Tighten up also works a s a title for this week, but I hope you’ll see why I opted to give Matt Canada a little credit this time around.
This was the most classic win we’ve seen for the Steelers teams we’ve watched in the last few years. Middling offense, keep your opponents (mostly) in check, and a miraculous late game drive to distract us from the real problems on this team.
But a win is a win, and for right now, we’ll take it.
This was actually a wild game. Rookies who were touted for their talents and veterans who were maligned for their mistakes suddenly switched roles. Broderick Jones and more critically, Joey Porter Jr. took costly penalties that prolonged a winning effort for this team.
Meanwhile, Levi Wallace reversed fortunes and almost sealed the game with an interception.
For all of what happened in this game, however, I think we can all agree we were the most surprised by the opening drive. Despite winning the coin toss, the Steelers received the ball first, and with Matt Canada now standing on the sidelines (for the first time in his college or pro career), his offense delivers a game opening touchdown.
An opening drive touchdown? In this economy? Are you kidding me?
Harris punches it in for 6, and the Steelers go up 7-0 early.
There was fluidity on the opening drive, especially in the running game, something that was definitely needed for this team.
Meanwhile, TJ Watt continued to be a mad man on the field, and padded his numbers as he battles for the sack lead in the NFL.
Even though there were stars performing for Pittsburgh, Kenny Pickett continued to struggle. I know he was suffering from the rib injury, but he missed several throws that any NFL QB has to make, regardless.
In the end, it leaves tons of yards, first downs, and potentially even touchdowns on the field, in a game where the Steelers could have used any extra points they could get.
And speaking of missed touchdowns, George Pickens should draw some ire for failing to get two feet down in the endzone. Pickens had an awful night, which I will dive into a tad more later, but as much as we get on Kenny for plays he needs to make, we need to do the same for his receivers. Pickens has to get a second foot down in this.
But you know who did score a touchdown? Diontae freaking Johnson. After a year and a half of not getting in the endzone for a touchdown, Johnson finally gets it, and you can feel the sigh of relief he gave from here.
Johnson had not caught a touchdown pass since January 3rd, 2022, when Ben Roethlisberger threw him a pass in Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns.
That was his second big catch of that drive. He caught a dime from Pickett just earlier that helped keep the drive alive.
Overall, there weren’t too many momentum swings in this game. It was classic, albeit frustrating, Steelers football. And here’s something I never thought I’d say: Matt Canada called a good game.
I think this was the first time all season I would put more of the blame on Pickett rather than Canada for the offensive woes in this game. He dialed up some good calls and did that on a more consistent pace tonight. Was he perfect? God no, but he was better, much better. He needs to stay on that sideline.
And as for Pickett, he wasn’t great, especially as Will Levis outplayed him in every facet, but that fourth quarter magic strikes again, and the Steelers squeak out a win against the Titans, thanks to a Kwon Alexander interception to seal the deal.
More thoughts down below:
-Thoughts with Treylon Burks, who was stretchered off the field after falling hard to the field and not moving for several minutes. He does have full movement, and I wish him the best as we wait to hear morr information.
-The running game was also much better tonight. Both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren had good runs (more Warren, but still), and that’s an excellent sign to see.
-Speaking of running games, the Steelers did a good job limiting Tennessee’s Derrick Henry. The veteran RB got 75 yards and a touchdown, but he never got that explosive, game-breaking downhill run, and that allowed the Steelers defense to make other plays on the field as well.
-Will Levis was playing in just his second NFL game. Kenny Pickett was playing in his 21st. If you didn’t know which was which, you would have never guessed that Levis was the guy in his second start.
-Ryan Tannehill isn’t getting his job back, is he? And poor Malik Willis.
-Kenny Pickett time in the fourth quarter is VERY real. But how much longer can that be enough for the Steelers? Some would say that time is already over.
-Kwon Alexander came up clutch today with that interception, and he’s going to need to continue that as he gets a more prominent role on the defense due to the ugly Cole Holcomb injury
–Odd stat(s) of the game: George Pickens: 5 targets, 2 receptions, -1 yard.
(Featured photo from AP)
Fifth Avenue Sports 
Leave a comment