburgh has found a way to take away their opponents’ ability to double-team George Pickens. Calvin Austin, Pat Freiermuth, and Van Jefferson have all gotten more targets with Wilson at quarterback, as well.

The Ravens defensive backfield has vulnerability. Baltimore ranks at the very bottom of the league in passing yards allowed, giving up 22 touchdown passes to opponents.

If the Steelers offense can spread things out, Wilson has the poise and experience of having played in big games to be able to test the Ravens’ backfield by spreading passes to multiple targets while keeping an eye on deeper routes to Pickens and Williams.

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Lock down Jackson

Preston Smith will start opposite T.J. Watt this weekend due to an injury that has Alex Highsmith sidelined again this season. The pressure will be dialed up to pressure Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and lock him down.

Pittsburgh is 3-1 when facing Jackson, and they utilized Justin Fields in practice to simulate the dual threat the defense will face on Sunday. Yes, they kept Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders from running on them, but Jackson has more experience.

When asked about what will be required to keep Jackson from running the field, linebacker Patrick Queen said,”Just keeping everything simple, try to get after him, not let him do what he does. Everybody just do their job the same. Basically, the same way the Washington game was. Just everybody do their job. Everybody does that and we’ll be fine.”

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Preventing big runs by Henry

If there’s a guy on the roster with experience and understanding of what needs to be done to prevent big plays by opposing running backs, it’s team captain Cameron Heyward.

“Guys stepping up and making critical plays at critical times. That’s what it has always come down to. And I don’t think that’s ever going to change,” Heyward said this week about the upcoming game with rival Baltimore.

“Derrick Henry has been a home run hitter in Tennessee, now he’s bringing that over here [to Baltimore]… I think having a guy like Derrick Henry where you don’t have to gain 10 yards a pop, now Lamar’s like shoot, I can go out there and just play ball.”

It won’t just be the defensive line that will have to keep Henry from gashing Pittsburgh with big run plays, the interior linebackers, like Payton Wilson, will need to be solid sideline to sideline, too. This will be a big test for the Steelers, but they have been able to limit Henry in the past.

On November 2, 2023, Henry was limited to just 75 yards on 17 carries by the Steelers with the Titans gaining just 105 yards on the ground. Henry’s longest run went for 15 yards. Heyward was a big piece of that success.

The game is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern US) at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. Fans who’ve been looking forward to Ravens Week should hold on as this game will be a must-watch.

 

Top 4 keys to a Steelers win over Ravens appeared first on Steel City Underground.