The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t just win, they dominated
The Pittsburgh Steelers entered Monday night in need of a win. What they did was make a statement.
After a slow first half that featured Asante Samuel’s first interception as a Steeler on the Dolphins’ second drive, the Steelers closed out the second quarter with a Connor Heyward touchdown, which would end up being the first of four consecutive touchdown drives for Pittsburgh. On the first drive of the second half, the Steelers drove 71 yards in six plays, capping off the first series of the third quarter with an Aaron Rodgers touchdown pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling like it was 2019 in Green Bay.
After a three-and-out from Miami, the Steelers put together a 10-play drive that was punctuated with a 28-yard touchdown from Rodgers to DK Metcalf, who did his best impression of Darnell Washington by shotputting Minkah Fitzpatrick aside, breaking a tackle, and rumbling into the end zone on one of the toughest runs you’ll see from a receiver. The Steelers’ defense forced yet another three-and-out on Miami’s ensuing drive, and once again put together a long drive of their own – a nine-play, 81-yard drive that was finished off with a pitch to Jonnu Smith, who ran it in to put the Steelers up 28-3 with just over 13 minutes to play. That marked the first time in NFL history that two tight ends ran for a touchdown in the same game. And while the Dolphins scored two late touchdowns, the result was never in doubt after the Steelers took the lead.
This was yet another very efficient game from Aaron Rodgers. He went 23-of-27 for 224 yards and two touchdowns. His 85 percent completion percentage was his highest in a game since 2014. Kenneth Gainwell added 80 yards on the ground and 46 yards receiving in what was yet another big performance from the former Philadelphia Eagle who has become a guy the Steelers may have at the top of their priority list this offseason.
The aggression from the Steelers on offense was a pleasant surprise. Mike Tomlin, the coach who goes for it as little as any coach in the NFL, kept his offense on the field on fourth down twice on the Steelers’ second drive, and three times overall – the Steelers moved the sticks on all three fourth-down tries. The Steelers didn’t score on that second drive, but they set the tone and kept the Dolphins’ offense cold on the sideline.
Defensively, the biggest worry entering the game was the ground attack for Miami, especially with Derrick Harmon and T.J. Watt out. The Steelers answered those concerns by holding the Dolphins to just 63 yards on 3.9 yards per carry. The Dolphins finished with just 295 yards of total offense, and the Steelers held Miami to just 2-of-8 on third down.
In totality, this was one of the most dominant wins in recent memory for the Steelers. It never felt like the game was in danger of getting away from them, and it was as well-rounded a performance from a melting pot of different performers who weren’t even on the team in Week 1. Samuel, Valdes-Scantling – heck, Adam Thielen threw a key block on the Jonnu Smith touchdown run. Every hand in the pile did their job to contribute, and that’s what you need this time of year.
This team may not be the most talented, and they may not have an abundance of high-end star power, but they fight. And in a wide-open AFC with a four-time MVP under center, the Steelers feel like they can make a little bit of noise in January – and they showed what that could look like.
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Category: General Sports