What. A. Win.
Though the final score only shows a 20-10 win for the Steelers in their home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, this was an amazing win by Pittsburgh to improve to 3-0 on the season.
Yesterday might not have been the “breakout” game for the offense as a whole that Arthur Smith and Steelers fans have been hoping for, but it absolutely was a breakout game for some individual players on said offense.
Let’s get into all of it in my five thoughts for this week’s game:
1: Justin Fields Is Your Permanent Starter
You wanna talk about a breakout game? Allow me to re-introduce you to Justin Fields.
We saw a new level of Fields yesterday at Acrisure Stadium, both as a Steelers starter and as an NFL quarterback. Though the Steelers played it conservatively for the most part in the first half, Fields was really able to shine in the second, especially with his arm.
He ended the day going 25/32 with 245 yards, 2 touchdowns (a passing one and a rushing one) and an interception. His play of the day came on a bullet to Calvin Austin for a 55-yard catch and run touchdown.
This play is impressive for two reasons: first off, it would have been very easy to check the ball down to Pat Freiermuth and attempt to get the first down. But instead, he goes for Austin, and he fires it just in time to avoid it getting swiped by a defender.
Chicago-era Justin Fields may have waited just a minute too long and that pass would have been picked.
Fields’ 245 passing yards is now his seventh highest total in his NFL career, and obviously his highest total as a Steeler.
I was very intrigued to see what a Russell Wilson-led Steelers offense would look like, but there is no basis to bench Fields now. He is your starting quarterback.
2: The Wide Receivers Need Commended
For a Steelers team that was one of the worst wide receiver rooms in the league, perhaps the only thing worse than having five of your receivers playing is only having four of them playing.
Yesterday was supposed to be the debut of rookie wide receiver and third round pick Roman Wilson, but a late decision to not dress him meant that Pittsburgh only had George Pickens, Calvin Austin, Scotty Miller, and Van Jefferson as WR options. Cordarrelle Patterson also moonlit as a wide receiver, and Pat Freiermuth chipped in decently as well.
But despite a weak position group being even weaker, most of them played very, very well yesterday.
Austin: 4 catches for 95 yards, TD
Pickens: 5 catches for 57 yards
Freiermuth: 4 catches for 33 yards
Miller: 2 catches for 31 yards
Patterson: 3 catches for 15 yards
Van Jefferson did not have a catch in this game, but the receiving group as a whole played much better than I think people expected today. Give them their flowers.
3: Cordarrelle Patterson Effective In The Run Game
Though it was a limited sample size, Cordarrelle Patterson had a strong day in the running game, picking up 33 yards on 4 carries for an average of 8.2. All of his carries as a running back came in the final drive, but Patterson was key in Pittsburgh being able to kill the clock and end the game.
Patterson and Najee Harris (who really heated up in the second half) were excellent on that drive, having their will against an injured Los Angeles defense that had lost Nick Bosa.
Jaylen Warren only had 3 carries today, evident that he is still pretty banged up and that the Steelers are being very careful with how they deploy him.
Given that, and Patterson’s success in bursts late in yesterday’s game, I wonder if we see some more of him in the running game in the next few weeks as Warren heals up.
4: Nick Herbig Makes His Case For More Time
Nick Herbig was dominant today after taking over for Alex Highsmith, who suffered a groin injury and did not return. Herbig racked up 2.0 sacks, including a strip sack on Justin Herbert.
He also blew up Taylor Heinicke for a double digit loss in the fourth quarter, which was huge in killing any kind of comeback attempt that the Chargers still had.
Herbig is in serious need of more reps, and while a Highsmith injury would be a big loss to Pittsburgh’s rush attack, it would allow Herbig a much bigger role in the defense, which he deserves.
5: Justin Herbert Shouldn’t Have Played
I was pretty surprised when Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was confirmed to start against the Steelers. His high ankle sprain had limited him severely in practice all week, and with a very important divisional matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs next week, it may have been better to play it safe and keep Herbert healthy for KC.
Instead, he did start, and although he looked pretty good (12/18 for 125 yards and a touchdown), that injury got re-aggravated and Herbert’s status for next week is now unknown.
I know it probably would have been very unpopular to sit Herbert this week, but you have to look more for the long term. LA’s worst fears about playing their star QB today came true, and they could end up paying dearly for trying to rush him back.
(Featured photo by Matt Freed/AP)
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