Steelers Now
In a battle of two surprising division leaders, the Pittsburgh Steelers came up short against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
This was a chaotic, entertaining game with an extremely frustrating finish for the visiting team given the fact that the scoreboard was closer than it honestly should have been. It was a very concerning showing from a pass coverage standpoint, with guys seemingly running wide open all over the place at the second and third levels. Offensively, they were actually able to set the tone early with a whole bunch of jabs to the opponent’s body, but they couldn’t quite land the haymaker that they needed to get over the top.
The next two opponents will feature bouts with playoff contenders, and Mike Tomlin’s team will need to bounce back quickly in order to climb back in the seeding. Before we move ahead, let’s take a look at some winners and losers from the game that was.
Pittsburgh ran for 186 yards for a smooth 57% success rate in this one and seemed to generate more displacement at the line of scrimmage against a smaller Bears interior. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith called a strong game, particularly in the first half, using misdirection to create advantageous angles for his maulers up front. They were equally as stout in pass protection, with Mason Rudolph only pressured on six dropbacks, and a couple of those were due to him holding on to the ball too long in the pocket. The progression of this unit is the number one thing worth getting invested in the rest of the way.
It’s never easy going on the road in the NFL with your backup quarterback under center, but the Steelers passing game is brutal to watch at the moment. They simply cannot push the ball down the field whatsoever, and while the screen passes/checkdowns are effective ways to stay on schedule, they aren’t going to create enough explosive plays to win shootouts like this. Rudolph had some brutal moments today when trying to throw deep, including a foul ball to Roman Wilson, who had created some separation on a backup cornerback. The wins on the perimeter seem few and far in between with a scheme that isn’t getting guys open with innovative design. Unless they somehow find answers, this is a group that has a pretty shallow ceiling despite a competent floor.
Watt’s strip sack turned touchdown was vintage #90, with him showing impressive hustle to stick with the rush to create a splash play. Knowing Caleb Williams’ propensity to be a one-handed ball carrier in the pocket, the Steelers captain did an excellent job attacking the throwing arm to jar it loose. On PFF’s initial charting, he was tagged with just that lone pressure, but it was a big one that at least kept the game closer than what it would have been otherwise. He also drew a holding...
