Taken from the gradebook of a teacher who is committed to not grading his students on a curve, here is the Pittsburgh Steelers Report Card for their 2024 road win over the Denver Broncos.
Darnell Washington catches the first touchdown of his career. Photo Credit: Steelers.com
Quarterback
For two quarters Justin Fields played like a backup who is in the process of convincing his coach to keep the starter on the bench. He was efficient, he protected the ball, he was effective in the end zone and made things happen with his feet. However, in the second half, the Steelers best play was a pass interference call that set up their only score. All of this isn’t Field’s fault, but the offense needed more. What’s with the continued center-quarterback failed exchanges? Grade: C
Running Backs
Najee Harris had a good day in the first half, running for nearly 70 yards and helping set up the offense with short fields. Cordarrelle Patterson was a non-factor but the rushing game was just what the Steelers needed it to be – in the first half. Grade: B-
Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth led the team with 3 catches for 39 yards and Darnell Washington had one catch for his first career touchdown. Connor Heyward didn’t get a target but he did get flagged for holding on 2nd an 1 effectively wipping out a 10 yard carry by Najee Harris. That brings the group’s grade down. Grade: B-
Wide Receivers
George Pickens led the unit with 2 catches for 29 yards, but had a one field flipping play AND a touchdown whipped out by penalties. Van Jefferson had two catches for 14 yards but dropped what could have been a field flipping play of his own. Calvin Austin had one catch for 6 yards. Even accounting for the big plays negated by penalties, the Steelers needed more from their wideouts. Grade: C-
Offensive Line
Throughout the first half the Steelers executed well enough on first and second downs to give Justin Fields manageable third downs. They did so by controlling the line of scrimmage. In the second half Sean Peyton’s team adjusted, and stuffed the Steelers at the line of scrimmage. And the offense struggled for the final 30 minutes. What’s with the continued center-quarterback failed exchanges? Grade: C-
Defensive Line
Outside of one 16 yard run by Tyler Badie and a 13 yard scramble by Bo Nix, Denver had no rushing game. Cam Heyward and Keeanu Benton both had 3 tackles and Isaiahh Loudermilk tipped a pass on third and 6 forcing a field goal. Grade: A-
Linebackers
T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith had tackles for losses as well as sacks, while Patrick Queen stepped up with stout run defense. Watt and Queen also got their hands on passes. A solid day for the linebackers. Grade: A-
Secondary
How good was the Steelers defense against the run? Well Donte Jackson and Deshon Elliott dropped Denver rushers behind the line of scrimmage. Want another eye popping number: Courtland Sutton 1 catch for 26 yards – thank you Joey Porter, Jr. But unit’s best play was Cory Trice, who seeing no one on the zone he was charged with defending, free lanced and took intercepted Nix in the end zone. Grade: A
Special Teams
Chris Boswell’s 53 yard field goal was critical to the outcome of the game, yet it seems kind of pedestrian compared to last week. Calvin Austin is doing a respectable job as a punt returner, while Corliss Waitman showed plenty of leg as a punter – perhaps too much as the Steelers did have 3 touchbacks, but he boomed one off late in the game when the Steelers needed him to. Grade: B
Coaching
Arthur Smith’s offense put in a workman like performance during the first half. Yes, were it not for the penalties Smith’s offense would have put 2 if not 3 more scores. But penalties are part of the game and against a superior opponent such self-sabotage efforts would have had a ripple effect.
The first half showed what this offense is capable of doing when the offensive line controls the line of scrimmage. The second have revealed the problems it will have when it fails to do so. Yes, the line is missing its best player and starting two rookies. But it must improve.
While it is true that Teryl Austin’s defense benefited from several dropped passes, on two sperate occasions his players showed an almost uncanny ability to make plays when the game was on the line.
Jaylen Warren rushes against the Broncos. Photo Credit: AP via Tribune-Review
Mike Tomlin has already admitted that the win over the Broncos exposed warts that he and his coaches must address. But he’s now taken his team on the road and, with a young offense that has yet to gel, and won twice. And, perhaps more importantly, he’s now won two games that the pundits will agree he “should have won.” Given the toughness of the division and the schedule winning these types of games is critical. Just ask Baltimore and Cincinnati. Grade: B-
Unsung Hero Award
On a drive where began looking like his old self while carrying the ball, this player’s most important contribution came in a block facilitating the game’s only touchdown pass. Later, his heads up play averted disaster after another failed center-quarterback exchange and for that Jaylen Warren wins the Unsung Hero Award for the Steelers 2024 win over the Denver Broncos at Empower Field.
