Winners and losers from the Pittsburgh Steelers 38-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills Sunday.
WINNERS
George Pickens – It’s a…gentle record of winners nowadays. But gazing George Pickens will absorb some tears. Kenny Pickett displays a variety of accept as true with in Pickens and with just right reason why, able to profitable contested and skying over defensive backs. He used to be simply the workforce’s most sensible first part weapon, catching 4 passes for 63 yards within the first part. His moment part used to be quieter however confirmed the facility to make gold medal catches despite the fact that they weren’t completions.
DeMarvin Leal – Rookies had been the intense spot, a bit of little bit of hope for the longer term when there isn’t a lot of a gift. Leal used to be an lively member of the workforce’s 3-3-5 protection. He batted down two of Josh Allen’s passes and were given on a TE to explode a toss play early within the sport. Leal’s been the largest benefactor of T.J. Watt’s damage and has been ready to boost up his enlargement and construction, even if he’s not likely to be a full-time rush finish. Still, his play right here must stay the Steelers the use of him creatively even if Watt returns.
Levi Wallace – I imply, I suppose? Wallace used to be protecting Gabe Davis on his 98-yard ranking, despite the fact that Tre Norwood took a nasty perspective and introduced 0 assist excessive. Wallace did have a breakup on an extended throw to Stefon Diggs and became his head round for a pleasant finish zone INT the primary part. A few vibrant spots on an differently horrible defensive day.
James Daniels – Forget about his blocking off. Sticking up on your rookie QB after he is taking a success (that are meant to’ve been referred to as a penalty and in some way wasn’t). Steelers’ coaches, teammates, and lovers gotta love that. I do. You get at the winners record for that. Defend your quarterback. Somebody confirmed lifestyles in this useless workforce. Kudos to Jaylen Warren too.
As for Pickett, he battled, he used to be gutsy and he didn’t play poorly, however I don’t know if it used to be sufficient to be at the winners record, particularly with the Bills calling off the canines principally via halftime. Feel loose to disagree. I’m now not discouraged via his first get started even in horrible defeat.
LOSERS
Mike Tomlin/Matt Canada – There’s a large number of losers nowadays. But it begins with the training body of workers. Beating Buffalo would’ve been a enormous job and if Pittsburgh sought after any probability of that, they needed to be competitive. If you’re going to head down, cross down swinging. The Steelers did anything else however. They ran the ball on 1st and 2d right down to no avail, regardless of the Bills being maximum battered within the secondary. Their cross performs had been secure, the similar rollout/curl run again and again they usually refused to open up the offense. Playing at the street is a tricky setting however you’ll be able to’t speak about Pickett being a special more or less rookie after which deal with him like your conventional one.
Though it in the end wouldn’t have mattered, Tomlin’s choice to kick a box purpose down 24-3 in the second one quarter on 4th and 5 – on a windy day – used to be an indefensible name. It’s a large number of concern livin’ for a trainer who professes to not. Football karma did its phase with Chris Boswell’s box purpose pushing extensive left. Talk about waving a white flag. It’s onerous to rally and encourage with give-up choices like that.
Tomlin did it once more (!!!) on the finish of the 1/3 quarter down 31-3. Blows my thoughts and I don’t even wish to write anymore about it.
Danny Smith – It’s now not simple to be for your third-string returner and make a last-second adjustment from Steven Sims, who overlooked the beginning of the sport with an eye fixed damage. But I will’t perceive why the workforce became to CB James Pierre, who fumbled the Steelers first kick go back, not able to trace and box the ball on a windy day. Pierre didn’t even go back kicks in school frequently, simply 3 in his occupation, and Mike Tomlin hates the use of defenders again there for a reason why.
So how did the workforce flip to Pierre as an alternative of almost certainly anyone else. A receiver like Diontae Johnson or George Pickens, guys who’re steadily within the go back line and naturally, catch the ball always (save your Johnson drop jokes for the instant). I’d’ve even taken RB Benny Snell, an upman who has returned the occasional kick earlier than on squib kicks and ones which are skied into the air.
I’m placing that call on Smith. And it used to be the improper one. Overall, a peculiar day for particular groups. A large number of unpleasant from either side.
Defense/Defending The Deep Ball – In some way, it’s onerous guilty the Steelers. They had been merely outclassed and outmatched. Today used to be gazing Usain Bolt race…me. Pittsburgh’s issues handiest were given worse once they handled extra in-game accidents Cam Sutton happening past due within the first part and Levi Wallace in the second one part. Josh Allen cooked them, beginning out with a 98-yard TD to Gabe Davis, who added a 62-yard ranking on a really perfect play in opposition to Minkah Fitzpatrick later within the part. Pittsburgh performed Arthur Maulet, Josh Jackson, Elijah Riley in opposition to Allen. Squirt gun to a real gun battle. Allen post 348 yards and 4 touchdowns on the part. He may’ve had extra.
This protection can’t rush the quarterback, can’t prevent the large play, with a middling run protection. There’s little they are able to do proper and now not all of it may be blamed on T.J. Watt.
Devin Bush – While many in this protection struggled, Bush caught out slightly greater than others. Not making performs on the catch level. Getting beat on the spoil level. Unable to breakdown or even get a hand on Josh Allen on an early LB blitz. Bush has been extra bodily and gotten off blocks this 12 months however he may even glance much less athletic this 12 months. His sideline-to-sideline talent he flashed his rookie 12 months is long past and there’s little about his sport to get enthusiastic about.
Najee Harris – Game script made it onerous for Harris to get going nowadays however the first part motion used to be deficient, like the whole thing else. Unable to create, a possible overlooked hollow or two (the All-22 is perfect to substantiate), and now not making performs post-catch within the passing sport. Harris had made some development the final two weeks however nowadays used to be a complete dud.
Diontae Johnson – Johnson makes the harsh catches glance simple and the simple ones glance difficult. He had a 3rd down throw that used to be top however thru his arms and he struggled to stay his ft inbounds at the sideline. Tough performs however one’s he’s able to making and ones Pittsburgh unquestionably wanted. Johnson is a smart direction runner and makes some fantastic performs however his loss of consistency is simply maddening and he is going thru too many slumps. Moments get in his head and he has an uncongenial dependancy of stacking dangerous performs/video games.