Beer We Go Steelers

Justin Fields Shines as Steelers Dominate Chargers

In his third consecutive start for the Steelers, Justin Fields continued his stellar play, guiding the team to a decisive victory over the Chargers. His performance was highlighted by a 55-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III in the fourth quarter, extending the Steelers’ lead and solidifying the victory.

What  was most impressive was Fields’ ability to bounce back from his first turnover of the season. After a forced pass to Cordarrelle Patterson was intercepted, Fields responded with a near-perfect final quarter and a half, completing 7 of 8 passes for 94 yards.

The Steelers’ running game also played a crucial role in the victory. Najee Harris and Cordarrelle Patterson combined for 97 yards and a touchdown in the second half, effectively wearing down the Chargers defense.

On the defensive side, the Steelers’ front seven dominated the Chargers’ rushing attack. Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, and Keeanu Benton controlled the line of scrimmage, limiting J.K. Dobbins to just 44 yards on 15 carries. T.J. Watt was quiet…until he wasn’t and continued his dominant season, adding another sack to his tally and making two tackles for loss.

Nick Herbig, a key contributor off the bench, stepped in for the injured Alex Highsmith and delivered a strong performance with two sacks.  Inside linebacker Patrick Queen made a significant impact early in the game with a powerful hit on Dobbins and finished as the team’s leading tackler with eight. Elandon Roberts also played a crucial role, contributing four tackles and recording his first sack of the season.  

The Steelers’ secondary also played a key role in the win, shutting down the Chargers’ passing game. Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson combined to limit the Chargers to just 24 yards through the air in the second half.

With their victory over the Chargers, the Steelers improved to 3-0 and solidified their position as one of the top teams in the NFL. Fields’ continued development, combined with the strong performances of the running game and defense, make the Steelers a formidable force to be reckoned with.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

Once again it was not pretty, but the Steelers secured a victory over the Broncos 13-6. The offense struggled to gain momentum but did enough to get the win. The defense was dominant and held off a late surge by the Broncos.

Justin Fields got the start again and managed the game effectively, avoiding turnovers and throwing his first touchdown of the season, a quick strike to Mt. Washington. His numbers were paltry passing for only 117 yards and rushing for 27. He had a couple of big plays overturned on questionable holding calls.

Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren provided a solid ground game and began to wear out the stout Denver defense. They gained 141 yards with Harris carrying the majority share with 69 bruising yards.

The offensive line was inconsistent and struggled. Brodrick Jones had a tough day, getting nabbed for a whopping 25 yards on one series. One of the holding calls was questionable at best but it negated the biggest play of the day. The line is still finding its’ rhythm.

The defensive line was a bright spot, generating pressure and stopping the run. Cam Heyward had a big day and was in the backfield on nearly every snap he played. T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith continued their strong play, contributing for two sacks and four tackles for a loss. Watt’s sack looked like he hit Bo Nix with an RKO.

The secondary had a strong game, with Cory Trice Jr. securing his first interception, which crushed any momentum Denver had. DeShon Elliott and Damontae Kazee made key plays in the run defense and Bo Nix could never really get the passing game going.

The special teams unit performed well, with Chris Boswell making both his field goals and Corliss Waitman punted effectively coming off the street this week. Ben Skowronek’s contributions on special teams were valuable. The return games both struggled and once again were hit costly penalties.

The officiating was almost as awful as the first week and way too intrusive in the game. Too many ticky tacky calls that slowed down both teams.

It is pretty clear what the game plan is going to be this year. It is Mike Tomlin’s signature keep the ball away from the other team and punish them when they have it. The team will need to adjust their offensive approach to compete against stronger opponents, especially in the upcoming game against the Chargers.

The Steelers sit at 2-0

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: T.J. Watt, he such a disruptive force on the edge. The stats don’t even come close to telling his story. His sack looked like Bo Nix didn’t know what hit him. Also Considered: Corliss Waitman who came off the street and did a good job punting. The Defensive line led by Cam was just devastating.

Beer of the Game: Stuck with Miller Lite, was at a great bar in Florida called, Hap and Hooch and stuck with Miller Lite. KGB drank Old Fashions for the game.

“Steel the Snacks”: We had to punt on this and had two types of Wings at Hap and Hooch. Wings were outstanding and the service and people were great, despite being a Packers bar.

My Stat of the week:  The Steelers defense only have given up one touchdown this season, on a controversial call against Atlanta. They held the Broncos under 300 yards and stuffed their run game for 64 yards. Those are championship caliber stats.

My Thoughts on next week: A very tough home opener against a fellow undefeated team in the Los Angeles Chargers. This will be the first real test of the defense as the Chargers have demolished everyone they faced so far.

Jersey of the Week: No Jersey this week, I went with a BWGSteelers baseball jersey and BWG shirt. NEW SHIRTS WILL BE OUT WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

Steelers Edge the Atlanta Falcons

They did not score a touchdown, lost their starting quarterback right before game time and the refs were horrible, but somehow there is a renewed feeling of excitement and hope as the Steelers up ended the Falcons and won their season opener 18-10 behind a masterful performance by Chris Boswell.

Justin Fields showcased his potential in a resilient performance, leading the Steelers to a victory after being called upon Sunday morning. Despite early struggles, Fields made key plays throughout the game, including two long passes to George Pickens and several crucial runs. While his performance might not guarantee him another start if Russell Wilson is healthy, it demonstrated that the Steelers could rely on him in the future. He is a dangerous weapon, and he will only get better. Fields finished 17-23 for 156 yards. He also rushed for 57 yards.

The Steelers’ running game was effective if not spectacular, with Najee Harris leading the charge. Harris grinded it out and played old fashion smash mouth Steelers football. Despite Jaylen Warren’s absence, Harris consistently gained yards and wore down the Falcons defense. He finished with a workman 20 carries for 70 yards. The offensive line which was playing without two starters did a good job protecting Fields and opening up the running game.

The receiving corps was highlighted by George Pickens’ impressive performance, as he capitalized on single-coverage opportunities to make big plays. Even after a monster play was called back on a ticky-tacky call. Despite eight different players catching passes, the rest of the receivers were quiet on the day.

Defensively, the Steelers absolutely dominated the Falcons’ offense after the first series. Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi and Montravius Adams led the defensive line with strong performances. Bijan Robinson, one of the best young running backs in the game was held to 68 yards on the ground and the Falcons never got the running game going.

T.J. Watt continued to be a destructive force. Watt was absolutely ripped off on a strip sack that would have negated the Falcons only touchdown. Watt also recovered a fumble on a botched gadget play. The secondary played well, limiting the Falcons’ talented receivers, and Donte Jackson and DeShon Elliott grabbed two interceptions, the latter which all but sealed the game.

Chris Boswell had an exceptional game, tying a franchise-record of six field goals, three of which were absolute bombs of 50 plus, and even punted when  Cameron Johnson, was crushed by the Falcons Special teams and looks to be done for the year. The play resulted in a penalty…for the Steelers, another in a series of AWFUL calls by the officials. The new kickoff rule never really played a role and of course the coverage and return units need to clean up the penalties.

By no means was it a perfect victory, but overall, the victory was a positive start to the season. The offense is a work in progress but for the first time in a long time, their looks like a solid plan. The defense will only get better.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Little Bos is all “growns” up… Chris Boswell banging out SIX field goals, three of which were 50+ is just impressive. We have been very blessed to have the Bos and he saved the day yesterday, with a good punt as well. Also Considered: Scotty Miller, how hard do you think it is to come off the street and have to hold for an NFL kicker with the game pretty much on the line. T.J. Watt who is just an absolute monster. Cam Heyward with a big day.

Beer of the Game: Called an audible and went with old faithful Miller Lite, never disappoints and I did the aluminum bottles which were ice cold. KGB and Little Miss Tailgate went with Corona Light.

“Steel the Snacks”: Fried Chicken and Waffles a southern staple and Perogies a Pittsburgh staple. Eating the leftovers as I type this blog. PHENOMENAL and something they drew rave reviews on Social Media.

My Stat of the week: SIX Field goals for 18 points tying a Steelers record and three of those were for 57, 51 and 56. The 56 was with one second left. It was an outstanding performance.

My Thoughts on next week: This is the CLASSIC Steelers trap game that has plagued Mike Tomlin throughout his career. Houston pulled the upset yesterday with a big win over Jacksonville and the Steelers have the Ravens looming the following week. On paper this should be a big win, they need the offense to perform like it did yesterday and they will make quick work of the Texans.

Jersey of the Week: Went with Cam “Steelhead” Heyward #97 Away, he just signed a long-term deal with the team, and he will go down as one of the greatest players in Steelers history.

We are back, this is our 2024 review of the current roster. Look for more changes as players get released and moved around. We will be doing the weekly game report.

Troy Fautanu T! Solid pick!

The Steelers made a major splash in the offseason to address their quarterback woes. Grabbing a past and hopefully future great:

• Russell Wilson: A veteran quarterback with a Super Bowl win and multiple Pro Bowl appearances. Wilson brings experience, leadership, and a dynamic skillset to the Steelers offense.
• Justin Fields: A young, talented quarterback with starting experience. Fields provides depth and competition at the position, and could potentially be the future starter.

BIG win for Omar Khan, trading for Fields and signing Wilson on a team-friendly deal. This gives them a strong starting option in Wilson with a high-potential backup in Fields, completely revamping their quarterback situation from uncertainty to a position of strength.

Trading Kenny Pickett was rough, but “we want volunteers, not hostages”

It was a microcosm of the season in one game. A tough start, too many mistakes, conservative play calling and then a valiant comeback attempt that came up just a bit short. That will be the tale of the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers as it was the tale of their playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills 31-17 in a frigid Highmark Stadium.

The Steelers’ playoff hopes came crashing down, exposing several fundamental weaknesses that plagued their performance throughout the season. Mason Rudolph’s costly interception in the end zone early in the second quarter was a pivotal moment, but it was just one symptom of a broader offensive struggle. The running game, so vital to their recent success, was shut down by the Bills’ stacked box, failing to replicate any kind of late season success, the offensive line’s inability to control the line of scrimmage hampered both the run and pass game, and the play calling lacked the necessary imagination to effectively challenge the Bills’ depleted secondary.

Mason Rudolph’s early second-quarter interception in the end zone on 2nd-and-goal proved a pivotal turning point in the Steelers’ playoff hopes. Rudolph showed flashes of what got him to this point of the season, including leading the Steelers to within a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the early interception remained a critical turning point that ultimately overshadowed his late-game heroics.

It was a good effort especially rallying from 21 points down, but it was not enough.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Cam Heyward, who played his guts out on Monday night and played tough. Also Considered: Montravius Adams who has been a solid contributor since he has been with the Steelers, his blocked field goal started the would be comeback.

Beer of the Game: The Big IC Light, IC Light 24ounce championship cans! The result was lousy, but the beer was solid and very cold. KGB went with IC Light Mango which was very good!

“Steel the Snacks”: We came back with a vengeance with Buffalo Chicken sliders that were homemade, KGB did a phenomenal job and we had homemade slaw with the Sliders.

My Stat of the week: Fourteen points off turnovers. The Steelers turned the ball over twice, the Bills scored on both turnovers and in the end that was the difference in the game.

My thoughts on next week: It is going to be a long offseason without the Steelers!

Jersey of the Week: Steelers throwback practice jersey. NO NAME. I tried to stay with the winning theme and wore my Steelers throwback practice jersey.

The Steelers got it done and then compliments of former Steeler Mike Vrabel, walk into the playoffs…

It was a game they had to have, and they went and got it. The Steelers were able to manhandle the Baltimore Ravens J.V. squad defeating them 17-10 on a cold and rainy day in Baltimore. The Steelers punched their ticket to the playoffs with a little help from the Tennessee Titans, who sent the loud mouth Terrible Towel stomping Jaguars home!

Mason Rudolph put together a solid if unspectacular week and continued his winning ways. It would seem unfathomable that he would not start next week now. Rudolph finished 18 of 20 for 152 tidy yard in treacherous conditions and one huge touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson. Johnson led the team with 89 yards. What didn’t show up in the stat sheet was his ability to keep George Pickens under control, who was held without a catch and target.

The running game continued its’ renaissance grinding out 155 yards on the ground led by Najee Harris with 26 carries and 112 yards. Jaylen Warren contributed 33 yards on the ground with the longest run of the day, a 23-yarder. Warren seemed to struggle with the elements and fumbled twice, losing one. Both backs had five catches.

The defense knew the Ravens game plan and were able to thwart it. Tyler Huntley, filled in for Lamar Jackson and struggled for the most part. The running game never really got going and the defense held the Ravens to just 224 yards.

T.J. Watt had two sacks and finished as the league leader, before leaving with a knee injury. Markus Golden also recorded a sack, as he filled in for the injured Watt, that helped seal the victory. Mark Robinson had a big day with a sack and a fumble punch out late in the second quarter.

The secondary was never really tested, and Huntley finished with under 150 yards in the air. Eric Rowe’s forced fumble all but sealed the victory giving the Steelers excellent field position and setting up a 10-point lead late in the fourth quarter. Considering Rowe was on the couch as late as November it was a terrific job helping the Steelers leaky secondary.

Chris Boswell finished his outstanding bounce back season, with the clinching 25-yard field goal. He finished the season 29-31 on field goals. Pressley Harvin III was his usual maddening inconsistent self. He belted a great punt that trapped the Ravens inside the 10-yard line. The coverage team had too many men on the field, he then flubbed the re-kick a paltry 26 yards.

Calvin Austin III breathed life into the return game on punts, with 92 yards on five returns. He had a 34-yard return the Steelers didn’t capitalize on. Give credit to Godwin Igwebuike who made a heads up play on a Justin Turner kickoff, grabbing the ball with one foot out of bounds, costing the Ravens a penalty and giving the Steelers the ball at the 40.

It has been such a Jekyll and Hyde season for the Steelers coaching staff, but one thing was certain despite numerous injuries and all sorts of outside noise and distractions, Coach Tomlin kept the train on the tracks and the Steelers were able to make the playoffs!

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Going Eric Rowe whose forced fumble, basically sealed the victory for the Steelers, six weeks ago he was on the couch watching football. Also Considered: Godwin Igwebuike who made a heads up play on the kickoff, with one foot out of bounds costing the Ravens a penalty and field position.

Beer of the Game: The Big Iron, Iron City 24ounce cans! Had to go with the original! The Steelers signature beer did the trick this week!

“Steel the Snacks”: No “Steel the Snacks” again because of the Saturday game.

My Stat of the week: Going with 19 sacks, T.J. Watt, is the first player in NFL history to lead the league in sacks in three different seasons, he is also only the fourth player to have two 19-sack seasons, Demarcus Ware, Mark Gastineau and his brother J.J. were the other three.

My thoughts on next week: Well by a minor miracle the Steelers will head into Buffalo for the first round of the playoffs. It will be a tough outing but the Steelers are made for these types of games. It looks like no T.J. Watt which will make this infinitely tougher. However the Steelers are likely to get back both starting safeties!

Jersey of the Week: Steelers 1962 Logo Jersey without a number. I love this jersey and I decided to give it a shot for the last weekend of the regular season!

The Steelers out muscled the Seahawks in a win that was a testament to their resilience and opportunistic play and after three years of slumber the offense finally looks like it is waking up.

The coaching staff deserves a lot of credit here. Mike Tomlin clearly had an aggressive game plan, and it set the tone. The Steelers went for it on fourth down three times and converted twice. They didn’t shy away after missing on their first attempt. Tomlin stayed aggressive turning Mason Rudolph loose and his faith paid off. The defense is banged up right now and the offense has stepped up these last two weeks.

Mason Rudolph is making a major case to be the Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2024 and it begs the question why he didn’t get a better and longer look until now. He has absolutely delivered and made some of the biggest throws of the season. It is not an understatement to say that he saved the season. Rudolph finished 18 for 24 for 274 yards with no touchdowns. He also did a great job on the sneak play, something that the Steelers have been missing for years.

Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren absolutely hammered the Seahawks front seven and controlled the line of scrimmage. Harris had two touchdowns and could have scored a third. Warren plays so much bigger than he is and has been a tough performer all season, he had one touchdown on an 18-yard carry, he also pulled in four catches.

You do not run that well without a strong performance by the offensive line. Broderick Jones had a highlight day and was handing out pancakes all over the field. Behind the line the Steelers finished with 202 rushing yards, second only to the 205 yards they grinded out against the Packers game in Pittsburgh.

George Pickens had another big day, and his media troubles seem to be in the rearview mirror. He finished with seven catches for 131 yards including a highlight reel catch, a 34-yarder early in the fourth quarter, that will be on the NFL highlight reel this season. Diontae Johnson had four catches for 76 yards. Pat Freiermuth contributed with 44 receiving yards on three catches.

Nick Herbig had arguably the biggest play of the day getting his strip sack midway through the fourth quarter. That turnover gave the Steelers the ball deep in Seattle territory and let them build their lead to 10. Myles Jack once again had a very good day with eight tackles in the game filling in for an injured Elandon Roberts. Cam Heyward had a batted down pass and played well, setting the point of attack.

The secondary struggled but made plays when they needed to. Patrick Peterson did a nice job playing safety. Eric Rowe did a solid job and led the team in tackles with 10. He was a nice mid-season pickup. Joey Porter Jr. hung tough against DK Metcalf.

Chris Boswell made all three of his field goal attempts. He is now 28 for 30 on the season. Pressley Harvin III only had to punt once and he banged a 46-yarder inside the 20.

After a disastrous start of the month, the Steelers recovered and worked their way back to playoff contention.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Najee Harris AND Jaylen Warren who both absolutely stomped the Seahawks defense, for a whopping 197 yards between them. The best run though was the one Najee didn’t make, sliding before the goal line and sealing the victory. Also Considered: Mason Rudolph who has brought the offense back to life.

Beer of the Game: We went to an Irish Pub to watch the game and celebrate the ball dropping in Dublin. I had Guinness and KGB had Smithwicks. Both are our favorites.

“Steel the Snacks”: We didn’t steel the snacks this week again. We did go with wings, onion ring, appetizers, and corned beef sandwiches at the pub!

My Stat of the week: It is now 17 season that Mike Tomlin, has not had a losing season. The media downplays this and for whatever reason the fan base hates the stat, but there is something to be said about the fact that the Steelers are in contention the last week of the year with the number of injuries they are battling and the horrible start the offense had this season. ALSO, The Steelers have scored 30 points in back-to-back weeks for the first time this season and the first time since 2018 when they did it week 2 and 3.

My thoughts on next week: It is Raven’s week! Funny thing about this, the Ravens are in great shape after pulverizing two of the NFL’s best teams in consecutive weeks. They are likely to play only backups and that scares me more than if they went with their varsity. (I still hate Cody Carlson) Don’t think for one second that Baltimore wouldn’t love to send the Steelers home this week!

Jersey of the Week: Joey Porter #55, Away Jersey. I guess technically this is a throwback, but when I bought it, it was new. Chose this one in conjunction with D-Man wearing his Joey Porter Jr. jersey!

The Steelers led by Mason Rudolph won a must win game against the Cincinnati Bengals..

It was just short of a Christmas miracle, somehow the Steelers beat up the Bengals 34-11, dealing Cincinnati a serious blow to their playoff contention and putting up of their best offensive performance in several years!

With starter Kenny Pickett still sidelined due to injury and a wildly ineffective Mitch Trubisky on the bench, the Steelers looked to former backup and current third stringer Mason Rudolph. Who surprisingly thrived after waiting to get the start. He threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with George Pickens for both scores. Pickens finished with a stellar 195 yards and 2 touchdowns, firmly establishing himself as a rising star after a media storm surrounded him all week.

Najee Harris had a tough grind out game with 78 yards and a touchdown, accounting for a big piece of the 113 yards the Steelers garnered.

It was a dominant performance for the defense up front. The Bengals were held to just 59 yards on the ground and put Jake Browning on his heels most of the game. Browning finished with 335 yards, but he was picked off three times and sacked three times. Alex Highsmith had a sack and an interception; T.J. Watt had a sack and was all over Browning. He was held on nearly every play, that isn’t hyperbole either.  With Elandon Roberts going down again, Charlie Batch #16, 😊 check that Miles Jack stepped in and had a very strong game, considering two months ago he was on the couch!

The patchwork secondary hung in there and made plays. It was a solid professional game for Patrick Peterson who was forced into playing safety. He teamed up with Eric Rowe who also was on the practice squad and both had interceptions.

Chris Boswell, drilled both his field goal attempts including a 50-yarder. It was another Pressley Harvin inconsistent performance, continuing his maddening season.

The Steelers were decimated all week between the media and the injuries and the fact that they came roaring out and basically ended the Bengals season can’t be overlooked. Coach Tomlin deserves a lot of credit for not listening to the naysayers, sticking with George Pickens and getting the middle of the lineup defense ready with guys who were not even in the league two months ago.

The last few weeks have been frustrating, and to quote Tomlin, “They don’t seek comfort.” But name another team who lost their starting Quarterback, ALL of their middle linebackers to injury, two Hall of Fame talents for a long period of time, their other starting safety to a ridiculous suspension and were still in contention going into the last two weeks of the season.

That deserves our praise NOT our derision!

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Mason Rudolph for a very strong performance. Great job by the in-game promotion staff who played “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” after the game! Also Considered: George Pickens who had a very hard week in the media but saved his best performance for Sunday! Najee Harris, who had a string bounce back game as well. How about Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt both with big performances.

Beer of the Game: Went with a local Long Island Beer, WHB Pumpkin Beer. Solid well-rounded beer and had to take it easy because of holiday obligations.

“Steel the Snacks”: We didn’t “Steel the Snacks” again, so no coney dogs and skyline chili this season, we did start cooking for Christmas Eve dinner and the Feast of the Seven Fishes!

My Stat of the week: Must go 290 yards and a 124 QB Rating for Mason Rudolph, the best by a Steelers QB this season! It was a terrific performance for a guy who had zero looks from other teams and patiently waited to get his chance in the starting lineup.

My thoughts on next week: VERY TOUGH game to win in Seattle. While the playoffs remain a long shot, there is so much to play for. The Steelers will need a herculean effort and these next two weeks will determine the long-term plan for the franchise. The mainstream media is obsessed with disrespecting the non-losing season streak for Coach Tomlin, but it is important, and the team knows that.

Jersey of the Week: Even though it was “Immaculate Reception” day, I went with a blank jersey with the Steelers helmet on the front. It was to try and break the bad mojo.