1) Bush shadowing Cook
RB Dalvin Cook missed only one game after dislocating his shoulder, but the Vikings were not shy about using their battering ram: he had 73 yards in the first quarter and passed the century mark with a 29-yard TD 10 minutes before half time.
Reminiscent of last week, Bush did have a couple nice run sticks coming downhill. He also had a couple bad run fills, most notably Cook’s second TD run. He’s not lacking for effort, the issue tonight was over-pursuit. Rush defense is an 11-man job; Bush and 10 other guys did a bad job tonight.
I feared Cook coming out of the backfield in this game, but he did all his damage on the ground. He had one catch on three target in the game. He had a key third down conversion working on Marcus Allen in coverage with about three minutes in the game.
Bush did have a pass break-up intended for RB Alexander Mattison on the first play on the second quarter. He showed good coverage, close and explosion to knock the ball out vs. a RB out of the backfield; I’m counting it.
GRADE: D+
2) Make someone not named Jefferson beat you
On the Vikings’ first drive WR Justin Jefferson ran straight through the bracket coverage of CB Cam Sutton and FS Minkah Fitzpatrick, and nearly made a wild rodeo catch in the end zone.
The fifth play of their second drive Jefferson ran past Sutton for a 14-yard score. The Vikings led for the rest of the game. I can remember at least one pass where JJ got open deep and QB Kirk Cousins couldn’t get the ball to him, so it should have been worse.
The play after the Steelers scored their first TD, Jefferson tipped a pass right into the hands of CB Ahkello Witherspoon to manufacture an INT. The next drive Minkah had a big PBU against him on third down.
There was some luck mixed in there, but the Steelers got up to speed with Jefferson as the game aged.
GRADE: C+
3) Michael Pierce vs. depleted Steelers interior
DT Michael Pierce – the 340-pound former Raven – apparently likes playing in purple. He had a sack and forced fumble on the Steelers’ first drive. You’d think you’d have a book on the guy after playing him eight times in Baltimore.
The Steelers line in general was a mess tonight giving up five sacks, many of which were untouched. It looked like a lot of that pressure was created with LB blitzes, stunts and fakes. I’ll have to go back to the tape to dissect some of those pressures, but a strip sack is a lot of work for the big man.
GRADE: D
Steely Cam 