The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off one of their best wins of 2023 with a 30-23 victory over the Seahawks in Seattle. Here are my rapid-fire thoughts on the game!
Offense
-Certainly can’t complain about the running game in the first half as the Steelers ran for 145 yards and 2 scores.
-One of the more noticeable things about Mason Rudolph playing is decision making. He checks down only once he knows his down-field options are covered and he isn’t pre-determining things either. His throw to George Pickens for a first down when it looked like they were going to run was a beautiful throw.
-Najee Harris (27 carries 122 yards) and Jaylen Warren (13 carries 75 yards) are different types of running backs. People need to stop being offended when someone compliments one but not the other. Both guys run with violence but it’s OK to say Warren is quicker while Harris may be more powerful. Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier weren’t the same either!
-Probably the O-Line’s best performance of the season. Aggressive and downhill run blocking and better than they have been in pass protection.
-George Pickens! Helluva block on Jaylen Warren’s first quarter TD. Let’s hope he has learned some things. This is the type of effort we see moving forward hopefully. And some of his catches today were outstanding. He finished with 7 receptions for 131 yards.
-Really unselfish play by Harris to go down before scoring. One could argue they would have won either way but it all it took was one more snap and the game was over.
Defense
-Middle of the field… how can it NOT be affected by the injuries? Seattle targeted that area all game long.
-Tackling left a lot to be desired. Too many missed on first contact.
-Credit the Seattle OL. Down two starters and they held up pretty well against the Steelers’ pass rushers.
-What a play by Nick Herbig. Right after the Steelers built the lead back to seven he strip sacked Geno Smith and recovered the fumble.
-T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith didn’t record a sack but they did consistently harass Geno Smith throughout the day. The lack of interior push is hurting the overall pass rush to be honest.
-Really impressed with Eric Rowe. The guy was literally on the street a few weeks back and he led the team in tackles today with 10.
-Same goes for Myles Jack. Not only does he make tackles but he gets people where they need to be too.
-Devin Bush had 17 tackles today. Where was that when he was in Pittsburgh?
Special Teams
-Another perfect day for Chris Boswell. He was 3/3 on his PATs and 3/3 on his field goals. He really is having a Pro Bowl season.
-Pressley Harvin III punted once for 46 yards and dropped it inside the 20.
Coaching
-Sure there were a few questionable play calls but overall Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan put together a solid gameplan.
-Way too conservative with 8 minutes left. After getting the first down on a Rudolph sneak they went two runs up the middle and a very high percentage throw to Warren over the middle. I get you want the clock to run but you have to be more creative than that.
-That said, I loved the decision to throw to Pickens to help ice the game.
-I thought it was strange for Pete Carroll to try the onsides kick when he did. Had he kicked it into the end zone, no time would have expired meaning he would have had an extra timeout with the two minute warning.
-After the Herbig turnover, they were a tad more aggressive but it was understandable knowing a field goal put them up two scores.
Up Next
-The season finale in Baltimore. With the number one seed and a BYE locked up will the Ravens play their key starters?
