Beer We Go Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers limped out of that game looking less like contenders and more like… well, a team in desperate need of some consistency. This week it was the offense who absolutely tanked the game and put the Steelers in a massive hole.

Arthur Smith needs to pull something out of his hat, and he needs to do it fast as the lead on the division and the season itself, seems like it is slipping away. This offense is falling apart, plain and simple. The team didn’t convert a single third down until the fourth quarter. They had two prime early possessions starting at the Charger’s 40 and then in their territory—and only managed three points from a monster 59-yard Boswell field goal. Three-and-outs when you have a kicker like Bos and the field position are unacceptable.

Jaylen Warren put together a solid overall performance with 5.0 yards per carry and 70 yards on the day. The Steelers needed to run game to grind early, and it just wasn’t there. Backup Kaleb Johnson has been a disappointment, he chipped in a paltry two carries for three yards and Kenneth Gainwell, two catches for four yards, offered almost nothing in relief of Warren.

Aaron Rodgers had his worst game of the season and one of the most forgettable games of his illustrious career. The safety in the first quarter was awful and while the protection wasn’t great, he had to have better situational awareness, holding on too long. He tossed an interception right before halftime that was an absolute backbreaker, setting up the Chargers’ for a 12-3 lead and the Steelers never recovered. He finished 16 of 31 for 161 yards and two picks, with the touchdown coming when the game was effectively over. Rodgers has not passed for over 219 passing yards in any of the last three games.

Broderick Jones gave up two sacks, and Troy Fautanu allowed his first sack of the year on the first-quarter safety. The line provided running room, but the pass protection was leaky at best and downright awful at certain points in the game. Rodgers was under duress for most of the game.

The offense needs to figure out a better way to use DK Metcalf. He is effectively being double covered in every game and Rodgers is forced to try and squeeze the ball in throwing these ill-advised fade routes. He is a dynamic playmaker and is being wasted.

Who is stepping up to make plays? With DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson leading the team with a measly 35 receiving yards each, the passing game has regressed. Calvin Austin III had a costly drop that caused Rodgers’ second interception. Jonu Smith had a questionable drop that effectively ended a scoring drive. The tight ends were non-factor in the game, roping in five catches for 52 yards. Pat Freiermuth had 33 of those yards.

Don’t be surprised to see Marquez Valdes-Scantling called up from the practice squad soon; this passing game needs something.

The defense is still a work in progress. They did a good job building off last week’s performance and had an effective outing. However, once again a team found a weakness and the failure to adjust was devastating. Ladd McConkey, lit them up for 107 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Brandin Echols struggled with McConkey, getting burned on the TD and a 58-yard gain. Joey Porter Jr. missed an interception in the first half. Injuries are mounting, but the guys on the field aren’t making the critical plays needed.

After shutting down Jonathan Taylor last week, the defense made the third-string Kimani Vidal look like an elite back, allowing 95 yards on 25 carries. It’s feast or famine against the run.

The pressure from the front seven was solid all game on Justin Herbert, who only managed 220 yards. The D-Line saw production from Keeanu Benton one sack and a busy Cam Heyward, six tackles, pass blocked. Alex Highsmith registered two sacks and T.J. Watt had one sack. Nick Herbig had three tackles and a big sack that looked like it might get the Steelers back in the game. Patrick Queen led the team in tackles with 12 and Malik Harrison has done well filling in on the run defense.

After a big week last week, the special teams had a horrible night. Chris Boswell drilled a 59-yarder but missed 45-yarder in the second quarter that would prove very costly. Returner Ke’Shawn Williams muffed a punt that gifted the Chargers more points and seemed off all-night. Kenneth Gainwell had a nice return. Corliss Waitman put together a workmanlike night, he finished with four punts for 183 yards and dropped two inside the 20.

The coaching staff is going to get crushed this week again in the media world, after laying another egg on prime-time football two out of the last three weeks. Overall, there’s a serious lack of consistency and too many drive-killing errors across the board.

The division lead is slipping away and this team looks like it is on the verge of collapse for a second straight season.

Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Considered passing on this but there were Steelers who performed, we are going with Nick Herbig who made a big play. Also Considered: Cam Heyward for a very solid performance. Alex Highsmith with two sacks.

Beer of the Game: This was a hodgepodge much like the Steelers performance, we started with Yuengling Lager and then had to go to Shiner Bock because the bar ran out of it, I finished with Miller Lite hoping to spur a comeback.

“Steel the Snacks”: It was “Steel Snacks” this week, as we watched the game at “The Snuggery” in Palm Beach Gardens. We went with friends and there was great Steelers crowd. It was a true Steelers bar. We had wings, tater tots, hand cut fries and onion rings.

My stat of the week: The Steelers converted their first third down in the fourth quarter. That is just an indicative statistic that summed up the whole night. Too many mistakes, and too inconsistent to beat a team as good as the Chargers.

My thoughts on next week: Revenge of repeat? The Steelers will once again battle the Bengals after they let the game slip away on Thursday night football. Look for a much faster start on offense.

Jersey of the Week: NONE this week, we were traveling and I went with just the Beer We Go Shirt. I also broke out the picture Terrible Towel and brought it to the bar. This is not my actual game towel.

On alumni weekend, The Pittsburgh Steelers finally tuned out the noise and dialed the calendar back to their defensive identity. On Sunday, they harassed Daniel Jones and the AFC-leading Colts into a staggering six turnovers, securing a gritty 27-20 victory.

After a week of being absolutely torched by the press and the fans, the Steelers coaches made the adjustments needed. Perhaps the injuries in the secondary forced their hand, but the simplified game plan was executed to perfection against the NFL’s No. 1 scoring unit.

Maybe it was the inspiration of seeing the 20^th anniversary of the Super Bowl XL team, because it was a return to the familiar, mistake free offense and crushing defense of years past. The Steelers’ victory was fueled by the relentless, suffocating pressure applied by the defense. It was a masterclass in disruption, starting up front and extending all the way to the secondary.

The defense completely neutralized Jonathan Taylor, the league’s leading rusher, holding him to a season-low 45 yards on 14 carries. They forced the Colts into a one-dimensional attack, and Daniel Jones wilted under the heavy pressure, looking more like the quarterback who was run out of New York than the one reinvented in Indianapolis. He dropped back 55 times, throwing three interceptions after being under duress constantly.

The interior presence was anchored by Keeanu Benton, who was consistently in the backfield, racking up five tackles and logging a crucial sack. Right beside him, the veteran Cam Heyward didn’t just tackle (four stops), he actively altered passing lanes, batting down two passes at the line of scrimmage and recovering a pivotal fumble to further fuel the turnover machine.

But the real havoc erupted from the second level and the edge. Payton Wilson played his best as a Steeler. He was leading the charge with a game-high 13 tackles, picking off a pass, and forcing another incompletion with a crucial pass breakup that resulted in a turnover.

Meanwhile, the edge rushers finally reappeared. Alex Highsmith was relentless, finishing with two sacks, one of which was a momentum-shifting strip-sack in the fourth quarter. After the Colts drove down the field on the first drive, they were again on the move. T.J. Watt had the biggest play of the day, causing the first turnover of the game, it was timely, and the team needed it, he recovered his forced fumble.

Even with the veteran safeties out, the cornerbacks stepped up. With his father being celebrated earlier in the day, Joey Porter Jr. delivered a defining performance: he notched a sack and snagged an interception, finishing with four passes defended overall while adding seven tackles.

What can you say about Jalen Ramsey who played free safety for the entire game and had four tackles, and Kyle Dugger, acquired in a trade on Tuesday, started at strong safety and had four tackles. Both played very well. Give Dugger credit, he “jumped on a moving train” as Mike Tomlin put it and he delivered. Every unit contributed to the turnover count that ultimately decided the game.

The offense was opportunistic—scoring 24 points off six turnovers. With six turnovers, the Steelers should have blown the Colt’s out. The Colts battled, scoring ten points in the fourth quarter but the game was pretty much in hand at that point.

The play calling was just off all day and left the Steelers more vulnerable than they needed to be.

The only good news from the last two weeks seemed to fade away. The recent improvement in the running game stalled abruptly. The Colts controlled the line, holding Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell to a combined 1.7 yards per carry. Warren managed two short touchdowns, but that was the extent of the ground highlights. The tight ends had a great day in the passing game. Washington, Freiermuth, and Smith accounted for 95 of the team’s 203 receiving yards. Give credit to Connor Heyward who ran the “tush push” effectively. Calvin Austin III had a solid game, leading the team in receiving yards with 56.

Aaron Rodgers, while not sharp, played another mistake-free game, demonstrating his elite ball security (now 16 TDs to just 5 INTs). However, his frustration with the offense was palpable. He finished with 203 yards and a touchdown pass.

The offensive line must be significantly better against the Chargers next week if this team has any real aspirations on the road. They had a tough day giving up three sacks and never opened the holes needed to get the running game going.

Special teams had a good week after what looked to be a disastrous fake punt that helped the Colt’s keep their drive alive. Corliss Waitman averaged over 50 yards per punt, including a 67-yarder and a crucial 56-yarder that was muffed for the first turnover. Soon as the Steelers hit the middle of the field logo, you start to think they are in Chris Boswell’s range. He blasted both of his two attempts with the longest being 46 yards, moving to 16 for 18 this season. Ke’Shawn Williams continues to be solid as the return man he averaged 11 yards per return. Danny Smith has become a television folk hero; engineering a penalty that buried the Colt’s deep in their territory. They also scored a turnover on a muffed punt.

In the end the Steelers hopefully have begun to rewrite the script for the 2025 season.

Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Payton Wilson for his outstanding day, the defense needed a playmaker, and he delivered. He finished with 14 tackles and had an interception he also helped caused an interception. Also Considered: T.J. Watt whose strip sack changed the entire momentum of the game. Shout out to Jack Sawyer on his first career interception.

Beer of the Game: Long Ireland Brewing Company; Winter Ale. It is a very hardy ale and perfect for yesterday’s game. Bonus points because they were pounders. KGB went with Harp.

“Steel the Snacks”: KGB was back and once again the snacks provided a boost, it is our version of Renegade! KGB made the Hoosier Pork Tenderloin sandwich on fresh rolls. It was outstanding and cooked perfectly, we had Pierogies a Pittsburgh staple as the side dish.

My stat of the week: This is a good one, SIX Turnovers but I think what needs to be focused on is 19 carries for 55 yards. The Steelers dominated the Colts running game and put Daniel Jones in the crosshairs.

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers return to Sunday Night Football after the disastrous Packers game, they will battle a tough Chargers team.

Jersey of the Week: In honor of Alumni Weekend and the 20^th anniversary of the Super Bowl XL team, Joey Porter #55 away white. This is not a throwback jersey; this was one of the first Steelers jersey’s I have ever purchased and still have. I also busted out the sideline hat from that season as well.

The Steelers defense crumbled against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. Falling 35-25 for their second straight defeat.

It was another gut-wrenching defensive performance. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss to the Green Bay Packers exposed a deep, systemic breakdown on the defensive side of the ball. The sheer number of problems is overwhelming, but the failure of the defense—and the coaching staff to fix it—cannot be overstated. The secondary is an absolute disaster, and the entire team played with unacceptable undisciplined emotion.

It’s hard to believe that at one point this looked like the best secondary in the NFL. The players are there but they clearly struggle to all fit together. Either way, the defense’s poor play is a direct reflection on the coaching staff. Once again, there were no adjustments made to stop the bleeding. The undisciplined penalties were a big problem, too.

The secondary was absolutely torched again. Green Bay QB Jordan Love was tossing the ball around at one point in the second half, the guy completed 21 consecutive passes. He finished the night with a stunning 360 yards and three touchdowns. Over the last two games, the secondary has allowed a combined 702 passing yards (remember Flacco’s 342 yards just 10 days ago?). He also threw up to lolly pop tosses that resulted in huge plays. This isn’t just bad football, this is a defensive disaster that is just embarrassing. As if it couldn’t get worse, the Steelers also lost DeShon Elliot in what appears to be a serious injury.

It is not all on the secondary though, what happened to the pass rush? The supposed strength of the team was nowhere to be found. Even James Harrison as the honorary captain, didn’t help.

T.J. Watt was non-existent and is having a tough year impacting games. He finished with six tackles against the run, but never really came close to a sack. The other outside linebackers were nowhere to be found, too. The Packers didn’t allow a sack and the front seven only registered five QB hits all game. It was a flat-out embarrassing performance.

In the middle, Payton Wilson led the team with nine tackles, but it was a rough night for Patrick Queen, who was practically invisible with only three tackles and several crucial missed tackles that turned routine plays into big gains. This whole unit needs to be reengineered.

The run defense continues to improve and kept the Packers mostly in check. The Packers made the adjustments and shifted to the short passing game, which the Steelers had no answers for. The interior pass rush was also woefully inept. Cam Heyward did have seven tackles and was the lone bright spot. No other defensive lineman had more than two.

The offense at this point needs to be the strength of the team. Aaron Rodgers’ stat line—219 yards, two touchdowns, and a clean sheet with no interceptions—was completely wasted. There were several key mistakes that hampered the scoring chances.

The offensive line is getting better every week. Th run blocking was solid, and the pass protection for the most part held up well. The Packers had three sacks, including two from Rashan Gary. Micah Parsons had the other but all three can be contributed to the Steelers playing so far behind the sticks. It wouldn’t be the Beer We Go Blog if we didn’t mention “extra” tackle Spencer Anderson reeling in the first catch of his career.

The running game is finally on track. The Steelers rushed for 93 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. The Packers had the NFL’s second-ranked run defense entering the game. The Steelers had more yards at halftime (81) than the Packers had been giving up on average in games (76). Jaylen Warren continues to run hard and provide some punishing runs. He finished the game with 62 rushing yards. Kenneth Gainwell’s was having a solid day until he fumbled late in the game, he chipped in with 31 yards on only six runs.

Roman Wilson had the biggest night of his career. He hauled in four passes for 74 receiving yards and scored his first career touchdown. DK Metcalf grabbed five passes for 55 yards, but dropped a first quarter touchdown and midway through the fourth quarter, he was called for a personal foul, turning a 3rd-and-2 into a 3rd-and-17, on a drive the Steelers needed to convert on. Calvin Austin had four catches on his return.

There are not enough superlatives to describe Chris Boswell. He had another monster night hitting all four of his field goal tries on a less-than-ideal playing surface. He banged three 50+ yarders with room to spare. Corliss Waitman was solid in his efforts as usual.

The officials again were horrible and missed an obvious offsides call on the Packers early in the third quarter, this is the second week in a row that the ref’s inability to handle the game cost the Steelers. But that being written good teams can overcome bad calls. The inability of the coaching staff to reel in the emotions of the players played a big role in the eventual outcome.

The fan base is going to be very restless this week. The Steelers defense which looked to be nearly unstoppable on paper is absolutely atrocious in execution. Despite what looks like a star studded cast they can’t seem to find any success. It is the coaches’ responsibility to make the adjustments.

With the division still in their control, they need to fix this and fix it now.

Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Has to be Chris Boswell, he is an absolute force and a bright spot this season.  Also Considered: Spencer Anderson for his first career catch, Jaylen Warren who is starting to find himself.

Beer of the Game: IC Light for me as we were in the Burg for the game. KGB went with Blockhouse Pumkin also from Iron City Brewing.

“Steel the Snacks”: We did “Steel Snacks” since we were at the tailgate of “The Terrible Bra and Grille” KGB picked up Sunseri Atomic Rolls, and we had a hot sausage sandwich made by one of the tailgaters.

My stat of the week: Another tragic one this week, 360 yards thrown by Jordan Love, the most yards against the Steelers this season and the third quarterback this season to pass for over 300 yards.

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers are in big trouble right now. They have one of the highest scoring offenses coming to town in the Indianapolis Colts against one of the worst secondaries in football.

Jersey of the Week: My Gamer, Joe Greene #75 Home black. This is my go to Jersey when I am in attendance for games.

The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Cincinnati Bengals in an awful performance that highlighted critical issues on the defensive side of the ball, despite the best performance of the season from the Steelers’ offense. While quarterback Aaron Rodgers tossed four touchdowns and the running game flourished, costly errors and a defensive collapse against the Bengals’ passing and running attacks proved to be the difference.

The secondary was exposed by the Bengals’ star receivers. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins dominated, with Chase recording a remarkable 16 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown, and Higgins adding six catches for 96 yards and a score.

Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin’s unit had no answer, regardless of whether they employed man or zone coverage. Even when double-teaming both receivers, quarterback Joe Flacco was able to find success, including a critical late first-half connection with Andrei Iosivas. It was a tough night for cornerback Joey Porter Jr. struggled, incurring two more pass interference penalties and being victimized in man coverage. DeShon Elliot led the team in tackles with nine.

The run defense was embarrassing. The Bengals, who entered the game with the league’s worst rushing attack (averaging 57 yards per game), gashed the Steelers for 142 yards on the ground, accumulating 97 by halftime. Aside from an early sack by Keeanu Benton and a late-game effort by Cam Heyward that set up a Watt sack, the pass rush from the outside linebackers, including Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, was largely a non-factor. Inside linebacker Cole Holcomb led with seven tackles, but the inability to stop yards after contact, particularly by Chase Brown on the second level, gashed the Steelers.

The Steelers’ offensive line is beginning to come together. They had their best game of the season. Showcasing elite run-blocking that allowed the backs to average 7.4 yards per carry, while Aaron Rodgers was not sacked for the second consecutive game. Running back Jaylen Warren tied his career high with 127 rushing yards and totaled 158 yards from scrimmage. He had an outstanding day.

The offense made two critical errors and were hampered by poor decision-making. Aaron Rodgers threw two interceptions, giving Cincinnati 10 points off turnovers.

You are starting to see the offense and what the vision is, the tight ends carried the passing game. Pat Freiermuth finally broke through with a significant performance, catching five passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter. The tight end trio (Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and Darnell Washington) combined for 141 of Rodgers’ 249 passing yards. It was good to see Roman Wilson get some action and he chipped in two catches. DK Metcalf had 50 yards and three catches.

In special teams, rookie returner Ke’Shawn Williams provided a spark, averaging 30.3 yards per kickoff return and executing a 17-yard punt return. Punter Corliss Waitman was effective, pinning the Bengals inside the 20 on both attempts. Chris Boswell bounced back from last week and put together his usual performance.

It was a lousy night.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Jaylen Warren who put together his best game of the season and was outstanding, averaging a WHOPPING 7.9 yards per carry.  Also Considered: Pat Freiermuth who finally had his breakout game, putting up 111 yards and scoring what was the go ahead touchdown at the time.

Beer of the Game: Montauk Pumpkin Ale, I had spent the later part of the day there and thought this was a good omen…it wasn’t.

“Steel the Snacks”: KGB made Skyline Chili over spaghetti, she absolutely nailed it and the magic of the snacks worked at least for a little while.

My stat of the week: BWG are Tomlin supporters, but his record on Thursday Night Division opponents is a huge negative mark on his career. Mike Tomlin’s record in Thursday Night Football road games against AFC North divisional opponents is now 0 wins and 7 losses (0-7), that is just embarrassing.

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers will have plenty of time to get ready for the Green Bay Packers, we will be there!

Jersey of the Week: No Jersey as it was a work day, I did wear my black sport coat with a gold pocket silk.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are officially 4-1 and sitting atop the AFC North after a dominant 23-9 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium, marking the 22nd consecutive regular season home victory over the Browns, a streak that must frustrate the Cleveland Browns.

This victory was the best of the season and highlighted execution on both sides of the ball, particularly against a vaunted Browns defense that entered the game giving up a league-low 247 yards per game. The Steelers absolutely torched that average, putting up 335 total yards.

The number one key to the offensive game plan was neutralizing Myles Garrett, and the offensive line, spearheaded by Broderick Jones, executed flawlessly. Garrett, who boasted pre-game about adding Aaron Rodgers to his “graveyard,” was kept off the stat sheet. Effective use of chip blocks and double teams kept him away from the Steelers’ 41-year-old quarterback, and when Jones was in a one-on-one, he pushed Garrett around and mauled him. Rodgers was not sacked, marking the second time in three games the offensive line has pitched a shutout keeping Rodgers off the ground.

Arthur Smith’s play-calling was sharp from the jump, highlighting the kind of week-to-week schematic evolution that defines a top offensive coordinator. On the very first play, he dialed up a shot out of a jumbo personnel package featuring tight end Darnell Washington and extra lineman Spencer Anderson. Washington snuck through the line for a huge 36-yard gain, immediately setting up the first of Chris Boswell’s three field goals.

Aaron Rodgers continues to prove he is exactly what this team needs. He followed up a high-scoring game with another incredibly efficient performance, going 21 for 30 for 235 yards with two touchdowns and, most importantly, zero interceptions. He now boasts a stellar 11 touchdowns against only three interceptions through the first five games. His veteran pocket presence was on full display as he evaded the rush and even found ways to gain positive yardage, including a clever flip to Jaylen Warren to avoid a sack and pick up a first down.

The line’s ability to control the line of scrimmage was not just for pass protection; it was the driving force behind a resurgent run game that recorded an even 100 yards. The coaching staff made a concerted effort to keep a rotation going, giving Jaylen Warren (returning from a knee injury) the lead role, while Kenneth Gainwell and Kaleb Johnson also chipped in. Warren led the team with 52 yards on a 4.7-yard average. Fresh legs wore down the Cleveland defense, with all three backs ripping off runs of 10 yards or more. Warren and Gainwell were also productive out of the backfield, combining for eight catches.

DK Metcalf is quickly becoming the Steelers’ big-play threat they envisioned. He took advantage of single coverage all afternoon, finishing with four catches for 95 yards. Three of those receptions went for 25-plus yards, including a touchdown early in the fourth quarter that stretched the lead to a comfortable 17 points. The tight end room also had a productive day, with Darnell Washington’s 36-yarder to start the game and a nifty 12-yard touchdown snag by Connor Heyward.

On defense, the plan was simple and executed to perfection: stop the run and force rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel to beat them. They held the Browns to a meager 65 rushing yards on 17 attempts. With the run game shut down, Gabriel was forced into a massive 52 drop-backs, continually having to check the ball down to underneath receivers.

The pass rush was relentless. Rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon continued his impressive debut season, picking up another sack and leading the D-line with four tackles. The outside linebacker rotation might be the best in football and proved to be too much for the Browns. Nick Herbig, who is quickly making a name for himself, added two sacks to lead the team with 4.5 on the season. Even with Alex Highsmith returning from his high-ankle sprain (and adding a half-sack), Herbig’s playing time remains a priority, and he continues to capitalize. T.J. Watt added a half-sack and forced several errant throws from Gabriel.

The full-strength secondary was outstanding, getting a major boost from the return of Joey Porter Jr. (five tackles, two pass breakups) and the continued strong play of the safety duo. Jalen Ramsey, just two weeks after a hamstring injury, tallied his first two-sack game of his career along with six tackles. DeShon Elliott led the entire defense with twelve tackles. The secondary held firm, not allowing the rookie quarterback to reach the end zone even on multiple late-game red zone drives. Jabril Peppers chipped in and had a fumble recovery negated by a penalty.

Special teams took a major step back. Chris Boswell was 3-for-4, with his only miss being after a slip on the sloppy Acrisure turf. However, punter Corliss Waitman shanked one punt for 34 yards, and a promising 47-yard return by new practice squad elevation Ke’Shawn Williams was nullified by a questionable blindside block penalty.

It was a solid and decisive victory, the Steelers now have a quick turnaround.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Broderick Jones, who has been BBQ all season for his lackluster play, he took on the best defensive end in the NFL, and he put him in his pocket. Also Considered: Aaron Rodgers for his outstanding play, Nick Herbig who is becoming a huge asset.

Beer of the Game: KGB and I both went with Guinness.

“Steel the Snacks”: KGB made Cleveland Po’boys, which were Kielbasa, with BBQ sauce, French fries, and Cole Slaw on the bun. The snacks had a significant effect on the game as usual.

My stat of the week: I am superstitious, so I am not going with 22 in a row during the regular season. I am going with TWO, the number of tackles that Myles Garrett had in the game. He was shut out.

My thoughts on next week: As in this Thursday, the Steelers will go on the road and battle a Joe Flacco led Bengals squad. Flacco brings the Bengals back from being an “also ran” to a tough team. Why the Browns would trade him in the division is beyond me.

Jersey of the Week: Heath Miller, 83, Blackout Jersey. I love this jersey and it is one of my favorites, I was hoping that it would help start up the Tight End group, which might be the best in football, it did help them out, but we want to see more ‘Muth.

Steelers started strong and held off a mad ending to beat the Vikings in Dublin!

The Steelers held on for an ugly, but ultimately rewarding, 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland, advancing to 3-1. A few head-scratching coaching decisions nearly turned a comfortable romp into a near-disaster thanks to two highly questionable late-game decisions by Mike Tomlin.

While the defense deserves full credit for closing it out, this game should have been a three-score blowout—a testament to the Jekyll-and-Hyde nature of this team.

Mike Tomlin had a rough day. Two calls put a game in jeopardy that should have been over in the 3^rd quarter. First, with a chance to go up by 13 with just under four minutes left, he opted to keep the offense on the field for 4th-and-Goal from the 3-yard line.

That was a gutsy call, but if you’re trying to drop the hammer on them, you absolutely must put the ball in Aaron Rodgers’ hands and look for DK Metcalf or Darnell Washington. Instead, the team ran Kenneth Gainwell into a brick wall, resulting in a turnover on downs and a momentum swing. The second, and more egregious, decision came later: punting on 4th-and-1 from the Vikings’ 45-yard line with 1:08 left. Taking a penalty is inexcusable. A first down ends the game. To take a delay of game and punt—trusting a defense that had been on the field too long over a one-yard conversion—is ludicrous.

After three weeks of a non-existent run game, the Steelers finally showed a pulse on the ground, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. The answer, at least for one game, was big personnel. Arthur Smith used an extra offensive lineman, Spencer Anderson, and put Darnell Washington to work as a blocker, opening up some running lanes.

Kenneth Gainwell, filling in for an injured Jaylen Warren, had a breakout game with 19 carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns, adding 6 catches for 35 yards. His patience was excellent, and his success on first down was absolutely crucial, keeping the Vikings out of their exotic third-down blitz packages. Rookie Kaleb Johnson also saw his most extensive action and looked solid.

Aaron Rodgers was surgical early, staking the Steelers to a big lead. He finished an efficient 18-for-22 for 200 yards and a touchdown, continuing to be great in situational football. He’s not putting up monster numbers, but the team is 3-1 without playing their best football.

DK Metcalf was the primary beneficiary of a good early plan, logging 122 of his 126 yards by halftime, including a beautiful 80-yard catch-and-run touchdown off an Arthur Smith motion package. Unfortunately, the passing game dried up in the second half, and the tight ends remain an afterthought—Darnell Washington led the group with 20 yards, while Pat Freiermuth had zero catches. Even worse, Calvin Austin III left the game with a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter, putting more pressure on Roman Wilson to step up next time out.

The offensive line’s run blocking took a huge step forward, but the pass protection remains leaky. The interior line, specifically Isaac Seumalo, gave up a crucial sack just before halftime that forced the team to settle for a blocked field goal, leaving points on the field.

This was the first time this season the Steelers held an opponent under 100 rushing yards (70 yards on 20 carries), and the defensive line deserves praise. Keeanu Benton, a lightning rod for criticism in the first three weeks, had his best game by far with four tackles and 1.5 sacks. Cam Heyward continues to be an All-Pro presence, tipping a pass at the line that led to a T.J. Watt interception—the second time in as many weeks he’s done that.

The linebacking corps was phenomenal. Payton Wilson led the team with 13 tackles, none bigger than his shoestring tackle of Jordan Addison late in the fourth quarter that prevented a touchdown and forced the Vikings to bleed precious clock time. Patrick Queen was almost as good with 11 tackles and a sack. Nick Herbig continues to be a star in the making, adding 1.5 sacks and forcing an intentional grounding on the Vikings’ final drive, the guy simply capitalizes on his opportunities.

With all the injuries the patchwork secondary woes continue. While they closed the game out, the mental errors and communication breakdowns were a serious challenge. The miscommunication between Darius Slay Jr. and Chuck Clark that allowed Addison’s 81-yard catch-and-run nearly cost them the game. They need the bye week to get healthy and iron out these inexcusable mental lapses.

Special Teams had an up and down day. Gainwell and Trey Sermon averaged 25 yards per kickoff return, showing significant improvement on a previously struggling unit. Corliss Waitman averaged 48 yards per punt. Waitman’s final punt should have been pinned inside the 20 but went through the end zone. Pat Freiermuth completely whiffed on his block, leading to Chris Boswell’s first field goal attempt getting blocked. Boswell later drilled a clutch 33-yarder.

Given the teams history, the Steelers had to leave Ireland with a victory. They did

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Payton Wilson. His shoestring tackle was the biggest play of the game, saving a guaranteed touchdown late in the fourth and forcing the Vikings into a more time-consuming drive. That’s a game-winning play that often gets lost in the shuffle. Also Considered: Kenneth Gainwell (for stepping up huge in the run game), Nick Herbig (The sack machine, just give him the snaps!), and Cam Heyward (still putting on a Hall of Fame show).

Beer of the Game: We went with Guinness of course. KGB and I have been to Dublin a few times now and Guinness is always a stop on the tour. It was creamy, solid, and hearty—just like a good Steelers defensive stop.

“Steel the Snacks”: This would probably qualify as more Steel Snacks than Steel the Snacks. KGB made a classic Irish Breakfast with eggs, beans, Tomato and three kinds of sausage,

My stat of the week: 131: That’s the rushing yards for the Steelers in this game, a vast improvement over the first three weeks and a sign that the ground game may finally be found.

My thoughts on next week: The bye week is perfectly timed. This team needs to rest the wounded (Warren, Highsmith, Austin) and use the time to correct some of the issues that continue to plague the team. Then the Cleveland Browns, come to Pittsburgh, and after their Week 4 performance, this is a must-win to establish dominance in the AFC North.

Jersey of the Week: NO JERSEY again this week.

At times it looked like both the offense and defense were on to something big, and at other times they looked completely out of synch. In the end the Steelers did enough to edge out the New England Patriots 21-14.

It was a renaissance performance for two of the Steelers’ biggest stars. T.J. Watt snapped a six-game streak without a sack in a monster performance, getting two of the Steelers’ five sacks against the Patriots. He also had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to go along with five tackles.

Cam Heyward was back to making the types of plays that have cemented him as an All-Pro. He had six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a deflected pass that resulted in an interception. His biggest plays were timely. Just before halftime, with the Patriots poised to score, Heyward tipped Drake Maye’s pass, which landed in the hands of cornerback Brandin Echols. Then, after Aaron Rodgers threw a bad interception to open the second half, Heyward once again stopped the Patriots short of the end zone when he stripped Rhamondre Stevenson at the 1-yard line before he could cross the goal line for the score.

Nick Herbig, starting in place of the injured Alex Highsmith, produced perhaps the biggest sack of the game. His strip sack of Maye midway through the fourth quarter thwarted a potential go-ahead score by the Patriots and set up the Steelers’ game-winning drive. Cole Holcomb made his first “start” since November 2023, following a knee injury that had kept him off the field. In the game, he had six tackles and a forced fumble. He spelled Payton Wilson on the big run downs. Patrick Queen continues to be a tackling machine, leading the team with 10 tackles.

After missing the first two games with a knee sprain, rookie first-round pick Derrick Harmon made his highly anticipated NFL debut. He recorded two tackles, including his first career sack. At the nose tackle position, Daniel Ekuale and Keeanu Benton split time, with Ekuale registering three tackles. Benton looks miscast at the nose. Despite the unit’s noted improvement, they still struggled to stop the run, allowing the Patriots to gain 119 rushing yards. This marks the third consecutive game where the defense has surrendered over 100 yards on the ground.

Just three weeks after being cut by the Patriots, Jabrill Peppers made a huge impact getting his first start for the Steelers. He came up with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on the same play early in the third quarter, a highlight in a day filled with big plays from the defensive backs.

Brandin Echols recorded his first interception with the Steelers, and Darius Slay Jr. played well in coverage and recovered a fumble. The team’s pass coverage though is still very leaky, especially on third downs. Drake Maye completed 76% of his passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. While turnovers ultimately won the game for the defense, their struggles particularly over the middle on third down is head scratching. The potential return of Joey Porter Jr. and DeShon Elliott will helpfully improve the coverage units.

It was also an uneven performance for the offense, a veritable mixed bag of impressive and inconsistent moments. While the fast start and absolute glorious finish were impressive, what happened between those three drives was just bad football. Aaron Rodgers finished with only 16 completions. A remarkable 11 of those completions came on the three touchdown drives, leaving him with just five completions on the other seven drives.

Despite the inconsistency, Rodgers still gets it done when he has some time. He put together several clutch throws, particularly on the touchdowns to DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III. The game-winning throw to Austin, a perfect back-shoulder pass in the end zone, capped off a nine-play drive.

It also looks like he is getting on the same page with his targets. On that final drive, Rodgers was a flawless 4 for 4, a stark contrast to his previous four drives in the second half where he went 4 for 9 with an interception. The offense is clearly still a work in progress, but Rodgers delivered when it counted most.

Consistency, or the lack thereof, was the theme for the Steelers’ pass catchers. While they made their catches count, the overall production was mediocre.

The receivers were opportunistic, highlighted by DK Metcalf’s incredible job of getting both feet inbounds for a touchdown in the second quarter. The tight ends, which are supposed to be the focal point of the Arthur Smith system, offered next to nothing. Pat Freiermuth had only one catch for six yards and earned the Aaron Rodgers, angry hand gesture moment for failing to settle in a zone on a third down. Jonnu Smith managed three catches for 23 yards, but his performance was marred by a fumble that luckily went out of bounds. There are plenty of very good pass catchers, the lack of a passing game is something that needs to be fixed.

The running game is still non-existent. Jaylen Warren earned the bulk of the work, and he delivered. He finished with 81 total yards from scrimmage and came up with some crucial plays on the final drive. Warren contributed 29 of his yards to the fourth-quarter touchdown drive, including 14 of his team-high 47 rushing yards. Kenneth Gainwell chipped in to make a big play in the final drive with a 10-yard catch just before the game-winning touchdown pass to Calvin Austin. It was a game that was tailor made for the Steelers to take the air out of the ball and ground and pound, but the front is not getting any offensive push.

Corliss Waitman, proved Sunday he is a valuable weapon, he had a 55-yard punt and pinned the Patriots inside their 20-yard line three times. The kickoff coverage team showed significant improvement, holding the Patriots to an average of just 23.5 yards per return. This was a notable change from the first two games where the Jets and Seahawks consistently returned kicks past the 30-yard line. Chris Boswell was not called upon for a field goal.

The Steelers are 2-1 with a defense that has given up an average of 386 yards per game and no running game. They could easily be 3-0 or 0-3, that is how Jekyll and Hyde this team is.

The victory over the Patriots was a testament to their opportunistic, yet inconsistent, nature. While the defense showed a slight improvement by giving up “only” 369 total yards—fewer than in the first two games—their victory was a result of five turnovers. Defensive lapses are still very evident, as miscommunication allowed tight end Hunter Henry to score a wide-open touchdown on fourth down.

Offensively, the performance also is a rollercoaster. Coordinator Arthur Smith’s unit was opportunistic early and late but vanished for large stretches of the game. Finishing with a mere 203 total yards is a concerning number that won’t lead to many wins in the future. They must find a more consistent rhythm on both sides of the ball to achieve any kind of success.

Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: After seriously considering it, it had to be Cam Heyward. He put in so many clutch plays, he basically saved the game. Also Considered: T.J. Watt, for having a huge day, Cole Holcomb coming in and establishing some law and order. Jaylen Warren for getting the tough yards.

Beer of the Game: I went with Brooklyn Octoberfest, Hearty and solid beer. I actually didn’t drink my whole allotment for the game.

“Steel the Snacks”: KGB went with New England Style Corn Chowder with biscuits. Solid soup and very hearty. We had it in the fourth quarter when the Steelers were driving.

My stat of the week: So many to choose from going with two touchdowns for a total of 510, the number of touchdowns Aaron Rodgers now has as he passed Brett Favre for fourth place on the all-time touchdown list.

My thoughts on next week: IRELAND, my heart is broken that we won’t be there, because of business commitments. This is a revenge game against the Vikings who beat the Steelers in London 12 years ago. This game would have meant a lot to Mr. Rooney, the former ambassador to Ireland. Look for a big week from the Steelers.

Jersey of the Week: NO Jersey this week, had a hectic pregame including the day after a wedding party and an event with the OSDIA.

What looked like a promising game at times, turned into a nightmare with defensive lapses, offensive mistakes and mental errors on special teams that cost the Steelers the home opener, losing to the Seattle Seahawks 31-17. It’s the first time the Steelers have allowed 30-plus points in back-to-back games in the Tomlin era, and first time since the disastrous beginning of the 1989 season, highlighting the dramatic need for improvement.

The defense, a unit Mike Tomlin predicted would be one of his best, has been challenged for the second week in a row and came up very short. After two games, it’s clear this group is still finding its footing, and battling injuries. He showed a degree of trust in the defense, punting on 4th-and-1 to force the Seahawks to drive the length of the field. Seattle of course scored, it was a decision that signaled he is still confident in the defense’s ability to respond to a challenge, despite very little evidence they are up for it.

The defensive line is facing a difficult stretch battling injury. While Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin have publicly backed Keeanu Benton at nose tackle, he is still being pushed off the line of scrimmage and is better suited for an end position. After giving up 182 rushing yards last week, the defense allowed another 118 yards on the ground to the Seahawks. This marks the 11th time in the last 21 games an opponent has rushed for over 100 yards against the Steelers, these are stats that would have been unimaginable over the last few years.

Kenneth Walker III dominated, rushing for 105 yards on the day. Cam Heyward fought hard, making five tackles and a pass breakup that led to a Nick Herbig interception. But overall, the lack of a consistent pass rush, especially from the interior, left Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold with ample time to find his receivers.

Patrick Queen was active early in the run game, but a missed sack on Darnold proved costly, allowing the Seahawks to convert on a key third down. Payton Wilson led the team with nine tackles and a sack, but the linebackers struggled with pass coverage, particularly against play-action. Queen battled an injury all day and Wilson was pushed off the ball and sent to the sidelines at one point.

What has happened to T.J. Watt? He is in an uncharacteristic six-game stretch without a sack. While Herbig had a promising performance in relief of an injured Alex Highsmith, the Steelers need their top players—including Watt, Queen, and Highsmith—to consistently make game-changing plays.

In the secondary, Jalen Ramsey was targeted on some big plays but also showed his elite ability with six tackles and two pass breakups. He is not the problem. The secondary struggled to maintain tight coverage, especially against Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who had 103 receiving yards. A better pass rush would help, but the coverage must tighten up.

Last week special teams saved the day, this week they gave it back, by a mental error from Kaleb Johnson, which led to seven points for the Seahawks, putting the Steelers down by two scores. While this was a major moment in the game, the special teams unit overall has struggled in kick coverage. The issues were less apparent last week when Chris Boswell’s 60-yard kick stole the show, but this week, the Seahawks’ 22-yard punt return and an average of 27 yards on five kickoff returns were a cause for concern, providing the Seahawks with prime field position for much of the game. Corlis Waitman had a nice performance, but it was lost on the coverage issues.

Aaron Rodgers was unable to get much help from his teammates early. A perfect 40-yard pass to Pat Freiermuth was dropped, and DK Metcalf had two costly drops in the first half. Rodgers finished 18 for 33 with two interceptions, though one came on a deflection that was caused by Calvin Austin and the other in garbage time. The offensive line is porous at best and can be a major issue with a 40+ non-mobile quarterback at the helm.

Jaylen Warren was a bright spot, gaining 134 yards from scrimmage, including a highlight-reel 65-yard catch-and-run. He led the team in both rushing (48 yards) and receiving (86 yards). Despite his performance, there must be questions about his durability. The team’s lack of a physical back is painfully apparent, as the Steelers opted to pass and run with Gainwell.

DK Metcalf had a quiet day against his former team with only three catches for 30 yards. Calvin Austin III also had a quiet performance, with his one catch coming on a play that resulted in Rodgers’ first interception. The offensive line’s run-blocking improved slightly, but backs still averaged only 3.4 yards per carry. At this rate, the 41-year-old Rodgers is on pace to be sacked 60 times this season, which raises concerns about his longevity.

They have quite a few problems that they need to fix of this is going to be a lost season.

Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Have to go with Jaylen Warren who put together a solid effort. Also Considered, Cam Heyward who played well despite those around him not. Jalen Ramsey is exciting to watch despite a mixed performance.

Beer of the Game: Narragansett, Jaws Addition, the beer is one of my favorites and left over from a Jaws Party we had over Labor Day.

“Steel the Snacks”: This week it became “Steel Snacks”, I don’t really like Sushi and there was nothing on the Seattle snack slate that jumped out at me. KGB made a Sunseri style Atomic Roll, something we always get in Pittsburgh and bring to the tailgate. They were off the charts.

My stat of the week: Twenty-Two games, that was how long the Seahawks had gone before scoring an opening drive touchdown in a game. They put the Steelers on their heels early and shreaded the defense. It looked for a short time that they had righted the ship, but it was short lived. That was such an ominous stat that didn’t bode well for the rest of the day.

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers head to their personal house of horrors in New England. They will face a Jekyll and Hyde Patriots team that looked horrible week one and then demo jobbed the Dolphins yesterday. Gone is Bill Belichik and in is former Steeler and New England standout Mike Vrabel. This is a must win game before Ireland.

Jersey of the Week:  My vanity Jersey #50 Home Black, a gift for my fiftieth birthday from KGB.

It wasn’t the master blueprint the Steelers drew up, but they scraped, clawed, and ultimately did enough to pull out a hard-fought, thrilling 34-32 victory over the New York Jets. Chris Boswell was the hero, drilling the 60-yard winner after an earlier 56-yarder.

At times, this game looked frighteningly familiar— to the horrendous end of last season, capped off with the penultimate massacre in Baltimore that ended the once promising campaign. Even without their top offensive lineman, the Jets absolutely bullied the Steelers’ rebuilt front seven, churning out 182 yards on 39 carries. When the Jets threw, there was little to no pass rush and they ran up a big number on offense, 394 total yard.

The absence of first-round rookie Derrick Harmon hurt, but the veteran defensive front seven did little to slow Breece Hall, who consistently broke into the second level for long gains. Patrick Queen tied Alex Highsmith for the tackle lead, but he and Payton Wilson have to get more physical stopping the run.

Alex Highsmith was the lone standout, logging the team’s only sack, two more hurries, and eight tackles. T.J. Watt didn’t record a sack for the fifth straight game (dating back to last season), though he did manage two tackles for loss, including one where he absolutely buried Justin Fields.

Jalen Ramsey saved the day late, with his pass breakup on fourth down snuffing out the final Jets comeback attempt. But far too many big plays landed on the corners. Darius Slay Jr. allowed a 33-yard touchdown to Garrett Wilson. Six different Jets caught passes from Justin Fields, all for at least 12 yards. The Steelers poured serious cash and traded Minkah Fitzpatrick to build an “improved“ defensive backfield this offseason, yet they made Fields look like an elite passer.

If the defense was a disappointment the offense was an absolute surprise. It was “turn back the clock” day in Jersey. Aaron Rodgers was nearly flawless in his return, including a clutch, game-winning field goal drive where he went 4-for-5. He finished 22-of-30 for 244 yards, four touchdowns, and zero picks (a 136.7 QB rating). It makes you very optimistic about what he could do with actual pass protection or a running game. Not to mention a flagrant PI missed call on Calvin Austin that would have set the Steelers up.

The Steelers didn’t even try to establish the run, and the backs never found a flow. In his first start, Jaylen Warren had just 37 yards on 11 carries (plus a 5-yard TD catch). Getting only 59 yards from scrimmage from your starting back is not ideal and not the way the Steelers planned on drawing it up. Kenneth Gainwell was even less effective, with 19 yards on seven runs. Rookie Kaleb Johnson lost 2 yards on his only carry but drew a costly personal foul—which, frustratingly, was the longest gain of the day on a called running play. Warren earned his touchdown, but this entire group needs much better production.

For all the offseason complaints about the receiving corps’ quality and depth, it was encouraging to see DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, and Ben Skowronek all contribute with big plays. Skowronek, the Pittsburgh folk hero, had a 22-yard TD catch, Austin an 18-yard TD, and Metcalf delivered big plays all game. He is an absolute hoss out there. Jonnu Smith chipped in a short TD, too. Explosive plays from the receivers and tight ends fueled the comeback and kept the Steelers alive when they trailed by nine points, two times in the game.

Broderick Jones who the fan base has been clamoring for, struggled all game, unable to block Jets edge rusher Will McDonald. He allowed two sacks and gave up far too many pressures. It’ll be interesting to see how long the coaches give Jones to fix this before turning to a backup for more consistent blind-side protection. The line didn’t get a push in the run game, either. This unit has the most upside on the team but need to turn that into some sort of production.

Chris Boswell had the two big kicks, but the biggest special teams play was the turnover early in the fourth quarter. Gainwell stripped Jets returner Xavier Gipson, and Skowronek recovered the fumble. Two plays later, Austin’s touchdown gave the Steelers their first lead of the second half. That turnover led to a crucial 14-point swing in a 50-second span that turned the tide of the entire game.

Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith proved his earlier quote true: they didn’t bring Rodgers in to run the wishbone. Smith dialed up explosive plays in the passing game. Three of Rodgers’ four touchdowns were to wide-open receivers, a testament to good play-action calls and solid scheming. Smith still needs to figure out the running game and the line’s issues, but he was a key reason the Steelers won.

As for the defense? Mike Tomlin predicted his unit could do “historic” things. It is too early to give up on that idea, but they have got to show much more than they did against a limited Jets team. Tomlin has supreme confidence in his defense, but they need to start playing significantly better.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Chris Boswell, yesterday’s game summed it up perfectly, who would you rather have had, Bos of Nick Folk who looks like my Grandfather and I am over 50. Bos absolutely banged that 60-yarder and he could have hit a 70-yarder, it had that much distance. Also Considered: Aaron Rodgers absolutely lit the scoreboard up. The Steelers moved the ball efficiently, Alex Highsmith established lay and order.

Beer of the Game: Westhampton Beach Pumpkin Ale, trying to be original this season. It might have been early for pumpkin beer, but it did the job.

“Steel the Snacks”: Being native NY, pizza was a thought but we eat that at least once or twice a week. So we went with Sabrett Hot Dogs and Knishes with hot mustard.  Not our most glamorous snack but it did the trick.

My stat of the week: 60-Yard Field Goal. It is impressive enough to hit a 60 yard field goal, it is more impressive when it is to take the league in a hostile environment on a rainy day, It was also Bos’s personal best and he absolutely clobbered the kick.

My thoughts on next week: This will be the home opener against a rebuilding Seattle team. The biggest question is what the defense will do against a more traditional pocket passer. The defense needs a statement game.

Jersey of the Week:  T.J. Watt #90 Home Black, wanted to switch it up this year, historically I go with a retired legend. Need a fresh look this season.

…for now