The Steelers 29-27 win over the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football conjures many different descriptions.
- Intense. Last second. Frantic. Heart Rendering. Barn burner. Lucky.
Do you agree with these descriptions? Good. So do I. But there’s another, better word we can use: “Marginal.” Marginal certainly isn’t as colorful. “Marginal” also holds a neutralish if negative connotation. But Bears win on Monday night shows us that the 2021 Steelers might actually be able to use that to their advantage.
T.J. Watt blocks Justin Fields’ pass. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com
Canada Sets Offense Up for Strong Start
Given this win’s last second nature, it is easy to forget the Steelers left a lot of positive takeaways in this game, especially early on.
- One of those is that Matt Canada has a sharp offensive mind.
He’s clearly gaining a feel only for his player’s abilities but he’s also adept at applying those strengths to exploit opposing defense’s weaknesses. On their first possession, the Steelers marched down the field, literally just as Canada had scripted it.
Najee Harris scores a first quarter touchdown. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review
Canada’s formation set up Ben Roethlisberger’s 3rd and 7 conversion to Chase Claypool. Later in the Red Zone put Claypool in motion and deployed Derek Watt to block allowing Najee Harris to march into the end zone untouched.
And if the drive following Cam Heyward’s interception wasn’t quite as smooth, it did only take ten plays for Ben Roethlisberger to find Pat Freiermuth in the end zone for another touchdown to start the 2nd quarter.
Sure, the Bears eked out a field goal late in the second quarter, but as the Steelers entered the locker room at half time, one couldn’t help but imagine Mason Rudolph taking the field in the early 4th quarter….
Failure to Control Line of Scrimmage (almost) Dooms Steelers in 2nd Half
…Instead of seeing Mason Rudolph taking snaps, Steelers Nation got to witness Ben Roethlisberger’s 39th 4th quarter comeback and 50th game winning drive.
- After such a strong start, these heroics shouldn’t have been necessary. Alas, it was for very understandable reasons.
If the first quarter proved that Matt Canada can scheme with the best of them, the next three quarters proved that his offensive line remains a work in progress. The Steelers offensive line lost the battles up front, leaving Najee Harris no where to run.
Credit Canada for innovating and using jet sweeps to gain yards on the ground. James Washington, Diontae Johnson and Claypool carried the ball 6 times and gained 37 yards in the process. While this helped keep the defense honest, the Steelers offense couldn’t put the game away because their offensive line was getitng manhandeled.
- Well, that plus Ray-Ray McCloud’s fumbled punt return for a touchdown.
To recap, with about 7 minutes left to play, T.J. Watt had sacked Justin Fields. Even if the Steelers run 3 plays for zero yards, Pittsburgh probably burns at least 2 and a half minutes off of the clock. A single first down in that situation could seal victory.
Instead, the Steelers let the Bears right back in the game.
And Chicago was only too happy to take them up on their invitation.
Limiting Fields Carried Costs for Defense
Chicago’s comeback did not happen in a vacuum. Justin Fields, after struggling for much of the first half, played lights out late in the game. The Steelers defense struggled to slow the Bears.
When asked why Arthur Maulet was left in single coverage so often with Minkah Fitzpatrick roaming instead of helping with double coverage, Mike Tomlin explained, “Quarterback mobility challenges you from that standpoint. So, yes, there’s not only Arthur, but a lot of people are in single coverage when dealing with quarterback mobility.”
That’s both good and bad for the Steelers.
- Its good because it suggests that Chicago wasn’t exploiting a systemic weakness
- Its bad because the Steelers have to play Lamarr Jackson twice more this season.
Its also worrisome because the Steelers gave up the house to draft Devin Bush in part to have a player capable of containing Jackson. Bush, who left the field on third downs, doesn’t appear to be capable of that at this point.
A “Marginal” Victory? Yes. But History is Made in the Margins
To a man, Mike Tomlin, Cam Heyward and Ben Roethlisberger all admitted that, victory notwithstanding, things must improve. And the hard truth is, that if you take a hard dispassionate look at the struggles at the line of scrimmage, Ben Roethlisberger’s difficulty throwing down field and the ease at which the defense gave up points late, its difficult to envision this team sustaining a playoff run, much less hosting the Lombardi.
But if that’s true, then think back to some of the outlying plays that the game turned on:
- Chris Boswell making not one, but two 50 yard field goals, recovering a fumble, yet missing a PAT
- T.J. Watt batting a way a pass at the line of scrimmage
- Cairo Santos 65 yard field goal – at Heinz Field no less – banging off the lower upright
Football is a game of inches. That’s another way of saying that victory or defeat often comes down to which team can master the little things, that fall in the margins.
This Pittsburgh Steelers team might be developing a knack for doing just that. Which is good. Because history is made in the margins.
