This is a very hard review to write.
Not because of the performance on the field, but because I don’t know if this is the finale for the Steelers Review this year.
That will be determined tomorrow, when either the Jacksonville Jaguars or the Buffalo Bills lose. If either team loses, the Steelers are in. If neither happens, the Steelers are out.
But since we don’t know the future of this season for Pittsburgh, I’ll just talk about this game, and we’ll find out the rest when it takes place.
What an ugly win for the Steelers. Not just because of the weather conditions, but the tone of the game itself. A mucky, turnover filled game by both teams finally came to an end with the Steelers on top 17-10.
Mason Rudolph is now 3-0 as the Steelers’ starter, and while he was far less impressive in this game, he did enough to earn the win, and do all that he could to get Pittsburgh into the playoffs.
Rudolph went 18/20 for 152 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 fumble lost. Minus the fumble (and probably the touchdown), it was a very Kenny Pickett-style game, with a very Kenny Pickett-style final score.
Rudolph’s highlight came on a 71-yard catch and run to Diontae Johnson, which really put Pittsburgh in control of this game.
Johnson was the team’s leading receiver today, with 4 catches for 89 yards and that TD. Opposite him, George Pickens was not even targeted in this game (though he did take a handoff for a first down), but unlike past games, Pickens was still positive on the sidelines, evident of maturation and perhaps more of a buy in given the renewed life on offense.
Wisely, however, the bulk of the yards came on the ground. Najee Harris had 112 yards on 26 carries for a touchdown, which helped propel him over 1,000 rushing yards for the third straight time in his three-year career.
Jaylen Warren was used in a more reduced role today, which saw him rush for 33 yards on 9 carries.
Both running backs had problems securing the ball, starting with the very first snap. Harris and Warren suffered fumbles in this game, which posed extra challenges for a banged up defense.
Pittsburgh did benefit mightily from Baltimore resting some starters, but the Ravens offense still pushed for points with Tyler Huntley as quarterback.
The Steelers forced two fumble recoveries of their own, including a punchout by Eric Rowe, who has been amazing for this team ever since stepping in for injuries.
Like I said at the top, it’s hard to know exactly what to say, because we don’t know if the Steelers are going to get their ticket to the postseason.
It was a classic Steelers-Ravens win: close, physical, ugly at times, but in the end the Steelers pulled it out, and they have a chance.
On to tomorrow. Deep breaths, y’all.
More thoughts down below:
-I love Eric Rowe. He is making big time plays for this team at the most critical time, and he did it again today.
-This was the least impressive game by Mason Rudolph of the three he has started this year, but he did have a 90% completion percentage and made the plays he needed to in order to get the win.
-Mason faltered in the first half, and some in the second, but I was proud of how he came back and found Johnson for that strike the Steelers desperately needed.
-The TJ Watt injury hurts a ton, but if reports are to be believed, things might be a best case scenario for him regarding an MCL sprain as the season hangs in the balance.
-Najee Harris was a workhorse today, and was the biggest reason for the Steelers’ win.
-Just one guy’s opinion, but I think George Pickens is a big Mason Rudolph fan. Pickens was still dancing and happy even after he was targeted 0 times today. Plus, this postgame video.
-If this is the final Steelers game, I will do a final Steelers Review; if they get into the playoffs, I’ll see you there.
–Odd stat of the game: Calvin Austin averaged 18.4 yards per punt return today, the highest to date of his NFL career.
(Featured image bu Mitch Stringer/USA Today Sports)
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