Beer We Go Steelers

The Steelers didn’t just lose their crucial late-season battle; they actively threw it away. The 27-24 loss to the Chicago Bears was a systemic breakdown driven by inexplicable coaching decisions and the kind of boneheaded mistakes this team simply cannot afford.

No play loomed larger than Mike Tomlin’s decision to go for it on 4th-and-1 from the Bears’ 31-yard line in the first half. With the chance to go up by 10 points midway through the second quarter, Tomlin pass on a chip-shot 48-yard field goal attempt by Chris Boswell for a failed “tush push” with Connor Heyward. On second effort it looked like it succeeded and the whistle blew after they went forward, but for whatever reason the play was not challenged. Three points loomed large all day.

Tomlin’s post-game justification was admirable but not challenging, was questionable. When you have one of the game’s best kickers giving up points is hard to explain. The lost points and momentum were palpable for the rest of the game.

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith had a terrible game and the play calling once again was inexplicable. On the very first drive, Smith called a pass on 2nd-and-1, which resulted in Mason Rudolph’s interception to DK Metcalf. The Bears immediately scored, seizing early control.

Despite the Bears missing all three starting linebackers, a setup that screamed for old school Steelers football, Smith unnecessarily put the ball in jeopardy. The Steelers were able to move the ball on the ground, and racked up 186 total rushing yards, but given the circumstances, that number should have been north of 200+.

Even with a 21-17 lead in the second half, Smith called for a pass on 2nd-and-4. Rudolph was sacked, forcing a punt and killing a drive that could have extended the lead.

The Steelers’ running back tandem of Kenneth Gainwell (122 yards from scrimmage, including a 55-yard tush-push scamper that led to a TD) and Jaylen Warren (68 yards, one TD) were incredibly effective, but their 34 combined touches were simply not enough on a day tailored for the ground game.

Mason Rudolph, filling in for an injured Aaron Rodgers, showed what he is capable of and what he is not. He had a Jekyll-and-Hyde performance. After a disastrous interception on his first pass, he went 10-for-10 to lead two TD drives and a 21-17 halftime lead. However, the second half saw several crucial mistakes. Rudolph held on to the ball for too long. On one occasion, he was stripped and fumbled from behind when the Steelers were driving for a potential go-ahead score in the third quarter.

Rudolph must demonstrate better pocket awareness, as the offensive line has struggled to protect for lengthy periods all season. The Steelers haven’t shown an ability all season to protect for lengthy periods of time. Rudolph should have thrown the ball away. While he didn’t lose the game, he certainly didn’t win it despite being given several opportunities.

The receiving corps offered Rudolph zero help and passing over the middle is non-existent. With DK Metcalf hobbled by an ankle injury (finishing with just 5 catches for 22 yards), no one stepped up. Calvin Austin III’s 36 yards led the team, and the lack of a field-stretching threat is becoming a critical and frustrating issue.

The defense had the usual unspectacular day that has doomed them all season.

The defensive line and edge rushers vanished after the first quarter. T.J. Watt’s early strip-sack and Nick Herbig’s recovery gave the Steelers a 14-7 lead, the defense recorded zero additional sacks. Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer, splitting time for the injured Alex Highsmith, combined for only four tackles. The interior pass rush was ineffective, giving Bears QB Caleb Williams all day to operate. Cam Heyward, appearing on the injury report Friday with an ankle ailment, was quiet with just two tackles and was double-teamed on nearly every play.

Williams had a field day against the revamped defensive backfield, which appeared to have reverted to its mid-season issues. Williams finished with 239 yards and three touchdowns, highlighted by the now standard Steelers blown coverage, a 25-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore where there wasn’t a Steelers defender within 10 yards. Kyle Duggar dropped an interception that would have thwarted the Bears late first half field goal.

Allowing receivers to run free over the middle has plagued this team all season. The run defense was solid, but scrambles by Williams allowed the Bears to gain 99 yards on the ground. The only bright spot was Yahya Black, who forced and recovered a fumble from D’Andre Swift.

Finally, the special teams had their worst performance of the season, costing the team crucial yards and points. A holding penalty on Ben Skowronek negated a Corliss Waitman punt to the Bears 10-yard line. The re-kick was awful and landed around the 40-yard line. The Bears easily converted the mistake by Skowronek into a go-ahead touchdown. Waitman had by far his worst game as a Pittsburgh Steeler. The Bears racked up 134 yards on kickoff returns to the Steelers’ 63. That’s a back-breaking field flipping statistic for a game decided by three points.

Coach Tomlin indicated that Aaron Rodgers is likely to return next week against the Bills. If the Steelers have any hope of salvaging their season, they must clean up the coaching and mental errors that cost them this game, or we could be headed to a second season in a row collapse.

Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Kenny Gainwell, who had an outstanding day on the ground running for 92 yards on only 10 carries. Also Considered: T.J. Watt who moved ahead of his brother J.J. Watt in sacks, it was one of the only bright spots for the defense.

Beer of the Game: I went with Yuengling Golden Pilsner, KGB skipped beer this week.

“Steel the Snacks”: We went with Steelers snacks, we were traveling this week and had a bevy of great snacks including two different flatbreads, a kick ass dip with crackers and vegetables and we eventually moved onto a Thanksgiving type spread.

My stat of the week: This number is mind boggling to me, the loss in Chicago wasn’t just a tough defeat; it was a continuation of a truly cursed historical trend. For some ungodly reason, Soldier Field has always been the single toughest venue for the Steelers in the league, 1-13 all-time against the Bears in the Windy City, is an embarrassing, inexplicable anchor on this franchise’s history. KGB and I went for one of the hottest games in Chicago history, when the Steelers tanked last time, they were in town.

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers are walking into a buzzsaw with the Buffalo Bills coming off a tough defeat on Thursday Night Football. The Bill will have ample time to get ready with the extra days to prepare and the way the secondary is performing this could be a long day.

Jersey of the Week: I went outside the box and wore my Steelers Baseball jersey, there is no number, but it is adorned by BWGSTEELERS.

The Pittsburgh Steelers wrecked the Bengals in a win driven by brilliant adjustments from the beleaguered coaching staff. Mike Tomlin and Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin game in with a solid game plan and executed it perfectly. The final score wasn’t just about offense; it was about redemption and a dominant defensive performance that completely flipped the script from the first meeting.

The defensive strategy was pretty simple, keep the ball out of the hands of the Bengals dynamic receiving core. Last month in Cincinnati, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for a mind blowing 256 receiving yards and two touchdowns. In the rematch, they were rendered non-factors by a newly configured secondary, combining for less than 100 yards. Chase, in particular, was held to just 30 yards on three catches and he was doing more fighting than catching. The Bengals’ offense finished with 173 fewer total yards in this game compared to the first matchup.

The biggest plays came from the defense. Strong safety Kyle Dugger turned the tide in the third quarter with a massive 74-yard interception return for a touchdown, putting the Steelers up by 11. Pierre added a second defensive score late in the game with a 32-yard scoop-and-score. Playing for the injured Darius Slay, James Pierre was strong in coverage, matching the effort of Joey Porter Jr. who played well.

While the defense held Cincinnati’s receiving threats in check, the run defense was a little leaky allowing 105 rushing yards.

Inside linebacker Patrick Queen anchored the front seven, leading the team with 10 tackles. On the defensive line, Cam Heyward led the linemen with five tackles, but the interior pass rush was quiet—Keeanu Benton recorded the unit’s lone quarterback hit.

Stepping in for the injured Alex Highsmith, outside linebacker Nick Herbig notched the Steelers’ only sack of the game. T.J. Watt had a quiet day in the box score and drew a ridiculous roughing the passer penalty that extended a Bengals drive.

The offense had an uneven day again. The quarterback situation was a tale of two halves. Aaron Rodgers struggled to move the offense after a perfect start. He led the Steelers to a touchdown on the opening possession, going 3 for 3. However, on the next four drives, he went 6 for 12 before being knocked out late in the first half with a hand injury. The offense managed just 110 yards after the initial 78-yard drive.

Mason Rudolph proved it was the right move bringing him back to Pittsburgh. He came in and put together a solid performance. He was prepared and delivered in relief. Going 12 for 16 for 127 yards and a touchdown, Rudolph was instrumental in creating separation, including a 6-for-7 showing on the fourth-quarter touchdown drive.

Arthur Smith must now work on getting Aaron Rodgers back on track when he returns from injury. In the meantime, the performance from Rudolph showed his value and capabilities.

The offensive line had a strong bounce-back effort, allowing only one sack after giving up three in each of the past two games against the Chargers and Colts. Their protection was particularly crucial in the second half, giving Rudolph time to guide the scoring drives.

The running game was productive, totaling 111 rushing yards, but it came at a cost. Jaylen Warren had 62 yards on 10 carries before exiting in the third quarter with an ankle injury.

Kenneth Gainwell stepped up in a massive way. He was a force after Warren left, finishing with 106 scrimmage yards, 61 of which came on the late touchdown drive that sealed the victory. He also caught his second touchdown of the game to put the Steelers up 27-12.

While Gainwell led all pass catchers with 81 receiving yards, it was tight end Darnell Washington that provided the highlight-reel plays. He bulldozed his way to 67 yards on four catches. A stunning 31-yard catch-and-run saw him stiff-arm and run over two defenders. Washington didn’t score on the play but later converted a critical third down with a 17-yard grab.

The team still needs more from the rest of its receivers, with DK Metcalf catching only five passes for 49 yards and no other receiver having more than one catch.

Both Corlis Waitman and Chris Boswell had their usual professional performances despite the treacherous winds. After a tough week last week, Ke’Shawn Williams left the game with an injury. Kenneth Gainwell and D’Shawn Jamison returned kickoffs, and Calvin Austin III handled the punt return duties.

The referees were once again way to involved in the game. Many of the calls benefited the Steelers and it was still annoying to watch.

In the end it was big and much needed boost for the coaching staff, who were absolutely trashed all week by a restless fan base. The team was absolutely prepared for the Bengals and had the perfect game plan. It should keep the media and the fans under wraps for a week.

Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: A lot of good people to choose from here but going with Cam Heyward. The stat lines were solid but not outstanding, however yesterday he passed Mike Webster for second most games in Steelers history. That is quite an accomplishment; and we have been blessed to have had Cam for so long. Also Considered: Mason Rudolph who did a great job coming off the bench. Darnell “Mt.” Washington for his highlight film day.

Beer of the Game: We went with a Pa. standby Yuengling Lager, after running out of it half way through the game last week, we had an ample supply for this week!

“Steel the Snacks”: KGB went hybrid Steel the snacks, she went with Kielbasa and Hot Sausage sandwiches with Skyline Chili. Absolutely phenomenal and we actually had them right before the half when the Steelers hit the field goal.

My stat of the week: This is a historical one, 221 games for Cam Heyward who passed Mike Webster on the Steelers all-time list.

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers will head to Chicago to play the Bears. Steelers need a big performance on both sides of the ball.

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.