Sorting through a key Steelers victory
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers only had one sack of Joe Burrow on Sunday.
But boy did they make it count.
Derrick Harmon’s bull rush and forced fumble was gathered in by Sebastian Joseph-Day with just 44 seconds left to allow Pittsburgh to escape with a 30-27 win over the Bengals at Acrisure Stadium.
It came just when it looked like Burrow was set to lead Cincinnati to at the very least a tying field goal and perhaps a game-winning touchdown.
That was the most obvious impact play of the Steelers’ victory which left them with a 2-1 record and in a four-way tie with the Bengals, Ravens and Browns in the AFC North standings.
Here’s a few more thoughts on Sunday’s game.
WARREN STEPS UP
Pittsburgh rushing attack, split mainly between Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren, came into the game averaging 3.4 yards per attempt. With Dowdle out, Warren made it known he’s the main back and should get the bulk of the snaps from here on out.
Dowdle is averaging 2.5 yards per carry. After Sunday when he ran 17 times for 127 yards, Warren is averaging 5.7, and he had an 87-yard run wiped out by a holding penalty. Warren also gathered in a trio of passes for 49 more yards. One of those catches should’ve been for a 14-yard touchdown but he lost his balance and fell at the 6. Aaron Rodgers found DK Metcalf all alone in the end zone one play later for the touchdown.
I felt Dowdle would supplant Warren as the Steelers’ top back when they signed him. Warren, however, has shown he’s clearly the Steelers No. 1 running back.
MAX’S DEBUT
Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy made two changes to the right side of the offensive line before Sunday’s game, benching Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook and inserting first-round draft pick Max Iheanachor in at tackle and veteran Brock Hoffman at guard.
The moves paid off as the Steelers’ offensive line played its best game of the season, especially in the running game, with the blocking help of tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington and also wide receiver Ben Skowronek.
Iheanachor was considered a project who would eventually become an impact starter. It’s only one game be he sure seems ahead of schedule and gave the line a spark it desperately needed.
COSTLY TURNOVERS
Each team made a key, momentum-changing mistake.
The one by the Steelers was by wide receiver Roman Wilson late in the second quarter. Rodgers had just connected with Freiermuth for a 22-yard gain to the Pittsburgh 47 at the two-minute warning. Three plays later, what looked to be a key pass for a first down clanged off Wilson’s hands right to the Bengals’ Jordan Battle. The interception gave Cincinnati the ball at its own 47 and Burrow led a quick five-play touchdown drive, capped by a 28-yard pass caught by Tee Higgins despite obvious interference by the Steelers’ Asante Samuel Jr. Wilson scored the Steelers’ first touchdown on a 38-yard pass from Rodgers, but this blunder had a huge impact on the game, turning a possible 10-to-17 point Pittsburgh halftime lead into a 17-17 tie game.
The Bengals held a 27-24 lead and were about to get the ball back when they returned the favor early in the fourth quarter. Ke’Shawn Williams muffed the punt and Skowronek pounced on the loose ball at the Cincinnati 14, which led to a game-tying field goal by Chris Boswell.
UNSUNG HERO
Skowronek, whose father Dave is a Connellsville native, quietly made the Pro Bowl as a special teams player last year so his hustle and fumble recover on that punt shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but he also contributed to Sunday’s win in other ways. His blocking, as mentioned above, helped the running game and he pulled in a 23-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to give Pittsburgh a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.
NO PRESSURE
Before Harmon’s game-sealing forced fumble, the Steelers applied little pressure to Burrow, who completed his first 14 passes. His favorite target, as usual, was Ja’Mar Chase, who didn’t have any big-yardage plays but still caught nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. It seemed there were countless times Burrow dropped back, had time and found a receiver wide open for a 10-to-15 yard gain. Burrow ended up 28-for-37 for 282 yards and three touchdowns. Pittsburgh’s defense seemed content to sit back, prevent big plays and allow Burrow to pick them apart with mid-range throws. Perhaps it was just an off game, but the Steelers’ pass rush was lacking greatly on Sunday.
CLUTCH DRIVE
There is always one possession that stands out in a close game and this one came after punter Ryan Rehkow had pinned the Steelers back at their own 8 with under seven minutes left in a 27-27 game. Pittsburgh needed at least one first down to climb out of the hole and not give the Bengals the ball back likely near midfield. Warren then hit his scintillating 87-yard run to the Cincinnati 5 that lit up the Acrisure Stadium crowd and had the Terrible Towels waving enthusiastically. That excitement quickly died out when the run was wiped out on Metcalf’s holding penalty. The play could have left the Steelers deflated. Instead, now in first and 11 at the 7 with the game hanging in the balance, they rose up. Rodgers got them out of the hole with a 14-yard pass to Metcalf, then Washington snagged a short pass and turned it into a rumbling 47-yard gain to the Cincinnati 32. While the Bengals were still reeling, Warren broke a 26-yard run to the 6. Pittsburgh couldn’t cash in for six but Boswell provided what turned out to be the winnings points with a 33-yard field goal.
BROWNS NEXT
The Steelers can’t dwell on their win over the Bengals very long with a road game aganst the 2-1 Browns up next on Thursday night. Pittsburgh has lost four straight and six of its last seven in Cleveland. It’s only Week 4, but reversing that trend could go a long way to the Steelers making a legitimate push for a playoff spot.
Rob Burchianti is sports editor of the Herald-Standard and can be reached at rburchianti@heraldstandard.com