“A Tale of Two [Celebrations]”?

The Steelers had a lot to celebrate last night but ultimately ended up on the losing side of the contest.

First, take a look at some of the Good:

After finding themselves in a 29-0 hole with 6:15 in the 3rd quarter, Pittsburgh fired off 21 unanswered points on three consecutive drives. During that stretch, Minnesota ran only four offensive plays, thanks in part to the first of two interceptions from CB Ahkello Witherspoon.

This is what followed that interception, and some people are upset about it:

The Steelers’ defense last night was abysmal and it’s tough to watch them having fun while losing by three scores. “Tone-deaf” is a phrase that may not be unfair.

I find many celebrations obnoxious, but I’m also aware that the guys on the field get fired up by and – build off of – that energy. I will never fault a guy for celebrating a big play, as long as the clock is stopped.

Which brings us to WR Chase Claypool. Tomlin briefly benched him in the first quarter for costing the team an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but he was key to the second half come-back. On the game’s final drive he caught 4/4 targets for 69 yards, but then this happened:

Ultimately the come-back came just short, with an incomplete pass in the end zone as time expired that could have tied the game. Had Claypool got up looking for the ref to spot the ball, Ben would have had exactly one more shot at the end zone. It didn’t take points off the board but it took a down off the clock. It didn’t lose the game but it cost the Steelers one last chance to win.

Like I said, I never blame a guy for being fired up; it’s a matter of situational awareness. It’s been about two full years since Claypool played a football game where the clock stops after a first down. It was a rookie mistake, and that’s not acceptable for a guy in his second season.

“Key Match-ups” Report Card: @ Vikings

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

Steelers solve QB Lamar Jackson, Ravens yet again

In light of a highly back-and-forth game (and the UCB Comedy Imrovisation Manual my Mom got me for my birthday) I decided to play a little “Fortunately/Unfortunately” with the Steelers’ 20-19 victory over the Ravens.

Fortunately, the Steelers defense showed up to play, tallying 4 sacks and 6 TFL’s in the first half while allowing only 7 points.

Unfortunately, when the Ravens punted the ball away just after the two-minute warning, the Steelers had totaled 10 offensive plays and one first down in three drives.

Fortunately, QB Ben Roethlisberger cracked off five straight completions for 52 yards, and dropped a sixth throw right in the bucket to WR Diontae Johnson running free into the end zone.

Unfortunately, Johnson couldn’t corral the pass and it bounced off his helmet before falling to the ground, harmlessly incomplete.

Fortunately, Pittsburgh was able to rally for a FG to put points back on the board before the break. HALFTIME SCORE: 7-3 BAL

The “fortunately” train kept rolling in the second half. The defense saw their stat line tick up to 7 sacks and 9 TFL’s, and only 19 points allowed. At the two-minute warning the defense had not allowed more than a TD in either half, which was a major W for that depleted unit.

Unfortunately, there were a number of maddening officiating decisions, going both ways. At least two hits on Ben could have been called roughing, there were a couple phantom holding calls, and a nonsensical overrule of a 32-yard completion to WR Ray Ray McCloud after a Harbaugh challenge.

Fortunately, Diontae Johnson is on a mission to prove he’s a true #1 NFL WR. He had eight catches for 105 yards and two TD’s on the day, including this one:

DJ TD#1

Unfortunately, K Chris Boswell missed the PAT that would have tied the game. Then the Ravens were gifted a 41-yard pass interference that set up a second Tucker FG, expanding the lead to 13-9.

Fortunately, Boswell redeemed himself with a 43-yard FG that brought the Steelers within one point. As it turns out, that point would prove to be huge.

Unfortunately, after getting another stop and driving down nearly into Baltimore’s red zone, Ben threw a pass directly to MLB Patrick Queen covering in the right flat for an interception.

Fortunately, the play was overruled due to defensive pass interference. Four plays later this happened:

DJ TD#2

Unfortunately, Pittsburgh allowed Baltimore to drive down the field and put up six more points with less than :20 left. 20-19 PIT

Fortunately, John Harbaugh elected to try to win the game in regulation rather than kicking to send the game to overtime. LB TJ Watt – who amassed 6 tackles, 6 QB hits, 3.5 sacks, 3 TFL’s and a forced fumble – hurried QB Lamar Jackson into a nervous throw that sailed out of reach for TE Mark Andrews. An unsuccessful on-side kick attempt later and Pittsburgh sent their Victory Formation onto the field.