Beer We Go Steelers

The Steelers held off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their first victory of the season. Riding a hot Ben Roethlisberger and enough defensive plays in a tough Monday Night Football game, the Steelers finally got in the win column.

Ben Roethlisberger bounced back from a tough Week 1 in Cleveland to put together two of his best back to back games in his career. Roethlisberger passed for three touchdowns and 353 yards. It was a masterful performance, he also executed a picture perfect two-minute drill to end the first half. It was excellent clock management and field generalship and he did well to extend plays.

Roethlisberger spread the ball around hitting seven different receivers. JuJu Smith-Schuster led the team with nine catches and 116 yards. AB chipped in with six catches and a touchdown. Vance McDonald had the biggest play of the night with a 75 yard catch and run touchdown, burying Chris Conte with an epic stiff arm that was the highlight of the game.

The running game did a good job playing behind a makeshift line. James Conner posted respectable numbers with 61 yards on only 15 carries. His two fourth quarter runs iced the game for the Steelers ripping off runs of 27 and 17 yards. He also caught five passes for 34 yards. Steven Ridley played well when called upon.

The defense was a mish-mosh of success and failure. There was very little room to run against the Steelers and they held Tampa to one touchdown for 3 1/2 quarters.

Bud Dupree had a nice bounce back game after being essentially erased last week. He had a sack and a pick six that essentially turned the game around. Jon Bostic had his best game as a Steeler so far putting together six tackles and a sack and two passes defended one of which led to a Mike Hilton interception. The Secondary was leaky and gave up some big plays in the second half but also forced three turnovers.

The special teams are once again an area of concern. Chris Boswell continues to struggle and missed another extra point as well as a field goal. After being one of the Steelers best assets, he has missed two extra points and three field goals this season. The coverage teams were completely undisciplined getting two huge penalties.

The team continues to make stupid mistakes and ran up a whopping 13 penalties! The refs where way to involved in the game, but another week of 100+ yards in penalties, speaks to a complete lack of discipline.

In the end, the Steelers did enough to get in the win column and were able to go into Ravens week with some momentum.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Ben Roethlisberger, who had a tremendous game and buried the Bucs in the second half. He gives the Steelers a chance to win every week. Others Considered: Bud Dupree, who had a great bounced back week. JuJu Smith-Schuster and of course Vance McDonald who might have turned the season around with that play.

Where I watched the game: This is a trick question, this week. I started watching the game at the Saratoga National Golf Club, the Beer of choice was an ICE cold Peroni. I was at a business event and had to sneak down. Then I proceeded to a classic dive bar the T and L in Saratoga, where I met up with some local Steelers fans and hid out from clients and coworkers. The Beer of choice was Miller Lite draft. I finished at a corporate event with a Miller Lite Bottle as the Steelers rolled to victory. Then I had to watch the highlights of what I missed yesterday, which was why this is a day late. I was fortunate to have Bill and KGB keep me updated with texts.

My Stat of the week: 37 penalties in three weeks for a mind-numbing 347 yards. That is atrocious and needs to be cleaned up.

My Thoughts on next week: The Steelers play their arch rival Baltimore Ravens. KGB loves that every excuse I have this week, will be…but “Babe it’s Ravens’ week!” The Steelers needs some momentum and a win here can put them right back in the AFC North race.

This week’s Jersey: Steelers Ben Roethlisberger #7 Home jersey in honor of him getting last weeks game beer!

It was a horrible day for the defense in the friendly confines of Heinz Field yesterday, as they were torched for 42 points by Chiefs Rookie QB Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes threw for six TDs. The defense had no answers, getting very little pressure and being unable to put together any sort of coverage package.

It was a rough game from the start, as the Steelers quickly fell behind 21 points. They had no plan to stop Travis Kelce and Mahomes did a great job spreading the ball around. In the last five quarters the defense has allowed 56 points!

The special teams was once again a disaster. The Steelers went quickly down by seven in the first quarter because the special teams fell asleep on DeAnthony Thomas’ 53-Yard return on the first punt of the game. Little Bos missed back to back field goals for the first time in his career as a Steelers and he missed an extra point as well. Of course the Steelers ended the game on a roughing the punter penalty by Tyler Matakevitch. Ryan Switzer is the lone bright spot on this unit.

Ben Roethlisberger had a monster day. The offense put up 37 points and Roethlisberger passed for 452 yards, three touchdowns and gutted out another touchdown on the ground, in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. The protection was okay, the running game was non-existent since the Steelers were down so much so early.

JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jesse James both had big games, Antonio Brown contributed nine catches for 67 yards, but had some sort of sideline melt down, which was never fully explained.

While the defense is terrible, the loss belongs on the coaching staff. The Steelers have looked unprepared in the first two games and seems to lack discipline. They also mangled the clock on the last series after getting a key turnover and had no plan to get the ball back.

In the end the Steelers are still in search of their first victory in 2018.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Ben Roethlisberger, who kept the Steelers in the game. He gutted out a tremendous performance. Others Considered: NO ONE.

Where I watched the game: At the house with the Tailgate Kids. The beer of choice was IC Light and Corona Light. We had Pepperoni Bread and Meatball sliders, dinner was Sausage and Kale soup, which was terrific.

My Stat of the week: 79 Points scored in the past two homes games…both losses. Something has to be done to fix the defense and come up with a plan that actually works.

My Thoughts on next week: The Steelers need a big win against a surging Tampa Team on Prime Time Monday Night Football

This week’s Jersey: Steelers Alejandro Villanueva #78 Color Rush Jersey. In honor of last Monday being 9/11 felt it appropriate.

Despite a horrendous performance on offense, with a whopping SIX turnovers and a blown 14 point, 4th quarter lead, the Steelers escaped Cleveland without losing, settling for a rare 21-21 tie against the arch rival Browns.

There is something to be said about protecting your players in the preseason and it is hard to argue, however it was apparent that Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger were not on the same page all day. Roethlisberger had three interceptions in the first half and lost two costly fumbles. He missed several receivers and he looked off all day. He didn’t get a lot of help as Jesse James let a pass go through his hands for an interception.

The offense despite the lousy performance had some bright spots, JuJu Smith-Schuster, looks to build off his solid rookie campaign, with a 67-yard catch and run and finished with 119 yards on five catches. James Conner had a tremendous day and finished with 135 tough yards on the ground, two touchdowns and 57 yards in the air. He was the key to the offense and only his fourth quarter fumble dampened what would have been a tremendous day.

The defense put together a respectable performance and kept the Browns passing game in check all day. They finished with seven sacks a huge fourth quarter game saving turnover and made key plays. The rebuilt secondary held up for the most part until they lost Joe Haden. His replacement Cam Sutton gave up the 17-yard touchdown to Josh Gordon but also made the game saving interception. The dialogue will be how they blew a fourth quarter lead, but really the offense blew the lead.

The front seven recorded seven sacks and showed good discipline in maintaining their lanes with a mobile Quarterback in Tyrod Taylor. The Browns never found much running room. Jon Bostic and Vince Williams played well together in their first outing. T.J. Watt had a huge game with 11 tackles, four sacks and the biggest play of the day, a blocked field goal to preserve the tie.

Special teams had a strange day, Jordan Berry looks like he might have righted the ship after a terrible preseason. Ryan Switzer looked terrific in his first game and could be an asset. But Chris Boswell, who was the only known entity on the unit, missed the game winning field goal, something he had four of last year.

The coaching had a terrible day and despite being opening weekend, seemed unprepared again, playing on the road against an inferior opponent. The Steelers were penalized over 100 yards and the game plan seemed completely disjointed. Not a great day for Tomlin and crew. One thing that was good to see, the use of the QB sneak.

In the end the Steelers were extremely lucky to get out with a tie and almost certainly should have lost.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: We toyed with the idea of not giving it to anyone, but T.J. Watt had a heck of a day and saved the game with a blocked field goal in OT. Others Considered: James Conner, who would have won it, if he didn’t have a crucial back breaking fumble.   

Where I watched the game: At the house with the Tailgate Kids. We decorated for the game and had great snacks. For the game, KGB made Perogies a ‘Burgh staple and pull apart pigs in the blank with a cheese and mustard sauce. Dinner was Faux-Primanti Brothers. The beer of choice was IC Light for me and for KGB it was Corona Light.

My Stat of the week: Six Turnovers and 116 yards in penalties is horrendous and not worthy of a Super Bowl Contender. On a personal note, I attended the last Steelers tie game and coincidentally the last time they blew a 14 point 4th quarter lead.

My Thoughts on next week: The Steelers need a huge bounce back game. If they play like they did against the Browns, the Chiefs will blow them off the field.

This week’s Jersey: Steelers 1970’s #52 Iron Mike Webster. We went to church and brought up the gifts!