Steelers’ D Dominant in Roethlisberger’s “Farewell to Heinz” Game

In the bitter cold, Watt, Heyward et al collected two INT’s, nine sacks, and held Baker Mayfield to a sub-50% completion percentage en route to a 26-14 victory on Monday Night Football.

Count ’em Down: OLB TJ Watt did a little of everything, recording 5 hits, 4 sacks, 3 QBH and 2 PBU’s. The highest-paid pass rusher in the world showed why tonight, and why he’s the “one” who should win Defensive Player of the Year.

The guy on the other end is no slouch, either. OLB Alex Highsmith had 2.5 sacks, 4 TFL’s and led the team with 8 tackles (I’m giving him half the Mondeaux sack). You couldn’t have scripted it any better if you were playing Madden on Rookie (RIP, by the way).

DT Cam Heyward said he wanted to send his fellow captain off “with everything he can.” He broke up two passes in the first half and had a sack in the second. We saw him on the broadcast share an emotional moment with Ben after his on-field media availability.

On the back end, CB Ahkello Witherspoon chipped in an INT and 3 PBU’s. After not being able to get a helmet on game-day for the first three-quarters of the season, he’s made huge contributions in each week since being bumped up as an injury replacement.

K Chris Boswell was 4/4 on FG’s, including from 48 and 50 yards. Most importantly, he didn’t try to throw the ball at all tonight.

RB Najee Harris broke Steelers’ rookie rushing records for yardage in a game (Bam Morris, 1994) and in a season (Franco Harris, 1972). His last run was a 37-yard TD scamper inside the last minute that appeared to seal the deal. According to Next Gen Stats, 181 of Najee’s 188 yards came after contact. Has anyone ever seen a running back do more with less?

Ben even got to come back onto the field for Victory Formation after FS Minkah Fitzpatrick popped loose what looked like a completed pass (that would have ended the game) into FS Tre Norwood’s ready arms for an interception.

The 18-year Steeler was visibly and audibly crying on the field while being interviewed after the game, and so was I (crying, not being interviewed). He took a lap around Heinz, high-fiving fans in the first row before retreating into the locker room. According to the Manningcast he then came back out to share a moment on the field with his family. I’ll never forget the shot of him fist-bumping the usher and walking up that tunnel for the last time, flanked by his loved ones.

Steelers scorched by red-hot Chiefs, 36-10

Despite misfortune with COVID diagnoses this week, the Chiefs (11-4) had plenty of weapons to shell the visiting Steelers (7-7-1) this evening.

After getting Kansas City into a quick 3rd & 7, Pittsburgh allowed first downs on five of the next six snaps and scores on each of the first four defensive possessions.

On the other side of the ball it was somehow worse. In the Steelers’ first three drives:

  • RB Najee Harris had one yard on four carries
  • QB Ben Roethlisberger was 2/5 for 32 yards and an INT off a flea flicker
  • Offense ran 11 total plays

Pittsburgh showed signs of life in the fourth possession. Harris broke a 21-yard run and WR Chase Claypool made two consecutive circus catches:

Unfortunately the drive stalled with three straight incompletions, then K Chris Boswell hooked a 36-yard FG wide left. In P Presley Harvin III’s absence Boswell was working with an emergency holder. That discontinuity could have contributed to the Steelers’ oft-automatic kicker breaking his streak of 43 straight FG’s made under 40 yards.

Kansas City’s special teams play also suffered from the lack of their primary punter and kicker. They missed a PAT and a FG of their own, and it was 23-0 at the half.

After the break, the Steelers D forced a three-and-out, then Najee got things rolling with an 8-yard run. The next snap, WR Diontae Johnson ran a quick in-and-out route, caught a pass in stride and as he crossed the invisible first down line (with about 10 yards of separation from the nearest defender) just plumb dropped the ball. It was one of four Steelers turnovers on the day, but it hurt the most because it was an unforced error.

Diontae fumble

The Steelers then answered another Chiefs’ TD with a FG. But first they had to overcome this taunting penalty from WR Ray Ray McCloud:

McCloud taunting penalty

Pittsburgh then allowed two more FG’s to cancel out their efforts, sandwiched around another Steelers’ one-play drive: a strip sack that set Mahomes’ offense up inside Pittsburgh’s 10.

Finally the offense was able to break through, although “too little too late” is an understatement. It took 17 plays and 85 yards but at least Pittsburgh wasn’t shut out of the end zone:

Steelers’ lone TD

Backup QB Mason Rudolph saw time at the end of this game. He had another scramble for significant yardage (he still has the Steelers’ longest rush on the season) but made the curious decision to motion a TE across the line of scrimmage before running a spike to stop the clock. Other than that he was “check-down Charlie” going 5/8 for 35 yards.

Officials blew Ray Ray McCloud “taunting” call

Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin was not pleased with the taunting penalty charged to his team in the third quarter of their 36-10 loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City on Sunday.

“I categorically disagree with it,” he said in his post-game press conference. “I thought Ray-Ray [McCloud] was signaling first down and he turned around to do so and [Sneed] just happened to be there.”

Here’s the alleged infraction

Look at the opening frame of the video, how Sneed awkwardly angles his body to get in front of McCloud’s face. He’s trying to take a charge after McCloud has already dunked and is hanging off the rim, and he gets the call.

The officials huddled for about 30 seconds before announcing the penalty. According to Tomlin, they still came to the wrong conclusion: “I think we’ve got to exercise some common sense.”

Viewed through the lens of the taunting penalty WR Chase Claypool garnered a few weeks back for sticking his finger in the face of a Vikings defender, I can see why the official was looking for something to make an example of.

The 36-10 loss was rarely fun to watch, and whatever small doses of enjoyment prescribed were invariably chased with a moment of pain:

  • The flea flicker-turned-INT
  • Consecutive Claypool circus-catches culminating in missed FG
  • Diontae’s first down-turned-unforced fumble