In Acrisure Stadium’s inaugural game the Steelers fittingly – and dramatically – downed the Seahawks 32-25.
It was a hot start for the Steelers’ offense with Mitch Trubisky, Anthony McFarland, Gunner Olszewski and George Pickens all showing strong performances in their first games wearing black and gold. What’s that, this is actually McFarland’s third year with the team? Huh, you’d never know. Anyway, Gunner had this sweet RAC (run after catch) and a play later made them pay for a busted coverage with 7 points:
Not to be outdone, the defense posted a couple highlights of their own early. CB Ahkello Witherspoon – a ball-hawking poindexter – made a stunningly physical, athletic stick on a jet sweep for a loss. Later, MLB Myles Jack wove through traffic and stuffed a 3rd & 1 run. Henry Mondeaux even got in on the festivities…and we got to see that famous sack dance:
WR Miles Boykin and TE Conor Heyward both notched two ST tackles (Boykin also forced a fumble on an ill-fielded punt). Danny Smith’s crowning moment was this 38-yard punt return from WR Steven Sims:
Morale was sky-high when QB Mason Rudolph took the reins. He took one snap, dropped back, and was predictably (almost comically) stripped off his blind side. He recovered the fumble but couldn’t do anything with it before he was swarmed. Two plays later he redeemed himself with this wonderful toss to Pickens:
Also predictably – with Heyward, Alualu, Ogunjobi and Adams all inactive – the run defense looked exactly like it did much of last season. Seattle RB’s Deejay Dallas and Travis Homer combined for 114 yards on 14 carries (8.1 YPC).
Fortunately (and this was a surprise, with Najee not dressing) the Steelers actually topped that high-water mark with 185 rush yards. RB’s McFarland (7 rushes/56 yards), Jaylen Warren (6/34) and Master Teague (6/31) all averaged over 5 yards/carry – so did Pickett (3/16), for that matter. Sims – of 38-yard punt return fame – cracked the edge on a jet sweep for another 38-yard gain.
It wasn’t a particularly strong start for rookie MLB Mark Robinson, particularly being tested on two consecutive plays for a TD and two-point-conversion. Inside two minutes in the 4Q with the score tied he came through untouched and notched a strip-sack. That’s encouraging, considering UG3’s release significantly raises Robinson’s odds of making this team.
Set up on a short field, Kenny led another efficient drive down to the doorstep. He finished with a second TD toss (Warren caught this first, this one to WR Tyler Vaughns) that left only 3 seconds on the clock. Seattle ran a hook and ladder that gained no ground, and DT Khalil Davis was able to track down the ball to seal the Steelers’ victory and put a huge smile on Mike Tomlin’s face.
On the injury front: WR’s Calvin Austin and Anthony Miller did not participate; the KDKA broadcast noted Austin was in a walking boot at game time and Tomlin noted after the game Miller hurt a shoulder in practice. S Karl Joseph was carted off the field with his leg in an air cast (shades of Tyson) and that’s never good. Tomlin added the other injury stoppages (Witherspoon and S Damontae Kazee) were “not of any significance.”
Steely Cam 