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Winners and losers from Week 17
No need for a lengthy intro here. Let’s just get this over with.
Varsity
RB Jaylen Warren
Warren continues to get more snaps and touches than Najee Harris, which is probably the best way to go considering his explosiveness and more dual-threat ability as a receiver. He had 71 yards on 11 carries and added 41 yards on five catches. Another good performance from Warren.
RB Najee Harris
Harris had a respectable performance, as well. as he had 74 yards on 13 carries. The Steelers were able to run the ball well, but getting down two scores early somewhat took away their ability to lean on the run.
Junior-Varsity
QB Russell Wilson
Another week, another awful turnover from Russell Wilson. After a Darnell Washington holding call took back a Jaylen Warren touchdown, Wilson threw the easiest interception in the history of mankind to Chiefs safety Justin Reid. It looked very similar to the interception Mitch Trubisky threw to Patrick Queen against the Ravens in 2022, which oddly enough was also intended for Pat Freiermuth. These things can’t happen, and yet they continue to happen and take every breath of air out of the offense.
Cornerbacks
Cam Sutton has been a big nothing since returning. He had a roughing the passer call, which yes was soft but as a player you also have to recognize that they will call that a flag and just keep your hands off Patrick Mahomes after he releases the ball. The miscommunications defensively also likely stem from Sutton not playing until Week 10 and frankly shouldn’t be happening.
Donte Jackson got beat for a long pass to Justin Watson, and James Pierre gave up a touchdown to Watson. The Steelers need a whole new group of cornerbacks outside of Joey Porter.
TE Connor Heyward
An offside call that negated a big play to George Pickens. Why does he get snaps? We all know the answer but I’ll refrain from saying the obvious part out loud.
DC Teryl Austin
Zero sacks on Mahomes. Zero pressure. Never blitzing. Always conservative. He needs to go and be replaced either by linebackers coach Aaron Curry or by a hot outside candidate due for a promotion elsewhere. The worst pill to swallow is that the Steelers had Brian Flores on their staff and let him walk while keeping Austin. Just a stupid decision overall.
HC Mike Tomlin
Per Gerry Dulac, this is the fourth time in six years that the Steelers have lost at least three straight games in December and it’s the fifth time in seven years they’ve lost three in a row after Thanksgiving. One is a tragedy, twice is a coincidence – FOUR times? That’s a pattern, and a damning one at that. You can set your watch to the Steelers’ annual end-of-season collapse, and that falls on the head coach.