Here are the Steelers winner and losers after a close 28-24 win over the Ravens.
It wasn’t always pretty, and it certainly had some scary moments, but the Steelers leave Baltimore with a 7-0 record and are squarely in first in the AFC North race. It was a tale of two halves for the team, as the first half saw struggles and disappointment despite an early pick-six. The Steelers did little after that, however – allowing the Ravens to put up 17 unanswered points.
Going into the second half, things seemed dim for the Steelers. Some big defensive plays and a few timely scores helped Pittsburgh get back on schedule though. Suddenly, the Steelers stormed back and retook a 21-17 lead. That score would be jostled a little, but ultimately, Mike Tomlin’s team would find themselves up 28-24 going into the final drive. Things didn’t get easier though, as it was very much anyone’s game until the final seconds ticked off.
With the game being so much in question for much of the matchup, it isn’t surprising that there is an even list of winners and losers in this game. While some Steelers played extremely well, others struggled to make a positive impact. Others even contributed as both winners and losers due to their overall play. While the win was great to see, it doesn’t excuse the players who suffered to produce. With all of this said, here are the four winners and four losers of the Steelers 28-24 win over the Ravens.
Winner and Loser: Isaiah Buggs
Despite not dressing last week for the Steelers, Isaiah Buggs saw plenty of starting time today due to an unfortunate injury to Tyson Alualu at nose tackle. Despite Halloween being yesterday, Buggs did his best to imitate Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as his rush defense was rather miserable while his pass rush was better than most at the position. For the first time this season, we have both a winner and a loser stem from one player.
Starting with his bad, Buggs really struggled to make an impact as a run defender. His weaknesses in the middle were so exposed that the Ravens could suddenly run the ball right down the Steelers throat. Considering how good the Steelers defense had been against the run, seeing them get carved by simple dive plays was disturbing. Buggs was a big problem in this regard, and he looked like an early loser because of it.
Then, the Ravens began to pass more, and Buggs showed why should keep a hat. He bullied Ravens center Matt Skura and provided consistent pressure on the Ravens. While Alualu was certainly missed, it could be argued that Buggs played better as a blitzer than Alualu has. This bodes well for his future with the team, as he could be a situational pass-rushing nose tackle moving forward. Was it a mix, yes, but Buggs highs and lows earn him a spot as both a winner and a loser.
Loser: Jaylen Samuels/the coaches
There is no reason to have Jaylen Samuels out on the field for the Steelers. I’ve said this so many times, and it still holds true, as the former fifth-round pick struggles in every aspect of being a running back. He can’t run, and while he is considered a receiving back, he has mediocre hands and no ability to do anything after he makes the catch. Considering the Steelers have a trio of backs ahead of him that offer more talent, it is nonsensical that Samuels sees the field as much as he does.
This problem is beyond him, as his lack of talent should be well known by the Steelers coordinators. If it is Randy Fichtner or Eddie Faulkner that is responsible, both need to be disciplined, as trying to give him the ball is a wasted down. This was evident when he had a slant go through his hands and hit the ground. His play is maddeningly bad, and he has no business being on the field on Sundays.
Give his opportunities to Anthony McFarland or mix Benny Snell in more often. Sure, allowing James Conner to see some rest throughout the game is good, but if it comes at the cost of having Samuels play more, it isn’t worth it. Are his issues fatal? Not usually, but they aid in stalling drives. He shouldn’t be on the field unless injuries force him there, and he could ultimately not dress going forward.
Winner: Robert Spillane
Another player that arguably could have been both a winner and a loser in this matchup was Robert Spillane. That said, his positive plays outweighed his negative ones. For starters, his early-game pick-six gave the team an early lead and was the only points the Steelers scored in the first half. On top of this, he was vital in making a couple of other run stops later in the game, continuing the impressive season he is having.
Yes, he did struggle early in the game on some of the long runs and in the passing game, but for a former special teamer turned starter, he held his own against a dynamic offense. While his role may need to shift more to what Vince Williams does in the future, as for now he is doing well enough replacing Devin Bush. The fact that he hasn’t been a liability is a telling sign that the Steelers may have found something special in Spillane.
Moving forward, the Steelers should continue to be fielding Spillane in his role and allow him to work through his issues. Again, he shouldn’t be seen as a true Mack replacement for Bush, but as a potential Buck replacement for Williams in the future. The Steelers have unearthed a gem here, and his play this week may have had a few blips, but he was one of the bright spots for the team’s defense this week.
Loser: Diontae Johnson
There was a lot of hope for Diontae Johnson ahead of this week against the Ravens. While their secondary succeeds by being physical and playing big, Johnson wins by sharp routes and the ability to make plays with the ball in his hands. This seemed like a winnable matchup for Johnson, yet he struggled to make much of an impact on the day.
His day started slow due to an injury limiting him early. While it is hard to pan a player for being injured, it is frustrating that he has been injured so often this year. If he wants to take his game to the next level and be a true starting receiver, Johnson will have to stay healthy. As well, he will have to make the most of the opportunities he sees. It was disappointing to see him only register one catch for six yards.
After beating the Titans secondary constantly last week, Johnson seemed prone to continue his success this week. Instead, he virtually disappeared from the offense. Given the Steelers early struggles, it would have been refreshing to see Johnson really take over. Instead, he faded into the background and continued his frustratingly inconsistent second year. Ideally, he improves in the latter half of the year, but his first half has been an overall disappointment.
Winners: The OLBs
While the defense did have a few major contributors, the play the team had from its three outside linebackers was key in winning this game. Yes, that wasn’t a typo, as all three of T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree, and Alex Highsmith saw extensive playing time this week. Likewise, all three were arguably the best defenders not named Stephon Tuitt for the defense this week. Starting with Watt, he continued his dominant season, adding a sack and proving to be a force against the running game.
It is hard to keep a player like Watt off this list every week due to his dominance. The same could be said for Dupree, who really looked strong again this week against the pass. He has truly come into his own as a rusher and still remains one of the better run defenders on the team. As long as those two stay healthy, the Steelers pass rush should continue to succeed as it has so far.
Arguably the biggest star of the group was Highsmith though, as his play was excellent for a rookie. Seeing time as a rotational backup and even on the field for some plays with the other two linebackers, Highsmith made the most of his time, logging some key run stops and recording a critical interception in the Ravens territory. This later led to the Steelers scoring and beginning their comeback. All three players deserve some accolades for this game, as they helped the Steelers defense keep the Ravens in check.
Losers: The run defense
While there were some solid individual performances from the Steelers defensive unit, the run defense got whipped early and often in this game. A large part of this was due to the creative Ravens scheme, but it is still inexcusable how badly the Ravens ran over this unit. Despite entering the week as the second-best rushing defense, the Steelers allowed well over 200 yards to the Ravens on the ground.
This rushing onslaught started early and often, as Jackson had his way with the defense. Worse yet, when the Ravens handed the ball off, most of their runs were simple dives. Yet, the Steelers defense still allowed for the runners to gash them. Even after the second half when the defense stepped up a little, it was still apparent that they were struggling to stop the Ravens from running the ball.
While it ultimately didn’t cost the Steelers the game, it certainly was a disappointment to see the unit struggle as much as they did. Moving forward, this unit will have to tighten up and return to its earlier dominance. While not facing a mobile quarterback like Jackson will aid them in future weeks, they will meet Jackson again at Thanksgiving. They will certainly have some issues to figure out before that matchup.
Winner: Stephon Tuitt
The Steelers easiest winner of the game was lineman Tuitt, as he manhandled the Ravens offensive line. Seemingly on every play Tuitt burst through the line and found a way to be disruptive. Both as a run stuffer and as a pass rusher Tuitt found a way to make an impact. This is easy to see, as his final stats for the game came in at eight tackles and a pair of sacks.
This performance wasn’t a surprise either, as Tuitt has resumed his dominance that he displayed last year before being lost to an injury. He has easily been the most disruptive player on the defensive line (which is saying something considering he plays next to Cameron Heyward). Frankly, if Watt wasn’t having his usual dominant season, Tuitt would likely be in contention as the best Steelers defender on the year so far.
Given how close the game ended up being, the fact that Tuitt took over as he did was a key in the final score. He was ferocious against the pass and a clog during running plays. While the rest of the defense struggled, Tuitt had a great individual performance. Going forward, he will have to be yet another defender that offenses have to try and plan around.
While the game was another story of two halves, it ultimately ended in a Steelers victory. Given the close nature and early struggles, it is no wonder that the losers list is as long as it was. That said, a win is a win, and the team is now in control of their future in the AFC North.