Beer We Go Steelers

The Steelers freefall finally comes to an end… Losing to the Ravens in the wild card round!

MORE TO COME!

The greatest collapse in Steelers history continues, dropping their fourth game to the Bengals 19-17.

MORE TO COME

The Steelers were routed by the Chiefs.

The Steelers’ recent struggles have been exacerbated by untimely turnovers and a glaring inability to start games effectively. Russell Wilson, despite flashes of mobility, continues to make costly mistakes, including a crucial interception in the end zone against the Chiefs. This penchant for turnovers is a major concern for a team that cannot afford to lose the battle for possession against top-tier opponents.

The Steelers’ offensive woes are further compounded by their persistent inability to score on opening drives. This season-long trend demands a drastic shift in strategy. Jaylen Warren, with his explosive speed and proven effectiveness, should be the primary back moving forward. Limiting Najee Harris’s snaps to a supporting role is crucial for maximizing the offense’s potential.

While George Pickens’s return provided a spark, the overall passing game lacked consistency. The offensive line, a recurring issue, crumbled under consistent pressure from the Chiefs. Dan Moore Jr.’s struggles at left tackle have resurfaced, and the entire unit requires significant improvement.

The defense, while showing flashes of resilience, failed to contain Patrick Mahomes. The lack of consistent pressure on the quarterback proved to be a decisive factor. T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, the team’s premier pass rushers, have been noticeably less impactful in recent weeks.

With the pass rush disappearing, the secondary continues to be plagued by blown coverages, allowing opposing tight ends to exploit glaring weaknesses in the scheme. Minkah Fitzpatrick and the rest of the defensive backfield must improve their communication and execution to prevent these recurring lapses.

Special teams also contributed to the team’s woes. Cordarrelle Patterson’s diminishing speed and effectiveness as a kick returner needs to be reviewed. Corliss Waitman bounced back and had an effective performance.

Finally, head coach Mike Tomlin’s game-day decisions and the team’s slow starts are cause for serious concern. The constant shuffling of personnel on offense disrupts rhythm and hinders the team’s ability to establish a consistent identity. Defensively, the recurring communication breakdowns and missed assignments point to fundamental coaching issues.

The Steelers face a critical juncture in their season. Addressing these issues – turnovers, offensive line woes, defensive breakdowns, and slow starts – is paramount if they hope to contend in the playoffs.

BEER WE GO, STEELERS BEER WE GO.

My “GAME BEER” goes to: No one jumps out again. It was that bad of a game. Also Considered: ALSO NO ONE

Beer of the Game: I went with Budweiser, YUP straight Budweiser, once again in honor of Christmas. KGB was drinking wine and making the majority of the food.

“Steel the Snacks”: We did a Prime Rib, which is a KC staple, but truthfully this was more about Christmas than the Steelers.

My stat of the week: The Steelers have been outscored 30-3 in the first quarter during this three-game losing streak. This team is not really equipped to play from behind.

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers will finally have a few days to recover and hopefully have the full team back for the finale against the always dangerous Bengals.

Jersey of the Week:  NO Jersey, rocked the Steelers Holiday Sweater in honor of Christmas

The Steelers missed several opportunities, losing to the Ravens, and in the end it cost them a chance to win the Division and put the Ravens away.

The Steelers’ hopes for an AFC North title took a significant hit in a frustrating loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers missed several opportunities to capitalize on turnovers, failing to recover crucial fumbles throughout the game, while Baltimore landed on every Steelers turnover.

Coach Tomlin was coaching to win and went for a gutsy fourth-and-six gamble from deep in Ravens territory. With the defense struggling all day Coach Tomlin trusted his offense over the struggling defense. They ultimately surrendered 418 total yards, highlighting their vulnerability against both the run and the pass.

The Steelers’ offense, while showing flashes of improvement under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith all season, was plagued by crucial mistakes. Russell Wilson, despite a very solid passing performance with 22 completions for 217 yards and two touchdowns, committed two costly turnovers. His ill-advised scramble in the second quarter, culminating in a strip-sack at the Ravens’ three-yard line, derailed a promising drive and allowed Baltimore to seize momentum with a 96-yard touchdown march. Later, a Wilson interception returned for a touchdown by Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey effectively sealed the Steelers’ fate, extending the Ravens’ lead to 31-17.

The Steelers’ found room to run and the ground game showed some promise, with Jaylen Warren leading the way with 92 yards from scrimmage. However, the lack of consistent rushing volume hindered their ability to control the clock and wear down the Ravens’ defense.

Once again, the absence of wide receiver George Pickens continued to impact the passing game, limiting the Steelers’ ability to create explosive plays. While Calvin Austin III showed some flashes of brilliance, the offense lacked the consistent big-play threat that Pickens provides.

The Steelers’ offensive line struggled to protect Wilson, allowing three sacks and consistent pressure throughout the game. Their inability to effectively handle interior blitzes proved costly, hindering Wilson’s timing and rhythm. Despite these challenges, the Steelers managed a respectable 5.3 yards per carry on the ground, a positive sign against a formidable Ravens front seven.

Defensively, the Steelers were overwhelmed by the Ravens’ rushing attack, surrendering a season-high 220 yards on the ground. Derrick Henry, the league’s leading rusher, carved through the Steelers’ front with relative ease, accumulating 162 yards on 24 carries. The absence of defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi further weakened the Steelers’ interior defense, leaving them vulnerable to Henry’s powerful runs.

The Steelers’ pass rush was non-existent, T.J. Watt, was largely ineffective. Watt, playing with a sprained ankle, was unable to generate consistent pressure on Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Steelers’ secondary, already depleted by injuries to key players like Donte Jackson and DeShon Elliott, suffered another blow with the loss of Joey Porter Jr. early in the game. This further exposed the Steelers’ defensive backfield, allowing Jackson to exploit their coverage lapses with several big passing plays.

Special teams also played a role in the Steelers’ downfall. Chris Boswell chose the worst time of the year to have his biggest miscue of the season. The usually reliable kicker, sailed a kickoff out of bounds in the third quarter, gifting the Ravens excellent field position and setting the stage for another Baltimore touchdown.

The loss to the Ravens dealt a significant blow to the Steelers’ division title aspiration. They now face a critical stretch of games, needing to address their defensive deficiencies and find ways to generate more explosive plays on offense to keep their postseason hopes alive.

BEER WE GO, STEELERS BEER WE GO.

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Jaylen Warren, the guy plays like a bowling ball, and he gave the Ravens all they could handle between his 5 catches and 12 carries.  Also Considered: Calvin Austin III who is becoming a deep threat.

Beer of the Game: I finished off the Yuengling Flight, KGB again went with Harpoon Holiday Ale, both seem to have had their luck run out.

“Steel the Snacks”: We went with Maryland Crab Cakes that were outstanding. KGB made them homemade and put them together. One of my favorite snacks that we have had.

My stat of the week: Steelers forced three fumbles and had a big interception and scored zero points. The Ravens had two turnovers and score 14 points, that was a huge back breaker, and the Steelers could not recover.

My thoughts on next week: AS in two days from now. The Steelers will play on Christmas Day v. the champs. They need a near flawless performance and need to play much tighter than they did versus the Ravens.

Jersey of the Week:  Franco Harris, #32 Hall of Fame edition. It had been two years to the day since we lost Franco. Wanted to honor him.

The Steelers started slow and never really got it going against the Eagles, falling 27-13. The Steelers didn’t capitalize on opportunities and couldn’t get the offense or defense in synch.

It was Russell Wilson’s worst game as a Steeler and he struggled mightily against the Eagles, completing just 14 passes for 128 yards. Penalties consistently backed the Steelers into long-yardage situations, hindering any offensive rhythm. Wilson failed to make the big plays needed to ignite the offense.

The entire rushing attack was largely ineffective finishing with 17 rushed for 56 yards. Najee Harris’s struggled and had a very costly fumble on a crucial drive, that all but ended the game. Jaylen Warren and Cordarelle Patterson was also ineffective.

The absence of the mercurial George Pickens was hard to overcome and severely impacted the passing game. Calvin Austin III led receivers with 5 catches for 65 yards. Where is Mike Williams? He was acquired via trade and remains completely underutilized. Pat Freiermuth, the Steelers’ most reliable target, needs to be more heavily involved in the offense.

The offensive line also had their worst performance of the season and struggled mightily, allowing constant pressure on Wilson and failing to open holes for the running game. Dan Moore Jr. and Zach Frazier committed costly penalties that derailed drives. The Eagles’ dominant front seven exposed the line’s deficiencies.

Defensively, T.J. Watt was a bright spot before his injury, recording two sacks. Alex Highsmith also played well. However, the interior of the defensive line struggled to generate pressure on Jalen Hurts. Cam Heyward had five tackles but was the lone bright spot on the defensive line. Patrick Queen led the team in tackles but missed crucial tackles. Payton Wilson played well.

The secondary struggled to contain A.J. Brown, who exploited miscommunications within the defense. Joey Porter Jr. had a costly dropped interception.

Special teams had another week of mixed results. Mark Robinson recovered a fumble, but the offense failed to capitalize. Corliss Waitman’s struggled and was inconsistent.

Coach Mike Tomlin’s once again botched the clock at the end of the first half  and cost the Steelers valuable scoring opportunities.

This was a microcosm of what the national media has been saying all-season. The loss highlighted the Steelers’ numerous challenges, including a struggling offense, a porous offensive line, with serious defensive lapses.

MORE TO COME

BEER WE GO, STEELERS BEER WE GO.

My “GAME BEER” goes to:  NO ONE, that’s how bad this loss was.  Also Considered: Mark Robinson forced a fumble, but that was about the only bright spot in the game.

Beer of the Game: I went with Modelo again, was going to go with Sam Winter Lager but could not find it anywhere. Looks like Cold Snap is out now. KGB went with wine.

“Steel the Snacks”: We went with a Philly Cheesesteak bar, easily our best snack of the year! KGB crushed it and even served Wiz and hot peppers.

My stat of the week: Steelers have NOT won in Philadelphia since 1965. I had a good feeling about this game, but it was not to be.

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers could wrap up the division with a big win v. the Ravens. They have had the hot hand and Baltimore will be looking to slow them down and avenge their last loss. Look for the typical Baltimore fist fight. Keep in mind, once again the schedule makers, have the Steelers on a short week AFTER playing the Ravens. Not a favor for either team.

Jersey of the Week:  Merril Hoge, #33 Away White. One of the unsung fan favorites of the Steelers.

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.