It wasn’t pretty or easy, but the Pittsburgh Steelers walked off the field with a win against the Denver Broncos. After two weeks, the Steelers are 2-0, both on the road, but the offense has left quite a bit on the field. Despite a tense second half, the defense led the way to an ugly win for the second straight week.
Ugly Offense Couldn’t Keep Rhythm
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With Russell Wilson on the sidelines again, Justin Fields got his second consecutive start for Pittsburgh. A fast start seemed to bode well for a Steelers’ offense that has struggled for years, but Denver acclimated to the contest as the game went on. Pittsburgh’s second offensive possession saw Fields lead the Steelers on a 12-play, 78-yard scoring drive that ended with Darnell Washington getting the first receiving touchdown of his young career. The touchdown drive took 7:38 off the clock, but it would be the longest possession the Steelers would have in the game.
On Pittsburgh’s next drive, the offense took 6:54, but it ended in a punt. There would only be one Steelers drive for the remainder of the contest, taking more than three minutes off the game clock. Six punts in the second half, including three three-and-out drives, killed any momentum that Pittsburgh tried to put together. While the offense certainly had its growing pains, it seemed like nearly every other play ended with the officials throwing a flag. A win is a win, and after two road games to open the 2024 campaign, the Steelers are alone atop the AFC North.
Defense Earns Its Money
TJ Watt was held in check as much as an opposing offense can, holding him to one sack and a handful of impactful plays. However, it was the defense as a unit that came together to will Pittsburgh to its second victory of 2024. Cory Trice Jr. got his first career interception on a key play in the endzone, and each time it seemed like Denver was putting something together, the defense made the necessary plays to shut it down.
In his second career NFL game, rookie quarterback Bo Nix was forced into two interceptions for a second week. With some late first and second-half pushes, Nix threw for 246 yards but still ended up as the Broncos’ leading rusher with a paltry yards. Denver threatened at times, but the Steelers defense kept showing why it is the highest-paid group in the league. As the 2024 season progresses, Pittsburgh will need to get some more balance from its offense, but until then, the team is in good hands with the way the defense is playing.
Penalties Killed Big Moments
An early series put the mismanagement of Pittsburgh’s offensive line on full display. The Steelers set out to rotate Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu at right tackle, leaving the subpar Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle. When Jones came into the game, he was called for three penalties on six snaps, one of which erased a perfect throw from Fields that would have flipped the field. While it is easy to blame Jones for the poor play, the offensive tackle positions have been handled terribly since training camp. It nearly came back to bite the Steelers in Denver, and unless it is corrected, more errors will come from it.
There were 19 accepted penalties during the game, and when you include the ones that were declined, the contest was a messy, stop-and-start affair, thanks to the officials. Fields was efficient and did his best to navigate the game, but the most significant plays were immediately wiped out by penalties that could have easily been let go. Thanks to a dominant defense, the Steelers are 2-0, but so far, the blueprint isn’t a sustainable model for success over the course of an entire season.
Final Thoughts
Donte Jackson was shaken up a few times but played a key role in keeping the Broncos out of the endzone. Trice’s interception came when Jackson was sidelined briefly. After 41 rushing attempts in Week 1, Pittsburgh ran the ball 36 times compared to 20 pass attempts. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren combined for 111 yards, averaging over four yards per carry. George Pickens was held to two catches for 29 yards by Patrick Surtain II, making Pat Freiermuth the leading receiver for the Steelers with 39 yards on four receptions.
Pittsburgh’s first home game of 2024 is in Week 3 when the Los Angeles Chargers visit.
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