Since the start of the season, the Steelers have been winning, but doubt about them persists. It’s never too late to do well and the time has come to realize that this team is not a fraud.
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By winning 28-27 over the Commanders in Washington, the Steelers defeated a team that has beaten everything in its path since September 15, except the powerful Ravens. We had to do it, go beat them at home!
At the start of the season, the Steelers were winning because of their defense. In the first six games, four times, this unit did not give more than 13 points. The attack was suspicious, however, and many, including myself, believed that sooner rather than later there would be a return to earth in Pittsburgh.
When they started the year by beating the Falcons, it was because opposing quarterback Kirk Cousins was returning rusty from a long absence. When they beat the Chargers, it was because their rivals were too conservative.
And now that they’ve beaten the Commanders, what will be the justification? We are still talking about three teams with winning records.
Audacity pays off
With a 4-2 record in mid-October, head coach Mike Tomlin surprised many by taking the ball out of the hands of quarterback Justin Fields and giving it to veteran Russell Wilson.
That week, the Western Wall seemed to have moved to Pittsburgh. Nobody wanted to understand the decision.
Since then, the Steelers haven’t lost and the offense has averaged 30.3 points.
It was too easy to mess with Russell Wilson. After his unsuccessful stay with the Broncos, no one could see him in paint anymore.
I definitely don’t think he’s back to being the amazing quarterback he was in the mid-2010s in Seattle, but he’s clearly not finished.
Many, who went so far as to call for Tomlin’s head, look much worse than the Steelers coach, who continues to prove his worth in his 18e season at the head of the team.
A revived attack
From 2021 to 2023, the Steelers offense has generated 400 or more yards in just three games. Since Wilson took office, it’s happened twice in three weeks.
Against the Commanders, the quarterback only amassed 195 yards, but his three touchdown passes were decisive.
He notably joined his ace receiver George Pickens, who made a superb catch in the end zone. Pickens finished the game with five receptions for 91 yards. Since Wilson has been on the job, he has understood the need to shoot some long balls to give Pickens the chance to make big plays.
The best part of the story is that, when the Steelers were trailing 27-21 late in the fourth quarter, it was newcomer Mike Williams who scored the winning touchdown on a reception from 32 yards, when he beat Benjamin St-Juste. When Williams is acclimated to the offense, he will flash alongside Pickens.
And let’s not forget that the defense is still holding up just as well. For the first time this season, the Commanders’ excellent rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, was not a factor on the ground (3 carries for 5 yards) and he completed only 50% of his 34 passes, its lowest percentage to date.
The Steelers are now 7-2 and will host the Ravens (7-3) next week for the lead in the Conference North Division. It’s simply impossible to ask for more.
5 KEY MOMENTS
1. Still undefeated
The Chiefs continue to find every way imaginable to win. With a slim 16-14 lead late in the game against the Broncos, they appeared poised for their first loss of the season when the Broncos attempted a 35-yard field goal with one second remaining. Young linebacker Leo Chenal made a superhuman effort to crush his blocker to the ground and then dived and blocked the punt, sowing hysteria in Kansas City. The Chiefs are now 9-0 and have won seven games by one possession.
2. Pearsall long live
49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall scored his first career touchdown.
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The return of running back Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers was on everyone’s lips. In his team’s victory against the Buccaneers, he gained 38 yards rushing and 68 passing, but ultimately he was not the player who had the greatest impact on offense. Rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall, barely two months after being hit by a ball during a flight, scored a first career touchdown that he will long remember, on a 46-yard pass and run. He finished the game with four receptions for 73 yards and if he continues in the same vein, he will forget the loss of Brandon Aiyuk.
3. Cousins’ failures
Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins had a difficult time late in the game.
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The Falcons lost a duel they had no business losing, against the Saints. Trailing 20-17 at the end of the match, they had two offensive sequences to try to close the gap, but each time, Kirk Cousins disappointed. The quarterback saw his pass intercepted by Tyrann Mathieu at the end of the game. He still inherited another chance, but he looked bad again on a fourth down with four yards to go by opting for a short pass to Ray-Ray McLoud, a familiar refrain in his case. It must also be said that kicker Younghoe Koo missed three field goals.
4. Trey Lance’s debut
Trey Lance made his debut with the Cowboys.
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The Cowboys were humiliated by the Eagles and they still haven’t won a game in Dallas this season. They are just terrible and with Cooper Rush at quarterback, it’s getting worse than worse. The Cowboys acquired young center Trey Lance last year, a first-round pick in 2021 by the 49ers, and he experienced his first games with the Cowboys. He saw action in a desperate cause and completed four of his six passes for 21 yards, in addition to adding 17 yards on the ground. He was intercepted, for one of the Cowboys’ five turnovers.
5. A horror film
Aaron Rodgers was harassed by the Cardinals defense.
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The Jets were absolutely terrible against the Cardinals. Defeated 31-6, they were limited to 207 yards of offense. Aaron Rodgers has been hit badly a few times and the decision to fire head coach Robert Saleh at the start of the season is looking worse and worse. The defense is completely lost and looked disinterested. Nothing against the Cardinals, they are a good team, but they are certainly not a major power. Against the Jets, they looked like an invincible dynasty. The end-of-season cleaning will be grand in New York.
WINNERS OF THE WEEK
1. Les Cardinals
The Cardinals annihilated the Jets across the board and maintained their hold on first place in their division. They won their last two games by 20 and 25 points.
2. Chubba Hubbard
It’s up to you to believe it or not, but the Panthers have won two games in a row! That’s largely thanks to Canadian running back Chuba Hubbard, who had 153 rushing yards and a touchdown. A few days after his big contract, life is good.
3.Darren Rizzi
Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi relished his first victory. He said afterwards that he had blocked the toilet when he got up in the morning and was therefore expecting a “crappy” day. It’s a lot of details, but hey…
4. The Chargers
Despite only 309 yards of offense, the Chargers improved to 6-3. This shows that it doesn’t take much to beat the Titans, but also that head coach Jim Harbaugh has transformed the Chargers.
5. The Eagles
Their victory, combined with the defeat of the Commanders, gives them first place in the Eastern division of the national conference for the moment. That promises for the duel between the two rivals on Thursday.
LOSERS OF THE WEEK
1. Les Bears
A Saturday night with chamomile tea is more exciting right now than a Sunday afternoon with the Bears onslaught. This offense only scored three points against the Patriots and Caleb Williams was the victim of nine sacks. Help!
2. The Giants
The Giants aren’t just the shame of New York. They are bad everywhere in the United States and since yesterday, even in Germany. They are evil on all continents and in all galaxies. They deserve to be demoted to another universe.
3. Sam Darnold
The Vikings overcame the Jaguars with difficulty and they will certainly not thank their quarterback Sam Darnold, victim of three interceptions. The Vikings are well positioned at 7-2, but Darnold becomes Darnold again.
4. Joe Flacco
The Colts did not benefit from a rare ordinary game from Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who was intercepted twice. Joe Flacco did worse with four turnovers on his record. We will soon see Anthony Richardson again.
5. Mac Jones
If former Patriots Mac Jones, now with the Jaguars, thought he would gain points in the absence of Trevor Lawrence, it is completely missed. He was limited to 111 yards and was intercepted twice in addition to committing a fumble. Jacksonville or New England, Jones is broken.
