Steelers fall to Browns 29-17

17 points wasn’t enough for the Steelers on Thursday Night Football.

QB Mitch Trubisky was escaping, including a 1-yard TD by way of the read option. He was efficient (started 8/9 passing) and he was even taking shots downfield.

Subject: “Shots downfield”

Body: “WR George Pickens has arrived.”

Pickens’ right hand
George Pickens one-handed grab

RB Najee Harris heard the smoke from former Steelers in the media this week and took his frustration out on a couple Browns defenders on this TD run.

How have I not mentioned RB Jaylen Warren yet? 13 of Pittsburgh’s first 17 RB runs were successful. All 4 unsuccessful runs were charged to last year’s first-round draft pick; this year’s undrafted free agent had 0.

Defensively the Steelers were getting gashed, largely on the ground. The Browns kept pace TD-for-TD, but a doinked XP was the difference at half time.

The Browns first two drives of the second half totaled 25 plays, 150 yards, 13-and-a-half minutes and – most importantly – 10 points. The proverbial “death by a million paper cuts.”

When Pittsburgh finally did get a stop, they were pinned at their 5 and unable to get past the 10. Mitch took a sack on 3rd down and P Presley Harvin III was called on for a fifth time with less than 5 minutes to play, down two scores.

A clutch sack from OLB Alex Highsmith got the ball back, and TE Pat Freiermuth picked a heck of a time to show up with two unbelievable catches over the deep middle to set the Steelers up deep in Cleveland territory. A woulda-been game-ending INT in the end zone was overturned and Boswell cut the lead to a single possession just inside the 2-minute mark.

Unfortunately that’s all the closer it got. The onside kick attempt such through the first layer and a Steeler had a chance to recover, but the point was moot because Pickens was offside.

They made it dramatic at the end with measurements and reviews, forcing Cleveland into a 4th and 1 in the final minute. Kevin Stefanski elected to punt it away with :15 seconds, setting the Steelers up at their 4-yard-line with 9 seconds on the clock. The most pitiful hook and ladder you’ve ever seen handed the Browns a garbage score that made it look worse than it was.

Patriots Spoil Steelers’ Debut at the ‘Sure

Pittsburgh’s defense struggled to overcome a TJ-sized absence in the inaugural contest at Acrisure Stadium, but ultimately the inability to stop the run spelled a 17-14 defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots.

The Steelers first half offense was – shall we say – lackluster? They tallied 96 passing and 51 rushing yards, one give-away and 3 points with QB Mitch Trubisky at the con. Kenny Pickett’s name was probably trending on Twitter.

On the flip side, the Steelers defense largely held New England to 3 points of their own in the first half, despite recording neither a sack nor a tackle for loss. FS Minkah Fitzpatrick pulled in another interception but a deep combat catch by former Eagle WR Nelson Agholor over CB Ahkello Witherspoon was the difference on the scoreboard at the break.

The Patriots opened the third quarter with a deep drive that ended in a missed 52-yard FG. “Kenny” chants swelled after Mitch checked it down behind the line of scrimmage on 3rd&8. Regardless, he got K Chris Boswell in range for a 52-yarder of his own; as Adam Sandler once sang of Hall of Famer Rod Carew: “He converted.”

I saw a ton of pre-game predictions that included a Gunner Olszewski return TD against his former team. I’m not giving out any partial credit for a muffed punt that set New England up in the red zone. A phantom Unnecessary Roughness penalty (called on 93, MLB Mark Robinson, who was inactive today) and three straight rushes later, the Patriots were in the end zone.

Trubisky had Acrisure singing a different tune his next drive, throwing 4/5 for 43 yards, including this TD to TE Pat Freiermuth and the following toss to WR Diontae Johnson for the two-point conversion:

The fourth quarter became a battle of field position with four combined punts. The Patriots’ wheels finally found purchase and drove down to the Steelers’ side of the field at the two-minute warning. Then Renegade happened.

Immediately out of the break DT Cam Heyward and Co recorded a TFL, but they just ran away from him twice to burn Pittsburgh’s final timeouts, and the last first down sealed it.

FINAL: 17-14 NE

Steelers Shock the World, Tame Bengals

The Steelers outlasted the Bengals in a 23-20 OT thriller, including not one but THREE missed FGā€™s that would have been walk-off kicks.

In the first half today the Steelers forced Joe Burrow into 4 turnovers (3 picks, 1 fumble). FS Minkah Fitzpatrick opened the festivities with a pick-six and OLB TJ Watt and CB Cam Sutton joined the party before half time.

Four of the Bengalsā€™ first six drives resulted in turnovers. The other two ended with a pair of field goals (a 59-yard prayer and a ā€œbend donā€™t breakā€ chip shot to close a nine-play drive) that represented significant wins for the Steelersā€™ defense.

Despite being constantly set up on short fields, QB Mitch Trubisky gave Pittsburgh just enough to hang around. A flea flicker aided a 31-yard connection to TE Pat Freiermuth and a screen pass to TE Zach Gentry gained 32: the Steelersā€™ longest gain of the day.

CB Ahkello Witherspoon added a fifth interception in the second half, but he was victimized for the TD that tied the game with 2 seconds left on the clock. The loss was all but a formality when Minkah crashed through the line and blocked the PAT to force an overtime period.

Pittsburgh got the ball first and (predictably) went three-and-out. Joe Burrow led Cincinnati into the red zone for a potentially game-winning FG attempt. McPherson – who had previously nailed a 59-yarder – hooked this 29-yard try wide left.

The Steelersā€™ offense wasted no time. Mitch dialed up a ā€œback shoulderā€ throw deep down the left sideline to WR Diontae Johnson who made – quite simply – the single most incredible catch we will say anywhere in the NFL this entire season.

Pittsburgh drove into Bengals territory and set up for a 55-yard FG attempt. The kick had plenty of leg but doinked about a third of the way up the left upright. Play on.

Cincinnati strung together a couple positive plays and drove inside Pittsburghā€™s 40 before a strip-sack from CB Arthur Maulet pushed the Bengals back out of field goal range. They punted the ball back with just over a minute to play, electing to play for the tie.

But Tomlin and Co. had no appetite for sister-kissing this day. Freiermuth caught two passed for 36 yards, DJ chipped in another 9-yarder, and Steelers Nation collectively held our breath as The Wizard of Boz was called on once more. 53 yards out, 5 seconds on the clock, the game will end with this kick one way or the other. The snap was good, the hold was true, the kick had a bit of late draw but it tickled the net and the gun sounded on a Steelers victory.

I would be remiss to not mention RB Najee Harris left late in regulation and did not return for OT. He appeared to be in significant pain (possibly re-aggravating that Lisfranc fracture) but popped up and jogged (with a slight limp) off under his own power.

TJ was seen early in OT clutching his left chest; he also did not return to the contest. If itā€™s a pectoral injury, itā€™s almost certainly a tear, and heā€™s almost certainly done for the season. Weā€™ll keep him in our thoughts when we say our bedtime prayers tonight.

I apologize for the belated nature of this post. CBS considers Harrisburg Ravens territory so I had to watch the game at the local Primantiā€™s bar.