The Pittsburgh Steelers are 5-2 after a 16-10 win over the New Orleans Saints in Paris. As always, Joey Bray and I are here to give your weekly grades, so let’s get into it.
QB Aaron Rodgers
Jarrett Bailey: Rodgers continues to be efficient while adding a pinch of explosiveness that lifts the Steelers’ offense. His best play of the day came on a 3rd-and-14 where he escaped pressure from the pocket, ran to his left, and uncorked a moon ball to DK Metcalf, who hauled it in for a gain of 51 inside the five yard-line.
Plus, the eight-yard scramble to end the game was as clutch as it comes from a quarterback who has spent six presidential terms making clutch plays. It wasn’t an extraordinary performance, but it was a good overall showing from Rodgers. Grade: B+
Joey Bray: It wasn’t Rodgers’ most impressive stat line this season, but his 30 passing attempts were the fewest of the season. The Steelers controlled the clock with their running game and felt in control the entire time. Rodgers maneuvered the pocket better this game than he has all season, highlighted by an 8-yard run on third down late in the contest that helped the Steelers run the clock out. Rodgers continues to put the Steelers offense in positions to win. Grade: C
RB Jaylen Warren
Jarrett Bailey: Warren’s emergence as a legitimate top five running back has been so fun to watch in real time. The Steelers made it clear that he would be the focal point of the offense on the first drive, as he racked up 43 yards on the opening series and finished with 101 on the ground and 36 as a receiver. He continues to make a strong potential All-Pro case for himself as the Steelers continue to ride him to victories: Grade: A
Joey Bray: According toMatt Williamson, Jaylen Warren is the first running back to have 550+ rushing yards and 250+ receiving yards in his first seven games in a season since Christian McCaffrey in 2019. Warren posted over 100 scrimmage yards in the first half on Sunday, and continues to be the most dynamic and effective player on the Steelers offense. Grade: A+
RB Rico Dowdle
Jarrett Bailey: The Steelers have found the right balance of carries for Warren and Dowdle. Warren had 18 carries, Dowdle had nine for 41 yards and added 45 yards as a receiver. This balance of working Dowdle in to get touches while Warren remains the clear cut No. 1 is the best way for Pittsburgh to find success in its backfield. This is the second straight game that Dowdle has given them some juice in this role. Grade: B
Joey Bray: Put some respect on Rico Dowdle’s name. Since he has returned from injury, Dowdle has been a great complement to Jaylen Warren. The efficiency has also drastically improved for Dowdle, who averaged 4.6 yards per carry on Sunday, while also hauling in six passes. Dowdle and Warren are becoming the one-two punch that Steelers fans were hoping they would be at the start of the season. Grade: B
Offense
Jarrett Bailey: There were a lot of things to like about the way the offense performed. Offensive line wise, it was maybe the best game the Steelers had all year, especially when it came to run blocking. Yes, Chase Young made a couple plays, but Rodgers was tied for the fifth-fewest pressures faced in Week 7. However, there was plenty to dislike. The fade routes to DK Metcalf should be burnt with fire and never called again, especially in the red zone on third down. Those are almost certainly Rodgers’ doing, and they need to end immediately. Finishing drives as a whole needs to be something that gets better, as well. The Steelers had four red zone trips and only turned one of them into a touchdown. 16 points isn’t going to be enough against the great teams in the league. Grade: C+
Joey Bray: My biggest complaint from yesterday would be about the Steelers struggling to finish drives and having to settle for field goals. It seems like small potatoes since they won, but Aaron Rodgers’ visible frustration on the sidelines in the fourth quarter after having to settle for a field goal was notable. The playcalling in plus territory was particularly questionable yesterday. With plenty of quality teams and divisional opponents in the second half of their schedule, the offense will have to be better and turn some of those field goals into touchdowns even if it didn’t end up mattering yesterday. Grade: C
EDGE T.J Watt
Jarrett Bailey: Watt has officially re-emerged as an elite edge rusher. He had another sack on Sunday, and was robbed of the trifecta of a sack,s trip, and recovery despite the ball clearly moving when he sacked Tyler Shough. Regardless, he is now fourth in the league in sacks and continues to look like his former self. Grade: A
Joey Bray: The Steelers’ star defender was probably robbed of a strip-sack of Saints quarterback Tyler Shough. Although the strip was called back, Watt brought his sack total to 5.5 on the season. The edge rusher rotation in the Steelers’ defense this season has seemed to keep Watt fresh, as he has returned to being someone who can be a double digit sack guy, which he is well on pace to be again this season. Nobody has forced more strip sacks since 2017 than Watt, and he continues to prove he can change the game in the blink of an eye. Grade: A
LB Patrick Queen
Jarrett Bailey: Queen was awesome on Sunday in what was one of his best games as a Steeler. He had 10 tackles and seven impact plays, per Sumer Sports. The only linebacker with more such plays was Blake Cashman of the Minnesota Vikings. For a guy that gets more scrutiny from Steelers fans than any other player, it was good to see him play so well. I’ll throw in a hat tip to Payton Wilson, as well, who had the interception that swung the game. Good day for the Steelers’ linebacker duo. Grade: A
Joey Bray: All things considered, this was one of the best games that Patrick Queen has played as a Steeler. Yes, the dropped pick was tough, but it’s hard for me to harp on linebackers dropping interceptions. Especially with the way Queen responded, as he led the team in tackles and came up with a huge sack in which he made a great move to get by the Saints’ offensive line. Queen was around the ball a lot yesterday and made several phenomenal plays. Grade: A+
Defense
Jarrett Bailey: The defense has allowed just three touchdowns over their last three games, and have allowed just one second-half touchdown this entire season. Allowing just 18 yards on 17 carries is absurd at any level, and Pittsburgh’s run defense has been the best in the league over the last three weeks. There are things that need cleaned up, specifically the third down success rate for the Saints (6-of-12), but limiting New Orleans to under five yards per play is something they can hang their hat on. If they can sustain this high-level of play, they can beat anyone. Grade: A
Joey Bray: Once again, the zone defense was frustrating to watch as Tyler Shough went 30/38 passing in the contest. Many online have dubbed the Steelers defense as the first “bend don’t break” defense in history. The secondary is going to continue to be an issue until a serious corner is added, which may very well not happen anytime this season. I think Graham deserves a lot of credit for having a great defensive game plan that held New Orleans to just 10 points. The defense played with plenty of aggressiveness as they had several forced fumbles called back. Regardless, the Steelers’ defense continues to bend more than they break. Grade: B+
Special teams
Jarrett Bailey: Chris Boswell was great, going three-of-three on field goals. Pittsburgh can’t seem to go a game without a special teams penalty, was Sean Murphy-Bunting was penalized on a punt, and the Steelers allowed a 42-yard kickoff return. The kick coverage unit is still a problem. Grade: B-
Joey Bray: His consistency has been shaky this season, but Chris Boswell nailed all three of his field goals on Sunday. Given the offense’s struggles to punch the ball into the end zone, the Steelers didn’t win yesterday without Boswell. For the second straight week, Kaden Wetjen had a decent return nullified by a penalty. There have been little to no explosive returns for Wetjen this season, but it’s not all his fault considering the Steelers special teams always get in trouble for holding in those situations. Grade: A
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
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