Today was an important reminder that defenses win games, too.
Pittsburgh spotted Tennessee a free 10 points and it was 13-3 at halftime. The offense was flat all day, until halfway through the third quarter when TE Pat Freiermuth made a first-down catch over the middle and hung on, despite taking a hard, illegal hit and appearing to briefly lose consciousness.
After a long injury timeout, TE Zach Gentry caught a TE screen and ran for 17 yards, helped by a stiff-arm that would make Vance McDonald proud. The next snap was RB Najee Harris’s best run of the day: a seven-yard thumper which he finished with another stiff-arm to S Kevin Byard. The next play was a fade to WR Chase Claypool that drew a DPI in the end zone, setting the Steelers up at the one.
That was the Steelers’ only TD of the day. When I say the offense was flat, I mean to the tune of 2-11 on third down, held to 35 rushing yards and only had 133 passing yards. Flat Stanley was spotted in the bleachers at Heinz, taking notes.
As it turns out, a lot of those offensive issues are spackled over when your defense sets you up on the opponent’s side of the field not once, not twice, not THREE, but FOUR TIMES. All four of those turnovers created short fields that turned into field goals. K Chris Boswell made his fantasy owners happy, converting 4/5 field goals (he left a 56-yarder 2-3 yards short) and their one PAT.
The Steelers’ defense didn’t allow a point in the second half. In six possessions, the Titans punted twice, lost two fumbles, threw a pick and ended the game with a turnover-on downs. That’s four take-aways in the second half and five on the day for Pittsburgh.
At various points during this game the home fans were heard on the broadcast chanting “MVP” in appreciation of OLB TJ Watt’s efforts. He had 5 tackles, 4 solo, 1 for a loss, 1.5 SACKS, 3 QB hits and recovered a fumble. That may not sound like a transcendent performance, but he was consistently dealing with this:
CB Joe Haden made his return to the field after missing the last four games with a foot injury. He recovered a fumble forced by fellow CB Cam Sutton, and made the key fourth down stick in the fourth quarter that ended a 13-play drive and won the game.
Steely Cam 