Pittsburgh Steelers Escape Week 8 Primetime With A Subpar Victory

With the stage set for the Pittsburgh Steelers to take advantage of a struggling New York Giants team on Monday night in Week 8, Mike Tomlin once again found a way to play down to what should have been a lesser opponent. The perfect opportunity for a statement moment was turned into a subpar victory that raised more concern than confidence.

Pittsburgh Steelers Start Slow Again

The Giants came into Week 8 with two wins and injuries hobbling an already challenged squad. Considering the frustratingly slow starts that Pittsburgh has consistently pushed through, the goal was to hit the ground running and give the defense an early-game lead to lean on. On the first three Steelers drives, it appeared the offense had rhythm and the ability to move the ball at will. However, each ended with a Chris Boswell field goal despite being 13 yards or less from the endzone. A 9-6 Pittsburgh lead halfway through the second quarter could have been 21-6, and too many points were left on the field.

A brutal penalty against the struggling Broderick Jones nullified a touchdown on Pittsburgh’s opening drive. The second offensive drive stalled at New York’s seven-yard line, and then the third was a rare situation where George Pickens could not get his feet in bounds. Three drives of 10, seven, and 12 plays, respectively, resulted in nine points, which isn’t nearly good enough with contenders waiting after the Week 9 bye.

Defensive Magic Was Needed

The script once again called for a lackluster Pittsburgh Steelers offense to come alive after being propped up for two or more quarters. A rare black and gold punt return by Calvin Austin III for a touchdown early in the third quarter took a 9-9 tie and gave the Steelers a 16-9 lead that the team never relinquished. On the next offensive possession, Russell Wilson connected with Van Jefferson for 36 yards and later hit Austin for a 29-yard touchdown that put Pittsburgh up 23-9 with just over 13 minutes left in the game.

The highest-paid defense in the NFL had to earn their money in the waning moments of Monday night’s game. After allowing a touchdown and a field goal to cut the lead to a one-score game at 26-18, the bottom fell out when Wilson fumbled with under five minutes left in the fourth quarter. Despite a significant record disparity, New York was at Pittsburgh’s 37-yard line with eight points separating the two teams. Daniel Jones led the Giants down to the Steelers’ 19-yard line, where New York’s momentum ended. A T.J. Watt strip sack and another interception for Beanie Bishop sealed the frustrating game.

Najee Riding High Into the Bye

For the first time in his NFL career, Najee Harris has put together three consecutive outings with at least 100 yards rushing, totaling 322 yards during the streak. In a game where it took quite some time for Pittsburgh’s offense to warm up, Harris was ready to go from the first running play. All four quarters felt uneven for the Pittsburgh Steelers, which made the steady play from the former Alabama running back all the more important. With plenty of competition waiting for the team following the upcoming bye week, Harris will need to consistently have these kinds of performances for the offense to find its footing.

If the wide receiver situation remains the same, and the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t bring in anyone else to complement Pickens, the rushing attack will be vital to staying in the fight as the season tightens down the stretch. With an offensive line group that revels in run blocking, attrition is something that Pittsburgh has on its side with a back like Harris and big bodies ready to clear a path. Wilson has shown that the rust is coming off, and more deep passes look like they should, but the running game still drives the offense.

Conclusion

Six wins in eight weeks with the NFL’s toughest 2024 schedule is impressive in itself, but the Pittsburgh Steelers have accomplished that while navigating a slew of injuries. Despite touchdowns being taken away every week due to officiating or inexcusable penalties, the 6-2 Pittsburgh Steelers are alone atop the AFC North. The frustrating aspects of the offense, the slow starts, confusing play calls, and injuries haven’t derailed the campaign because Pittsburgh protects the football and then takes it away at a ruthless pace.

Week 9 will give the Pittsburgh Steelers a chance to get healthy and find some way to field an offense that doesn’t need two quarters or more to find the endzone. Games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and division rivals will become blowouts if the Pittsburgh Steelers only manage nine points by halftime. Whether with a new receiver alongside Pickens or not, Pittsburgh will not get Watt his first career playoff win by putting everything on the defense’s shoulders. It was a much-needed victory, but now the question is if Tomlin and his staff can have the Pittsburgh Steelers ready to raise the bar when Week 10 rolls around.