The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Denver Broncos 13 to 6, improving their 2024 record to 2-0 and giving Mike Tomlin just his second win in the Mile High City.
- If there’s a single word to describe this win it would be “Uninspiring.”
To be sure, the Steelers defense authored a solid game, end-to-end and, as it did last week in Atlanta, delivered splash plays when the game was on the line. But what of the Steelers offense? Alas, that is another question.
Arthur Smith’s offense logged a respectable but unspectacular 10-0 halftime lead. But they unfortunately sputtered through the second half and in the process, they created more questions about themselves than they answered. But, given the franchise’s history in this city perhaps that’s a given.
Cory Trice picks off Bo Nix in the end zone. Photo Credit: Steelers.com
Expect the Uncanny @ Mile High
Mile High Stadium has not been kind to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yes, Chuck Noll’s 1984 Steelers upset John Elway in the Broncos in one of the biggest playoff upsets wins in franchise history. And Bill Cowher’s 2005 Steelers punched their ticket to Super Bowl XL and One for the Thumb by beating the Broncos in the AFC Championship at Mile High.
- But rest assured citizens of Steelers Nation, those wins are exceptions.
Beyond simply proving to be a tough place to win, uncanny things seem to happen to the Steelers at Mile High. Consider:
- A bad snap scuttled an almost certain upset for the Cinderella 1989 Steelers
- In 1990 Dwight Stone missed breaking the franchise reception record thanks to an errant step out of bound
- During a 2007 loss in Mike Tomlin’s MNF debut, Ryan Clark suffered a life-threatening injury to his spleen
- In 2011 one Tim Tebow overtime pass shut the Steelers Super Bowl window in blink of an eye
- In 2012 Peyton Manning schooled Troy Polamalu in chess game between two Hall of Famers
- In 2018 Xavier Grimble fumbled the ball forward in the end zone, sacrificing difference-making points
And as those who remember that miserable 2018 loss can attest, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to uncanny for the Steelers at Mile High.
Given that it is hardly surprising that George Pickens would have a 51 yard catch and then a touchdown negated by penalties, or that the Steelers would see yet another center to quarterback snap short-circuit.
Yet the Steelers were able to overcome those miscues and leave Denver with a win. Let’s look at why.
Fields Second Start Goes Smoothly. Until It Doesn’t
A week ago Justin Fields played a smart and efficient game and won his first start in the season opener against Atlanta. Mike Tomlin, citing Russell Wilson’s ongoing calf issue, announced that Fields would start again.
Was there a quarterback controversy brewing in Pittsburgh?
For two quarters, Justin Fields made it look like that just might be in the works. Justin Fields led the Steelers to two scores in the first half. While the offense was hardly dominant, it was efficient. The Steelers kept drives alive, converted third downs and Fields was particularly effective in the Red Zone, with precision passes to Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, the later of which was a touchdown.
Fields closed the half by running a text book two-minute drill and saw a touchdown catch negated by a highly questionable offensive pass interference call against Van Jefferson. The Steelers nonetheless got on the board with a Chris Boswell field goal.
Going into the locker room, commentators were singing Fields’ praises, a tune which Bill Cowher echoed in the studio.
But if the first half left us wondering whether Justin Fields could keep Russell Wilson on the sideline indefinitely, the second half likely left more than a few wondering just how quickly Wilson’s calf would heal.
In Justin Fields defense, the Steelers sputtering second half effort was hardly all his fault. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren rushed for just under 65% of their yards in the first half. Credit Sean Payton’s Broncos for smothering the line of scrimmage, stuffing the Steelers run game and forcing third and long.
And Fields struggled on third down as the Steelers only converted 1 of 6 third downs.
Worse yet, their longest play of the second half was a 37 yard pass interference call on George Pickens which set up a 53-yard Chris Boswell field goal, their only score in the final 30 minutes.
Defense Dominates in Denver
Let’s acknowledge a few caveats from the outset:
- Yes, the Steelers were roughing up a rookie quarterback in Bo Nix.
- Yes, Steelers defense committed several penalties that would have been lethal in a competitive game
- Yes, Broncos receivers dropped passes in droves
Payton Wilson tackles Courtland Sutton for no gain. Photo Credit: Steelers.com
All of those things are true. Its also true that the Steelers defense authored a second dominating performance in so many weeks. And even if the defense did get a little slopping at times committing unnecessary holding penalties and neutral zone infractions, Punter Ridley Dixon was arguably Denver’s offensive MVP.
A week ago T.J. Watt went down to Atlanta and acted as a one-man wrecking crew with the rest of the Steelers defenders knocking down what he’d left behind. Against Denver everyone got into the act:
- Alex Highsmith had 1 sack and a tackle for a loss
- Both DeShon Elliott and Donte Jackson tackled ball carries behind the line of scrimmage
- Patrick Queen and Isaiahh Loudermilk deflected passes, with Loudermilk’s saving a first down if not a score
- Watt, Damontae Kazee and Joey Porter Jr. also got into the pass batting party
But perhaps the defense’s best play came on its worst drive. Bo Nix and Josh Reynolds had executed a picture-perfect play fake that saw Minkah Fitzpatrick bite hard only to get down the field to help with a touchdown saving tackle. But the damage had been done – Denver was knocking on Pittsburgh’s door from the 10 yard line.
Two plays later Nix thought he had Courtland Sutton in the end zone, but first-year man Cory Trice picked him off in the end zone, which in turn set up the Steelers lone 2nd half scoring drive.
And that’s the takeaway from the Steelers win at Empower Field: While the offense certainly must improve, the Steelers defense certainly looks good enough to give them the breathing room to make that improvement. And given the franchise’s history in the Mile High City, that’s a pretty good take away.
A run-first offense is predicated on having a cohesive and dominating offensive line. The Steelers are a run-first offense. The first week, they were without their best offensive lineman – Seumalo – and their first round draft choice. Their rookie center was lights out in his debut, though. The second week, still without Seumalo, but their first round draft choice – Troy Fautano – was also lights out in his debut. Seumalo will be practicing this week and is likely to play this coming Sunday. The real story here is that early indications are that Fautano and Frazier may be even more than hoped for. The OL is a work in progress, but all the elements are there.