QB Mitch Trubisky got his fifth start of the year – his second in relief of an injured Kenny Pickett – and the Steelers dismantled the post-Baker Panthers 24-16.
The Steelers – out-rushed by Baltimore by exactly 150 yards last week – clearly came into this game with a bruised ego. 16 of their first 22 plays (two QB sneaks) were runs that netted 74 yards and a TD each for HB’s Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.
Meanwhile, the Panthers had nine rushes for 12 yards. DT Larry Ogunjobi recorded a TFL in each of Carolina’s first two possessions. MLB Devin Bush flashed…I was going to say shades of his former self but this is a gradient I don’t know we’ve EVER seen from him.
Both offenses had the passing game clicking. The Panthers had a 40-yarder completed in front of CB James Pierre but it’s a boring watch, as is the TD they threw soon after. Check out this one instead: WR George Pickens just does this every week and I’ll never get tired of it.
Just before halftime this tasty little gem happened. Warren is all of 5’8″ – a veritable three apples high. In his mind he’s as tall as the 6’12” Zach Gentry. Pittsburgh squandered the late-half opportunity but the levity is almost worth it.
Halftime Score: 14-7 PIT
The running dominance continued into the second half for Pittsburgh. Mitch stitched together (read: “managed”) a 21-play, 91-yard drive using 14 rushes and six passes to WR Diontae Johnson. Diontae took a taunting penalty after converting his third first down of the drive. Pittsburgh overcame, got to the goal line and two straight QB sneaks later (Ben in Tennessee last year) had their third rushing TD of the afternoon. 21-7 PIT
OLB TJ Watt had a sack in the first half literally seconds after Greg Gumbel announced he had been having a quiet day. OLB Alex Highsmith and DE Cam Heyward added two more to slam the door on a promising Panthers drive…
…or so it seemed. When we got back from commercial for a 4th&27 they announced ST’er Marcus Allen did something during the break to give Carolina an automatic first down. At the risk of editorializing, that’s absolutely ridiculous. Stuff that happens while the cameras aren’t rolling can be settled without laundry. I got angry and missed a FG. 21-10 PIT
Carolina had all the momentum after a sack forced a three-and-out. They were granted 1st&Goal at the 1 after a chippy pass interference call on CB Cam Sutton in the end zone. On 1st down Ogunjobi won a fantastic release to chase down a stretch run. On 2nd down Highsmith forced a fumble on a TFL (Carolina recovered). Then came the ol’ 3rd down special: a sack split by TJ and Cam. The Panthers settled for another FG and cut it to a one-score game. 21-13 PIT
With the chance to salt the game away, Pittsburgh was staring down the barrel of another three-and-out. The rookie Pickens flinched when Carolina cocked the shotgun, making a 3rd&9 a 3rd&14. The veteran Diontae was the hero going over the middle and pirouetting back the other way to add a couple extra on the end, netting 19. Three plays later he curled back the left sideline for nine yards on 3rd&6. Three (more) plays later it was 3rd&1: Mitch picked this one up himself the sneaky way. Najee wasn’t so lucky the next 3rd&6, but the Wizard of Boz from 50 is about as fore-gone a conclusion as they have going. 24-13 PIT
“Here we go, Steelers, here we go!” chants could be heard echoing around Bank of America Stadium but the Panthers were still trying to maneuver, unaware the cat had already dealt the lethal blow. They did the old “take the FG, hope for the on-side kick” routine. The first leg (pun intended) went as planned, converting from 53 yards out.
The second leg (that one was an accident) didn’t. With :30 left the Panthers needed to fall on a loose ball to stay alive, but Pickens walked out of the cloud of dust holding the ball. Victory Formation took the field.
FINAL SCORE: 24-16 PIT
Steely Cam 