Beer We Go Steelers

The Steelers started slow and never really got it going against the Eagles, falling 27-13.

MORE TO COME

The Steelers started slow then revved the engine and helped eliminate the Browns officially from the playoffs with a 27-14 victory Sunday. There was nothing spectacular but when the Steelers needed to make plays, they did.

The offense was slow to get out of the gate. Russell Wilson eventually got it going showcasing his efficiency, completing 15 passes to nine different receivers, leading the Steelers to victory despite the absence of star wideout George Pickens.

The offense initially struggled, with three three-and-outs in the first half and Wilson managing just 46 passing yards. However, he ignited in the second half, culminating in 158 yards. The opening drive of the second half epitomized his resurgence, as he went 4-for-5 for 46 yards, culminating in a 10-yard touchdown pass to Van Jefferson.

While not his most prolific performance, Wilson maintained a 101.1 quarterback rating, marking his fifth game out of seven starts with a rating exceeding 100.

While lacking in explosive plays beyond an early 20-yard run by Najee Harris, the ground game effectively churned out yards, accumulating 120 rushing yards by game’s end. Harris led the charge with 53 yards and a touchdown, while Jaylen Warren contributed 47 yards on nine carries.

Ten days after surrendering three sacks to Browns defensive end Myles Garrett in Cleveland, Dan Moore Jr. provided significantly better protection for Russell Wilson, limiting Garrett’s impact for most of the game. While Garrett did record the Browns’ lone sack, it occurred late in the game and had little consequence. He was a non-factor throughout the contest.

Steelers’ Keanu Benton had his first career pick, intercepting a screen pass and returning it for a significant gain, it set up a Steelers’ touchdown.  Defensive anchor Cam Heyward continued his dominant season, adding two more sacks to his impressive tally (now at eight).

Alex Highsmith returned to the lineup after his injury absence and recorded a sack. The Steelers rotated three outside linebackers extensively. T.J. Watt contributed four tackles and two quarterback hurries. Patrick Queen led the linebackers with10 tackles and a pass breakup, while Elandon Roberts’ crucial fourth-down tackle for a five-yard loss near midfield in the third quarter set the Steelers up for victory.

It was a nice bounce back week for Joey Porter Jr. who limited Jerry Jeudy under 100 yards passing.

Special teams coverage units were leaky again. But the kicking game is arguably the best in the NFL. Chris Boswell continues to solidify his status as the NFL’s premier kicker. Against the Browns, he extended his impressive season, adding two more field goals to his tally, bringing his season record to 36 of 39. His 54-yarder late in the second quarter proved crucial, giving the Steelers a 13-7 lead heading into halftime.

Beyond Boswell’s excellence, Corliss Waitman once again put together a big game. He averaged an impressive 53.2 yards per punt, pinning the Browns deep. His booming punt late in the game forced a Kadarius Toney fumble, which was recovered by soon to be folk hero Ben Skowronek, marking Skowronek’s second fumble recovery of the season.

The Steelers avenged their controversial loss.

BEER WE GO, STEELERS BEER WE GO.

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Anyone who follows this blog, knew this was going to Keeanu Benton for his interception. When the big boys get the football, they get the beer of the game. Also Considered: Joey Porter Jr. and Dan Moore Jr. had redemption games. Both gave up one play then stifled the Browns.

Beer of the Game: RUN IT BACK I went with Yuengling Flight, which is awesome and light. KGB went with Harpoon Holiday Ale, the very full-bodied winter beer again.

“Steel the Snacks”: No Steel the snacks last week. We usually don’t repeat snacks for divisional games and the jerky schedule put the Browns in town just ten days since the Steelers last saw them. KGB went with a Mortadella Sandwich and left over brick oven white pizza with meatballs.

My stat of the week:  Two weeks ago, I used ZERO as the stat, the number of times Mike Tomlin has won a Thursday division road game. Today we also use Zero as in the number of times the Steelers have lost to the Browns in Pittsburgh during the regular season on Coach Tomlin. Steelers have dominated since Tomlin took over as coach at home. The Browns got a bunch of “help” Thursday. The Steelers weren’t going to leave this one in doubt.

My thoughts on next week: “The Battle of Pennsylvania” as the Steelers head to their interstate rivals in Philadelphia. Most important thing here is to make sure no one gets injured, and this could put the NFL on notice that the Steelers success is not a fluke. Consider the Eagles manhandled the Eagles.

Jersey of the Week:  L.C. Greenwood, #68 1933 Throwback Jersey, L.C. deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Steelers outdueled the Bengals 44-38.

It was an old-fashioned shootout with one of the best Quarterbacks in the NFL getting outdueled by a legendary gun slinger! The Steelers beat Joe Burrow and the Bengals, 44-38 behind the herculean effort of Russell Wilson.

With his 36^th birthday not far in the rearview mirror, Russell Wilson put on a vintage performance from his glory days as a Super Bowl Champ. He absolutely torched the Bengals secondary and put-up monster numbers. Wilson finished with 414 yards, three touchdowns and one non-sensical interception, that the refs completely missed pass interference on. It was the most yards by a Steelers quarterback in four years and the most points since 2018.

Speaking of vintage performances, Cam Heyward had his best game of the season as well, which is saying something. Heyward dominated up front and set the point of attack. He had five tackles, one of which leveled Chase Brown, he sacked Burrow and deflected a pass that was picked off by Donte Jackson. The Bengals had one drive where they did the majority of their running after that it was all over for the running game.

T.J. Watt broke his “dry-spell” he had two sacks and three tackles all for a loss. He added a strip sack that changed the momentum of the game. He was held all game and battled through. Nick Herbig had a strip sack in the fourth quarter and dominated Orlando Brown Jr., the refs again missed several penalties on Brown Jr. who should have been flagged for several false starts, CBS even highlighted the missed calls especially on one of the Bengals scoring drives.

Patrick Queen had a very good game, except for one series, he finished with nine tackles. DeShon Elliot led the team with 11 tackles. Joey Porter Jr. had a touch day and was flagged four times.

The offense had all the answers on Sunday. Wilson’s dominant performance was powered by spreading the ball around. Antonio Brown Jr…. sorry must have been an AI typo, George Pickens had a monster game and continues to do silly and immature things. He dropped a ball on a Bengals player after a first down that cost the Steelers 15 yards and he pretended to shoot off a gun, another 15-yard penalty after another first down that put the Steelers inside the red zone. He was lucky he didn’t get sent out of the game. Pickens finished with three catches and 74 yards with a touchdown. Pat Freiermuth added touchdown and Arthur Smith is starting to find ways to get him more involved in the game. Calvin Austin III torched the Bengals secondary and unfortunately left the game with concussion like symptoms, that was also missed by the refs. How about Ben Skowronek and Darnell Washington making plays and absolutely pushing the Bengals all over the field.

Najee Harris had solid workmanlike performance, rushing for 75 tough yards, and grabbing six catches for 54 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers finished the day with 110 yards including the game clinching seven yard run by Justin Fields.

The special teams’ coverages were lousy again, but the kicking game was solid as always. Chris Boswell had a field goal blocked but hit his three other chances and Corliss Waitman did an excellent job on his only punt opportunity, he pinned the Bengals on the 11.

The refs were horrible and inconsistent all game.

The coaching staff had the right game plan to beat the Bengals and it showed.

BEER WE GO, STEELERS BEER WE GO.

My “GAME BEER” goes to: This is a hard one to pick, going with Russell Wilson who threw for 414 yards and three touchdowns. Also Considered: Nick Herbig for another strip sack, Donte Jackson for the big interception. Cam Heyward who was absolutely a monster all game! His stats do not show it, but Ben Skowronek is going to become a Steelers fan favorite with his physical play.

Beer of the Game: Tried Yuengling Flight, very good beer and low in calories. KGB went with Harpoon Holiday Ale, a very full-bodied winter beer.

“Steel the Snacks”: KGB crushed this one. We went with Skyline Chili a Cincinnati staple over spaghetti. Putting Chili on spaghetti is sacrilegious to me but we went with. It was outstanding and of course the snacks worked their magic.

My stat of the week:  There are so many to choose from but one I think is important, last week I hit on Mike Tomlin’s lack of success on Thursday night road divisional games. Let us look at one of Coach Tomlin’s biggest triumphs, he has lost back-to-back road divisional games exactly one time in his entire illustrious career. Let that synch in for a minute. Also considered, the Steelers score 44 points, the most points since 2018! How about zero as in the amount of plays Trey Hendrickson the NFL sack leader made, where he was nearly “stoned” by Dan Moore, recording exactly one tackle. Lastly the Steelers-Bengals scored the most points combined this season in any NFL game. AFC North teams doing that has to surprise everyone. How about Russell Wilson hitting TEN different receivers?

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers will have their fourth straight divisional game, this week the Browns come to Pittsburgh. This is a revenge game, and the Steelers need to finish the Browns off this time after letting them off the hook just about two weeks ago.

Jersey of the Week:  Rod Woodson, #26 Home Black, this one has a very special meaning to me. My first Steelers jersey was my Dad’s Terry Bradshaw jersey. Rod was the first Steelers jersey I bought myself. (BTW this began the jersey curse) The pandemic ended our Turkey Bowl for good in 2020, this was always my turkey bowl jersey from 1995-2019.

The Steelers came back then blew the game.

The Steelers kept it close and took the lead in the fourth quarter and then forced Jameis Winston to turn it over with less than five minutes remaining. This played into the Steelers usual plan for success. It wasn’t to be, a leaky defense, crazy weather and suspect play calling kept the Steelers from tightening their grip on first place in the AFC North and gave the Browns the 24-19 win.

It was a strange game in none of the units played poorly, but all the units made key mistakes and errors that would eventually cost the Steelers the game.

The Steelers defense had a strong start to the game, forcing several three-and-outs and keeping the Browns offense in check. However, they struggled to contain the Browns late in the game, allowing them to score the game-winning touchdown with 57 seconds remaining.

The defense allowed the Browns to go four for four on fourth down conversions. T.J. Watt was handled effectively and shutout in sacks. The defensive line was tough, but shrunk on the weighty downs. Despite holding the Browns to under 100 yards on the ground they had no push up front. The defense finished with just one sack by Nick Herbig.

The Steelers’ offense struggled in yesterday’s snowy game against the Browns. Despite some explosive plays, including a 46-yard completion to Calvin Austin III, they were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. Penalties, including a false start on a potential field goal attempt, hindered their progress.

Overall, the offense lacked consistency and struggled to sustain drives in the challenging weather conditions. While Russell Wilson had some solid moments, the team’s inability to finish drives proved costly. Wilson finished with 21-28 for 270 yards and a touchdown. The Justin Fields experiment was exciting but had mixed results. He finished 0-1 passing and the miss was costly. Fields missed a long pass play to George Pickens and the Steelers were forced to punt. Fields rushed for 26 yards on the ground.

The special teams had a rough night in their loss to the Browns. If last week was Corliss Waitman’s best game as a Steeler, last night was his worst. A short punt by Waitman set the Browns up in Steelers territory, setting up the game-winning drive. Chris Boswell missed his first field goal attempt a 58-yard in the snow. He hit his next two attempts including a 48-yarder.

The play calling was suspect yesterday on offense and it cost the Steelers, going 1-3 on fourth downs hurt.

The Steelers will have a little over a week to recover and make this look like a blip on the radar.

BEER WE GO, STEELERS BEER WE GO.

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Calvin Austin III, who led the team in receiving and scored a go-ahead touchdown that didn’t stick. Also Considered: Nick Herbig for his big play strip sack.

Beer of the Game: I went with Smithwicks 16-ounce pounders, one of my favorite beers. KGB stayed with wine which she had with dinner, and we had our oldest guy over for the game.

“Steel the Snacks”: KGB made mini corned beef sandwiches on marble rye with pierogies and hot mustard a Cleveland staple. They came in handy, and the Steelers dominated the third quarter.

My stat of the week:  .000 winning percentage Mike Tomlin’s winning percentage for Thursday AFC North away games. It is an alarming statistic. The Steelers have struggled in these games, the schedule makers did them no favors by having a Thursday away game after a battle against the Ravens. After years of dominance the Steelers have now lost five of six games at Huntington Bank Field.

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers will have just over a week to prepare for the Bengals, who play well enough to lose every week. This is a must win otherwise the press and fans will start to believe this season was a fluke to start.

Jersey of the Week:  Ernie Stautner, #70 Home Black, the godfather of Steeler toughness and the first Steeler to have his number retired.

The Steelers held off the Baltimore Ravens to win 18-16 and take sole possession of 1st place.

When you talk NFL rivalries, the Steelers v. Ravens is always in the conversation. It is defined by hard hitting and timely defense and Sunday’s game held up that standard. The Steelers won the turnover battle and kept the Ravens offensive fire power in check to earn a hard fought 18-16 victory in Pittsburgh on Sunday.

The Steelers front seven led the defensive efforts. They were exceptional in limiting Derrick Henry, the number two leading rusher. Henry was held to just 65 yards on 13 carries. Larry Ogunjobi recorded five tackles, contributing to the overall defensive effort. Cam Heyward chipped in four tackles and two pass breakups, demonstrating his durability and impact on the game. It was a very good day for Dean Lowry who had his first sack of the season.

The linebackers had a dominant performance, creating three turnovers that sunk the Ravens. Nick Herbig, Patrick Queen, and Payton Wilson were the standout performers, each contributing to the team’s success with their impactful plays.

Herbig, forced a fumble from Derrick Henry on the first drive of the game, marking Henry’s first fumble in 538 touches. Queen, who was playing with a chip on his shoulder had a game changing strip of Isaiah Likely late in the first half, leading to a Steelers field goal and a 9-7 halftime lead. Wilson, made a crucial interception with 8:14 remaining in the game, thwarting the Ravens’ potential game-winning drive. T.J. Watt also played a significant role, adding a sack and three tackles to the Steelers’ defensive effort.

The Steelers’ secondary severely limited the Baltimore passing game, with Minkah Fitzpatrick leading the way with seven tackles and DeShon Elliott recovering a fumble.

Joey Porter Jr.’s pressure on Lamar Jackson during the crucial two-point conversion attempt proved to be a game-changing play, preventing the Ravens from tying the game and sending it into overtime. His strong defensive performance, including two passes defended and he did not allow a catch.

The defense effectively limited Lamar Jackson and the high-powered Ravens offense, holding them to just 207 passing yards and a low quarterback rating.

What else can you say about Chris Boswell, who was the difference in the game. Boswell accounted for all the Steelers points, kicking six field goals on the day. The second time he has done that this season. Three of the six were 50-plus yards. He’s now 29 for 30 on the season, with his lone miss coming from 62 yards.

Najee Harris ground out 63 yards bruising yards on 18 carries, the most important yard coming on 3rd-and-1 with 54 seconds left to ice the game. Jaylen Warren chipped in 41 yards on nine carries. Justin Fields came in and ran twice for 17 yards, with a gaffe of missing the first down mark that would have ended the game.

Russell Wilson battled and finished the game with 23-36 for 205 yards passing with no touchdowns. It was an uneven performance, but it was good enough to get the job done. George Pickens led the team in yards 89 and catches 8. Darnell Washington is starting to be a threat in the passing game, he contributed with 42 yards.

The coaches had a good game plan and executed it, leaving the Steelers atop the AFC North. It is a short turnaround as the Steelers head to Cleveland on Thursday night.

BEER WE GO, STEELERS BEER WE GO.

My “GAME BEER” goes to: A lot of people for consideration, but going with the difference maker in the game, that is “Little Bos” Chris Boswell, who accounted for all the Steelers points. Also Considered: Payton Wilson for a KEY interception, Patrick Queen, who is getting better every week and was able to stuff his old team, forcing a key fumble. The defensive line as a unit. Joey Porter Jr. who didn’t give up a catch and decked Lamar Jackson on the two-point conversion.

Beer of the Game: I went with Modello, advertising played a role as I was originally planning on going with Smithwicks, but the commercial inspired me and yes we had the beer on hand! KGB stayed with Flannel Fest from Sam Adams and finished the game with Yuengling Lager, both had a sugar rim.

“Steel the Snacks”: KGB went with Maryland style crab cakes and homemade chipotle mayo and honey mustard. What else would you choose? It was a dominant performance for the snacks as the game changed when they came out.

My Stat of the week:  So many to choose from but must go with the obvious one, the Ravens came in averaging 32 points a game. They scored 16 points on the day, that is a mine blowing stat. The national media felt like this was the week the Steelers would finally get exposed, it clearly didn’t happen. Consider the Steelers have won eight of the last nine vs. the Ravens, even if you do not count the pandemic year, which I wouldn’t, it has been a great run in the rivalry. All the games are competitive.

My Thoughts on next week: As in THIS week, like Thursday night. The Browns would love to knock off the Steelers and playing a short week after playing the Ravens is a pretty rough way for the schedule makers to jam up the Steelers. Records aside this is a grudge match.

Jersey of the Week:  T.J. Watt, #90 Home Black, was trying to help T.J. bust out after a “slump”.

The Steelers made key mistakes, blew a lead then fell behind by two scores and still found a way to comeback and pull out the victory edging Washington 28-27.

People questioned the move to Russell Wilson, but it is becoming clear why he is playing. After a sluggish start, Russell Wilson turned the tide with a dramatic 32-yard TD pass to Mike Williams, capping a late-game comeback. Despite early struggles and several miscues, Wilson’s clutch playmaking and red-zone efficiency ultimately secured the win. His stat line was his worst of the season, he finished the game 14-28 with a 195-yards, three touchdowns and an interception. His biggest play of the day though, might be drawing Washington offsides on the last play to seal the game.

Jaylen Warren led the Steelers’ rushing attack with 66 yards, but a questionable fumble near the goal line threatened to cost them the game. Najee Harris, 100-yard game streak, struggled to find his rhythm. He did manage a 53-yard TD run to bring the Steelers within three points. Cordarrelle Patterson returned to action after an injury, contributing 14 yards on three carries.

Mike Williams made his one play count, with a game winning touchdown, less than a week after being acquired. He came in after Calvin Austin III was injured. George Pickens contributed with five catches and 91 yards, including an outstanding touchdown catch.

Cam Heyward stepped up with two big sacks. The defensive line, which struggled against the Giants, limited the Commanders to just 60 rushing yards and held super rookie Jayden Daniels in check all-day. Keeanu Benton made a crucial tackle for loss on a late quarterback run, and Larry Ogunjobi contributed with three tackles and a holding penalty drawn. T.J. Watt had a quiet day on the stat sheet, but he should have been credited with a safety after he was held in the endzone. Watt had two quarterback hits and Alex Highsmith had one on the play when he injured his ankle. Preston Smith, in his first game with the Steelers, had three tackles and a very big sack.

James Pierre dropped a huge special teams pass early in the game and was pressed into service on defense after Donta Jackson went down with an injury. He was continually targeted late in the game. He came up with a big pass breakup on Washington’s final drive. Damontae Kazee made the biggest tackle of the day stopping Zach Ertz short on fourth down.

The coaching staff had several questionable calls, but at the end of the day, the game plan was solid if not executed well. They clearly wanted to limit the Commanders running game and did that. The special teams splash play would have been legendary if Pierre executed. As Coach Tomlin often says, there is a fine line between making wine and squashing grapes. They almost were squashing grapes, but in the end made the plays they needed to win the game.

BEER WE GO, STEELERS BEER WE GO.

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Cam “Steelhead” Heyward, our leader and one of the greatest Steelers of all time. He chipped in two sacks and led the stifling of the Washington ground game. He also led the charge slowing down Jayden Daniels who was largely ineffective. Also Considered: Mike Williams for his first catch with the Steelers, a touchdown. George Pickens who had five catches and a touchdown.

Beer of the Game: This is tricky, so I started with Harp, one of my favorite beers and then switched back to Miller Lite when the Steelers were trailing by two scores. KGB went with Sam Adams Flannel Fest, she garnished with the cinnamon and the sugar rim.

“Steel the Snacks”: KGB went with Washington Apple, Grilled cheese sandwiches. Turkey, Cheddar and Apple with honey mustard and Muenster Apple and honey mustard.

My Stat of the week:  Cam Heyward playing 203^rd game, that is the most in Pittsburgh Steelers franchise history for a defensive player. He has been the very definition of a Steeler! Also Considered: The Steelers gave up 10 points in the third quarter, that is the first point allowed in the third quarter all season.

My Thoughts on next week: Raven’s Week! Clash of the titans as the Steelers battle the Ravens in Pittsburgh. Look for a physical bloodbath next week. As Coach Tomlin says, “Mr. Jackson is coming to town.”

Jersey of the Week:  Franco Harris, #32 Salute to Service, in honor of Veterans Day weekend. I also wore my Franco’s Italian Army long sleeve shirt.

The Pittsburgh Steelers continued their dominance at home on Monday Night Football, clinching their 22nd consecutive victory under the Monday night lights. Fueled by Calvin Austin III’s impressive playmaking, the Steelers sealed the deal with a late defensive surge. T.J. Watt forced a crucial fumble on Daniel Jones, and rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop intercepted Jones’s final pass to secure the win.

The Steelers held off the Giants who would not go away. The night was filled with frustration as penalties, turnovers, and overturned touchdowns derailed promising drives for both teams. For once, it was the Steelers offense and YES special teams that were able to carry the day and win the game.

The Special Teams had one of their best nights in recent history. Chris Boswell again was perfect as we have come to expect, he went 4 for 4 nailing all his chances, with the longest being a chip shot 31 yarder. Corliss Waitman had a very good day, hitting a field flipping punt and pinning the Giants inside the 20 on two of three shots. The highlight of the day was of course Calvin Austin with the first punt return for a touchdown since 2019. He ran back a 73-yard return for a touchdown. It was a big play for him, and it gave the Steelers the lead permanently. It was a near perfect night for Danny Smith and the special teams…except the coverage units but hey let’s move on.

The offense had its’ biggest output, amassing 426 yards, over 160 on the ground and over 250 in the air. Najee Harris was absolutely running the Giants over. He was hitting chunk play after chunk play and finished with 114 yards on the ground, Jaylen Warren ran for 46.

Russell Wilson continued his renaissance, finishing with 259 yards and a touchdown. Two touchdowns were called back, one on a penalty and one on a strange play by George Pickens who caught the ball in bounds but only touched one foot down, TWICE. It was a lack of concentration and the Steelers had to settle for the field goal. While the numbers don’t show it, Wilson made the plays he needed and third and long no longer looks impossible to reach.

The defense had a tough day up front. The Giants were able to run all over the Steelers, they finished with 157 yards on the ground and Tyrone Tracy Jr. gobbled up yard after yard. It was a quiet night for the defensive line and a tough night for the inside linebackers.

The secondary played well for the most part and Beanie Bishop had his third interception to seal the win. Whatever struggles the defense had, T.J. Watt came to the rescue. Jobber offensive tackle Jermain Eluemunor, called out T.J. Watt before the game and he did hang in there for a little while, but in the end T.J rose to the top, scoring a strip sack as Daniel Jones was attempting to tie the game, he finished with two sacks and a forced fumble. Alex Highsmith was in the backfield on nearly every play also registering two sacks.

The Steelers now sit atop the division at 6-2 and head into a much-needed bye week.

BEER WE GO, STEELERS BEER WE GO.

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Calvin Austin III, with the punt return that gave the Steelers the lead and the 29-yard touchdown catch that helped seal the victory. Also Considered: T.J. Watt whose strip sack put the Giants on their heels and of course Najee Harris who was pummeling the Giants.

Beer of the Game: Switched to Corona Light this week, KGB made Hot Toddy’s with Jameson whiskey for the fourth quarter.

“Steel the Snacks”: New York is our hometown; we went with Meatball Sliders and of course Italian Heroes. I actually combined the two at one point which was frowned upon by my wife.

My Stat of the week:  Have to go with 22^nd straight victory at home on Monday Night Football. The Steelers did not play their best game on defense but for the sixth time in eight games held their opponents under 20 points.

My Thoughts on next week: The Steelers head into their much-needed bye week, where they can work on some things and get healthy.

Jersey of the Week:  No Jersey this week, because I worked on Monday!

The Steelers started slow, then hit the gas and dominated the New York Jets 37-15. Mike Tomlin opted to start Russell Wilson over Justin Fields, who had just led the Steelers to a decisive victory. It sent the entire world especially Steelers Nation into a frenzy. However, for at least one game, the decision proved to be a masterstroke. Wilson’s efficient passing added a new dimension to the offense, and the team’s 37 points were their highest output since 2021. Meanwhile, the defense, under Tomlin and Teryl Austin, continued their dominant form, holding the Jets to just 15 points for the fifth time in seven games.

Wilson demonstrated his deep-ball prowess with a 44-yard completion to George Pickens and drew a crucial pass interference penalty on Sauce Gardner, setting up a touchdown pass to Pickens. Another key play came in the fourth quarter when Wilson connected with Van Jefferson for a 4-yard touchdown on third-and-goal. Overall, he completed 16 of 29 passes for 264 yards and a quarterback rating of 109.0, a solid performance in his first start in nearly a year. It was a master performance for a guy coming in, in a tough situation. 

BLOG WILL BE DELAYED due to travel

BEER WE GO, STEELERS BEER WE GO.

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Russell Wilson, he had a huge shadow over him after Justin Fields’ great start. He started slowly but showed what he could do when given the opportunity. Also Considered: The offensive line, who did a tremendous job in protection and run blocking. Najee Harris banged out 100 yards.

Beer of the Game: I had Miller Lite again, running with the hot hand.

“Steel the Snacks”: We had sandwiches and jalapeno poppers at an outstanding place called Hibernia Bar, located in Hell’s Kitchen, New York.

My Stat of the week:  Russ Wilson threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns against the Jets, also rushing for a score. His 264 yards were the most by a Pittsburgh quarterback in their first game. He also had a sandwich named after him at Primanti Brothers this week.

My Thoughts on next week: The Steelers will be on primetime again battling the other New York team, the Giants. The Giants and Steelers have so many connections and ties to each other. Always love this matchup and can’t wait for Monday Night Football.

Jersey of the Week:  Mike Webster, #52 Home Black, used to always kick off the season with this one. One of my favorite players of all-time.

The Steelers got back on track with a big win against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Pittsburgh Steelers dominated  in Week 6, securing a decisive 32-13 victory at Allegiant Stadium. The team got back on track and kept pace in the AFC North, after suffering back-to-back losses to the Colts and Cowboys.

After a dominant opening drive by the Raiders, the defense righted the ship and pummeled the Raiders up front. They shut down the Raiders offense and kept them in check all day, continuing to win the turnover battle. The defensive line generated a relentless pass rush, disrupting the Raiders’ quarterback Aidan O’Connell and creating opportunities for sacks and interceptions.

T.J. Watt had a dominant performance. He forced two fumbles including one on the goal line that all but eliminated a Raiders comeback. The stat sheet does not jump out at you, but he was a professional game wrecker. Cam Heyward recorded the only sack. He pushed the pile backwards all day and clogged the running lanes, contributing to the Steelers’ dominant defensive effort. Heyward helped limit the Raiders to just 57 yards on the ground. Patrick Queen led the team in tackles and was dominant in the middle.

Donte Jackson had his second red zone interception in two weeks. Aidan O’Connell finished with only 218 yards net. What was most impressive was the tackling though. The secondary had several solo tackles that slowed the Raiders screen game down.

After the Raiders opening drive, the Steelers controlled the tempo, establishing a powerful running game led by Najee Harris. Harris amassed 106 yards and a touchdown, consistently breaking tackles, and grinding down the Raiders. He had one run where he was hit by no less than NINE of the Raiders defenders. His 36-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was a highlight, showcasing his physicality and explosiveness.

Quarterback Justin Fields, continues to struggle with accuracy but he was a huge part of the Steelers’ offensive success, rushing for two touchdowns and efficiently managing the game. The stat sheet was far from impressive, he finished 14-24 for only 145 yards, but his ability to extend plays and make timely throws kept the Raiders defense off balance.

The receivers continue to be a work in progress. Enigmatic George Pickens led the team with three catches but had two crucial drops. Calvin Austin impresses when he gets the opportunity. The tight end group needs to get more involved. They combined for only four catches and 29 yards.

The Steelers’ special teams also played a key role in their victory. Chris Boswell continues to nail big field goals, hitting four on the day. Jeremiah Moon who is seeing significant action with the injuries to Herbig and Highsmith, made his biggest splash on special teams, blocking an A.J. Cole punt and setting the Steelers up for a Bos field goal.  Corliss Waitman did a nice job and dropped two of his three punts inside the 20.

The officiating crew had a tough day again, including botching an end of quarter clock issue and being way to involved in the game. Both fan bases will be unhappy at the performance.

The coaching staff deserves a great deal of credit. They made several adjustments from last week and while it was still not a great start, it was a better start for the offense. They established the run early and wore the Raiders out up front. They made the necessary adjustments on defense, which set the offense up for success, scoring the most points of the season.

The Steelers’ victory was a solid performance that showcased their strengths on all sides of the ball. It also served as a confidence booster for a team that had faced adversity in recent weeks.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Going with Najee Harris, I would say that was his best game as a Steelers RB. It might not be his best statistical game, but he absolutely set the tone and looked like the lynchpin of the offense. Also Considered: T.J. Watt with two forced fumbles, Donte Jackson with his second interception in two weeks. Cam Heyward with a monster sack. How about Little Bos?

Beer of the Game: Kicked it off with Sam Adams Octoberfest for my pregame then went back to Miller Lite Tall Boys for the actual game.

“Steel the Snacks”: So KGB went with the Asian Buffet theme that is so prevalent in Las Vegas. Dumplings and Cream Cheese Wontons were outstanding! We started the snacks early, because D-Man was home for the weekend and was starving.

My Stat of the week:  Don’t want this to come across as negative, it is meant as a positive stat albeit a frustrating one. Chris Boswell with his big day has 50 points the rest of the Steelers Combined: 48. Najee Harris had his first rushing touchdown of the year…it is week 6! Cam Hewyard played in his 200th game as a Pittsburgh Steeler!

My Thoughts on next week: Steelers will face the first of the two New York teams, The Jets with their ridiculous coaching situation and with Super Bowl villain Aaron Rodgers at the helm.

Jersey of the Week:  Heath Miller #83, Black Out Jersey. I absolutely love this jersey, it is one of my favorites!

The Steelers formula didn’t pan out this time, as they dropped a tough lost to the Dallas Cowboys 20-17.

The formula for Steelers victory in 2024 is a familiar one, do not make mistakes on offense, score what you need, then play stifling defense to hold off your opponent. Sunday, the formula was almost complete, until about 20 seconds left in the game, when the Steelers defense couldn’t keep the Dallas Cowboys out of the end zone.

It was a strange game marred by a one hour plus weather delay. The Steelers had several missed opportunities and in the end it sent them to 3-2. Three turnovers and a blocked field goal…and still lost.

The calls for Russell Wilson will be loud this week. Justin Fields had a good game, but made several key mistakes that cost the Steelers, he missed wide open targets and continued his trend with slow starts. He missed a wide-open Connor Heyward on a perfectly designed play action pass, he also misfired to Darnell “Mt.” Washington’s head by the end zone. He missed a wide-open George Pickens on a crucial third down. He finished 15-27 for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

Najee Harris, started strong, then the Cowboys keyed in on him and shut the running game down. Fields designed run plays worked out well. George Pickens was only a factor in the penalty column.

The defense was okay but began to wear down during the stretch. It was no secret that the pass rush, already operating without Alex Highsmith, was all but extinct by the fourth quarter when Nick Herbig left with what looked like a hamstring injury and DeMarvin Leal left with a stinger after being cheap shotted.

The secondary is going to get roasted again this week, because despite some quality plays. They did have two interceptions including a red zone pick off by Donte Jackson. But they bent to often and gave up four completions of 25 yards or more. They couldn’t find one more big play to seal the victory.

The special teams were emblematic of the entire game. Several exciting plays, but so many crucial mistakes. Isaiahh Lowdermilk, had a blocked field goal. Chris Boswell and Corlis Waitman did well in the kicking. But the return game is nonexistent and the coverage units were embarrassing, including a 38 yard return to start the game.

Coaching was problematic. How many more weeks can you start off so slow. The fact that once again the Steelers mangled the fourth quarter clock is tough to swallow. Imagine if they had the last timeout that they burned setting their defense for Dallas’s fourth down try? The timeout killed any chance of a comeback and let Dallas make a fresh substitution on offense.

If football is a game of inches, the Steelers missing so many key inches has left them 3-2.

BEER WE GO, STEELERS BEER WE GO.

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Going with Cam Heyward, he had a very big game and at times he seemed like he was out there all alone. Also Considered: Elandon Roberts who almost saved the game, T.J. Watt who got the 100^th sack of his career, before he was hurt Nick Herbig was having a big game.

Beer of the Game: We were at Acrisure stadium, so we had a combination of Miller Lite and IC Lite. Both staples of my Pittsburgh Game Day. KGB had a Sam Adams that some jag knocked over in his 20 trips to the bathroom.

“Steel the Snacks”: This week should be titled “Steel Snacks”, we had Suneri Atomic Rolls at the Terrible Bra Tailgate. A Pittsburgh Must! Got to catch up with all our peops, including the BWG Founders!

My Stat of the week:  Obviously 100 Sacks for T.J. he was the second fastest to get there behind only Reggie White. He gets double teamed and held on almost every series. I am now 1-2 vs The Cowboys all-time. This is my second straight last second loss to the ‘Boys. UGGGH

My Thoughts on next week: Steelers will head to Las Vegas for a game against the rival Raiders. There is so much tradition between these two. It will seem like a Steelers home game!

Jersey of the Week:  My gamer, “Mean” Joe Greene, Home #75, this is my go to jersey for games, in my entire “career” of seeing the Steelers, I have only worn two others, Hines Ward and an L.C. Greenwood (Throwback) the weekend he passed.