STEELERS WEEK 9 REPORT CARD
Quarterback: For the second consecutive week, the Steelers needed Ben Roethlisberger to save them with second-half heroics, and for the second time, he put the team on his back and delivered victory. He had 195 of his 306 passing yards in the second half and threw the winning touchdown to Eric Ebron with 1:57 left on the clock. He completed 15 of 23 after halftime and finished with a quarterback rating of 113.8. Sure, he has to help the offense figure out the first-half struggles. The victories won’t continue for long if he’s performing at that level for long stretches. But he did what was necessary to win, which is what he’s been doing all season. Grade: B
Running backs: When the offense is more successful without a running back, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate what’s going on in the backfield. Here’s all you need to know about how the running backs played Sunday: James Conner averaged 2.4 yards per carry; Anthony McFarland had 2.3 yards per carry and Benny Snell had 0.3 yards per carry. Yes, the offensive line isn’t opening many holes, but someone has to step up and want the starting job. Or maybe the Steelers should just play five receivers all game. That’s the only time this offense has showed any signs of life the past two weeks. Grade: F
Receivers: JuJu Smith-Schuster stepped up again with another clutch second-half performance. He had 80 of his team-leading 93 yards in the second half and had a 31-yard touchdown. Diontae Johnson’s 43-yard catch and run set up the winning touchdown. It was one of three touchdowns from receivers and tight ends. James Washington and Eric Ebron had the others. It’s quickly becoming obvious the Steelers are going to live and die with a passing offense, so this group is going to have to continue to make big plays. Grade: B
Offensive line: Sooner or later, the line’s inability to run block is going to cost the Steelers a game. Facing third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 in the first half, the Steelers could not pick up a yard and turned it over on downs. Then with less than a minute remaining, the Steelers faced a fourth-and-1, and Conner was dropped for a four-yard loss. The Steelers needed to convert a third-and-1 to close out the Ravens game last week and couldn’t get it. It didn’t cost them that game, but the Ravens got close and had a chance to win. The same thing happened on Sunday. The Cowboys had a shot at the end zone to win it. Give credit to the line for keeping Roethlisberger clean again. That was a factor in the comeback, but the struggles in the running game continue to drag this offense down. Grade: C-
Defensive line: The Steelers sure need nose tackle Tyson Alualu to get healthy soon. The run defense the past two weeks without him has been atrocious. The Cowboys ran for 144 yards one week after the Ravens ran for 265. That’s not a formula for success. Cam Heyward had three quarterback hits in the game and came up big at crunch time when he and T.J. Watt combined for a huge sack of Garrett Gilbert on fourth down. He’s special player with a knack for coming up big at the right time. Grade: C+
Linebackers: Rookie Alex Highsmith picked up his first NFL sack one week after getting his first interception. T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree only had one tackle each, but Watt had three quarterback hits and three passes defensed. Vince Williams and Robert Spillane combined for 14 tackles and had to play every snap on defense. The Cowboys were playing short-handed, but they controlled the game with their ability to run the ball. The linebackers have to do a better job and help the defensive line. Grade: C+
Secondary: Minkah Fitzpatrick continues to make big plays when the game is on the line. His fourth-quarter interception in the end zone thwarted a potential Cowboys scoring drive, and he broke up a pass in the end zone on the final play of the game for a second week in a row. Joe Haden had five tackles, including one late in the fourth quarter on Ezekiel Elliott that forced a fourth down. If Elliott escaped Haden’s tackle, he might have scored. Instead, Heyward got the big sack on the next play. Issues remain with quarterbacks finding wide open receivers against the Steelers’ zone defense, but this unit has made big plays with the game on the line the past two weeks. They deserve credit for that. Grade: B-
Special teams: There were two missed extra points and two long returns — one on a trick-play punt return that netted 73 yards and another on a 64-yard kick return when the Steelers were kicking off from their own 45 and hoping to pin the Cowboys deep. The blocked extra point spooked coach Mike Tomlin and factored into his decision to forego a chip-shot field goal to go up eight points with 43 seconds left. It was shades of Super Bowl X against the Cowboys when Chuck Noll had no confidence in punter Bobby Walden. That game ended with the Cowboys having a shot at the end zone just like this one did. All’s well that ends well, but Danny Smith has some work to do this week. Grade: F
Coaching: Tomlin explained why he didn’t attempt a field goal with 43 seconds left. He said he had no confidence in his special teams. He also said he had confidence in the Steelers’ short-yardage offense, which is almost inexplicable given the struggles Conner endured all game in those situations. The Steelers have to figure out how to fix their short-yardage offense and start games better. They can’t keep counting on second-half comebacks. It might be time to cede control of the offense completely to Roethlisberger and let him call the game. Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner’s play-calling in the first half of the past two games leaves a lot to be desired. The defense came up with some big plays, but it probably shouldn’t have come to that. The Cowboys were playing with a quarterback making his first NFL start, but the Steelers allowed him to dictate the tempo and pick out favorable matchups in the first half that allowed them to control the game. That can’t happen against a quarterback of that caliber. Grade: D-
Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.
First Published: November 9, 2020, 2:34 a.m.
