Author: Christina Tina Rivers

Watch: Pruitt, Patterson grab first TDs with Steelers

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 Pittsburgh Steelers entered M&T Bank stadium looking to close the door on playoff chances for the rival Baltimore Ravens and become the 2024 AFC North division champions. Injuries and turnovers prevented that outcome, but the Steelers did have slightly better outcomes scoring on offense than they did in Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles, getting into the end zone on two strikes from Russell Wilson.

On the Steelers’ second offensive series of the Week 16 game, Wilson led Pittsburgh down the field on ten plays before hitting paydirt. Heavily utilizing Jaylen Warren as their primary rusher, the Steelers marched from their own 27 yard line. Receiver Ben Skowronek had a nice catch for an 8-yard gain in the middle of the drive, showing good route running, before he had to leave due to a hip injury.

On 1st & Goal from the Baltimore 1-yard line, Wilson took the snap and threw a quick strike up the middle to tight end MyCole Pruitt for the score. Chris Boswell‘s PAT was good.

The touchdown was the first of the season for Pruitt who joined the Steelers during the offseason. With Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward also earning snaps in Arthur Smith’s offense, sharing the load has been a period of patience for Pruitt, but his catch on Saturday afternoon allowed Pittsburgh to tie the score with Baltimore early.

In the third quarter, the Steelers once again got an opportunity to even the score. On an 8 play, 88 yard drive, the scoring play came on 2nd & 11 at the Baltimore 12. Wilson took the snap from shotgun and threw a touch pass high that allowed Cordarrelle Patterson to get higher than the Ravens defender and secure the catch. Again, Boswell’s PAT was good and the division rivals were tied 17-17.

Patterson, who also joined the team before the season began, earned his first touchdown of the season as well on the play.

Despite the two “firsts” for two Steelers players who’ve contributed in supportive roles this season, Pittsburgh was unable to secure a victory in Week 16.

Watch: Pruitt, Patterson grab first TDs with Steelers appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Takeaways: Steelers split series with Ravens after loss

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.

M&T Bank Stadium is never an easy place for the Steelers to play, but on Saturday afternoon they allowed the Baltimore Ravens to dominate them on both sides of the ball. While the 34-17 Pittsburgh loss meant that neither team was awarded the AFC North divisional title, it did open the door for Baltimore to make the 2024 NFL playoffs. We offer our key takeaways from the Week 16 game.

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Two turnovers that just couldn’t be overcome

The Steelers, down some key players due to injury, needed to follow the script they used against the Ravens a few weeks ago. If that game was ugly – which, it was – this game was arguably uglier in other ways. Two critical turnovers, both committed by quarterback Russell Wilson, could have been overcome had the Steelers been able to recover the turnovers they created.

We talked about Wilson needing to come out as a veteran to carry the offense in our preview of the game. We didn’t necessarily mean that he literally had to do so.

The first turnover Wilson committed was a fumble as he tried to go the extra distance and take the ball into the end zone himself. Had he slid and secured the ball, the drive could have continued. It’s hard to completely fault him; we’ve seen Ben Roethlisberger make judgment calls on the field in the past and let it be water under the bridge, so to speak. Aggressive football has risk attached.

The interception that Marlon Humphrey grabbed off of a poorly place Wilson throw, though, came immediately after Minkah Fitzpatrick had picked off Lamar Jackson to get the Steelers defense off the field. That play, and the following questionable play-calling (no hurry-up, down by 17, running the ball up the middle) seemed to speak to the Steelers just being resigned to take the loss.

The Steelers had bounced back, in some ways, after the beating they took against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15, but regressed in other aspects. And that is what set them up for failure.

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Unable to stop “King Henry”

For the second game in a row, the Steelers defense gave up 400+ total yards of offense to their opponent (average of 353.5 over their past six games per Chris Adamski).

While Pittsburgh was able to limit Derick Henry in their first meeting, Henry got the best of the black and gold this week by gaining 162 yards on 24 carries. His longest rush went for 44 yards. Henry had the benefit of an offensive line that was winning the battle up front against a Steelers defense that, once again, couldn’t get themselves off the field.

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No excuses

It may seem to be too simple to break the game down into just those two things already mentioned being the “cause” of Saturday’s loss, but the incidentals didn’t play as big of a factor.

Yes, not having George Pickens available is painful, but the offense has other players who’ve stepped up – and did today, in fact (we saw you Calvin Austin!) Yes, the defense didn’t have Donte Jackson in the backfield, but he has had some good and bad plays when out there.

So, injuries to Joey Porter Jr. and Ben Skowronek in-game had to be addressed but did not cause the three-score blowout. That brought things back around to execution. The Steelers let themselves down overall and there can be explanations, but no excuses.

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On to the next…

Pittsburgh has little time to lick wounds. Week 17 starts in mere days due to the Christmas holiday. The Steelers will host the AFC-leading Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day at Acrisure Stadium. Simply getting into the playoffs means little if the Steelers can’t clean up their play in the final two weeks of the regular season.

While not everything in Week 16 was bad – MyCole Pruitt caught his first touchdown of the season that same game Fitzpatrick grabbed his first INT of 2024 – getting back to work to repair errors with a sense of urgency will be necessary as a result of the loss to Baltimore.

Takeaways: Steelers split series with Ravens after loss appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Steelers to watch in rematch with Ravens

The Pittsburgh Steelers enter Week 16 of the 2024 NFL regular season looking to sweep the Baltimore Ravens series in what will be the AFC North Championship game. In their first meeting during Week 11 of the 2024 NFL regular season, the Steelers exited with a 18-16 victory, but it was an ugly win. The Steelers will be paying on the Ravens’ turf this time around. We look at the matchup and key Steelers players to watch.

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Nick Herbig

With the injury to T.J. Watt there remain questions about his availability against the Ravens, especially considering Pittsburgh has clenched a playoff berth and want the outside linebacker healthy for the long run. That means focus has shifted this week to fellow contributors at the position, including Nick Herbig, Preston Smith, and potentially Jeremiah Moon.

Herbig has had an outstanding season, having played with, and in place of, Alex Highsmith who is expected to start at the right edge of the Steelers defense.

In 10 games, Herbig has 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 4.5 sacks, 9 QB hits, and 4 tackles for a loss.

The last time the Steelers and Ravens met, Herbig forced a Derrick Henry fumble on the second play from scrimmage and DeShon Elliott recovered, leading to a Chris Boswell field goal. The Steelers could use some splash on defense in this upcoming game as well.

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Najee Harris

As Joe Kuzma illustrated in his article on Wednesday, the Steelers need to reestablish their run game after the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15. Harris lost his first fumble of the season in the game and will be looking for redemption.

In Week 11, Harris carried the ball 18 times for 63 yards to Jaylen Warren‘s 9 for 41. Harris also caught 4 receptions for 30 yards.

The Steelers have just two games this season without 100 yards rushing and both were losses. Getting the run game reestablished will be a key component to righting the Steelers offense, as a whole, in order to manage the clock and be successful on key conversion of critical downs and opening up the passing game.

If Harris can get some of his fire back this week, the offense would fare much better against a tough Ravens defense.

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James Pierre

Due to a back injury Donte Jackson suffered against the Eagles, Pierre is expected to see a significant uptick in playing time – doing so against cousin Lamar Jackson. When asked about potentially starting the game in place of Jackson and his mindset earlier this week, Pierre said, “One play at a time. Just try to stay humble with it. Just try to get the job done. You see what’s going on around you and just try to adapt. Don’t blink, don’t sweat, when the pressure’s coming don’t even blink. Just do what you gotta do and be yourself.”

Pierre would play opposite Joey Porter Jr. as an outside cornerback. How defensive coordinator Teryl Austin combines personnel packages, including in the backfield, will be interesting as Pittsburgh once again looks to shut down Jackson and smother his receiving targets. Pierre says the key is making the necessary tackles.

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Russell Wilson and Cameron Heyward

Two veterans with a load of experience, Wilson and Heyward will be setting the tone on the field. In big games, especially late-season divisional games that could determine champion status and help in playoff seeding, veteran leadership is a strength teams lean on.

It’s not a stretch this week to say that as Wilson and Heyward go, so goes this Steelers team.

“We talk about being a top team in the AFC. To be a top team in the AFC, you need to win the AFC North, to get to the playoffs,” Heyward said this week. “Obviously, we already (got in the playoffs)… We want home games in January. This is a step toward that.”

That first step will require that the two veterans not only play their best games but communicate and rally their teammates.

“We know each other,” Heyward said about the Ravens. “We know what type of game it is. I think that plays into constructing good game plans. But as they know you, you have to execute better… This matchup comes down to a few plays, so it’s really highlighted by turnovers, special teams, the team that gets off the field fastest. Hopefully our defense is ready to do that.”

 

Steelers to watch in rematch with Ravens appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Watch: Freiermuth snags 6th TD of 2024 season

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!

Although the Pittsburgh Steelers were unable to put many points on the scoreboard against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15 of the 2024 NFL regular season, they did manage to find the end zone in the second quarter.

The Steelers offense had three 3-and-outs before a Chris Boswell field goal was scored following a special teams turnover. They then had to punt on a series.

With just over six minutes left in the first half, Pittsburgh went on an 11-play drive that ate up 70 yards. After Russell Wilson escaped pressure on two keepers for ten yards, running back Najee Harris was stopped on a one-yard loss. A short pass to Van Jefferson got no gain, setting the Steelers up at 3rd & goal at the Philly 9 with 2:34 left.

Wilson took the snap with tight end Pat Freiermuth lined up just to the right of Broderick Jones. Wilson allowed Freiermuth to get clear and hit him in stride for a touchdown.

The catch was Freiermuth’s sixth touchdown reception this season, making him the team leader in touchdowns. Despite George Pickens remaining the top receiver for Pittsburgh in 2024 (55/90, 850 yards, 3 TDs), Freiermuth is second on the squad with 47/56, 492 yards.

Watch: Freiermuth snags 6th TD of 2024 season appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Watch: Steelers takeaways a high point against Eagles

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 Pittsburgh Steelers entered the Week 15 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with double digit takeaways on the season. Despite the 27-13 loss and an offense that couldn’t produce more than one touchdown, the Steelers got two first half turnovers that improved their takeaway margin to +18, tied at the top of the league with the Buffalo Bills.

T.J. Watt created an opportunity for his teammates on offense to put points on the scoreboard early. The Eagles, ahead 3-0, started their second offensive series of the game. On 3rd & 4 at their own 43, Jalen Hurts took the snap from shotgun on the sixth play of the drive. As pressure from Pittsburgh was applied, Hurts kept the ball and ran toward the left tackle position. Watt, who closed from behind, used his famous punch-out move and earned his franchise record breaking 33rd career forced fumble. In the ensuing scramble, Beanie Bishop recovered the loose ball.

The Steelers were unable to convert the takeaway into points on offense, though. That forced a Corliss Waitman punt and a big special teams play that had coordinator Danny Smith pumped up on the sideline.

Waitman’s kick was high and Philly cornerback and returner Cooper DeJean handled the catch. Unfortunately, for DeJean, several Steelers players got to him quickly. Linebacker Mark Robinson drove into DeJean to wrap him up, causing DeJean to lose control as he was folded up. The ball popped free and fellow Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig was able to fall on it.

The Steelers have been opportunistic this season, grabbing 15 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries. The two plays against the Eagles was an immediate lift, but resulted in just three points on the scoreboard when, on the ensuing drive after the special teams recovery, Chris Boswell hit his single-season franchise record 37th field goal; the kick went to 37 yards.

Watch: Steelers takeaways a high point against Eagles appeared first on Steel City Underground.