The Steelers failed to capitalize on a winnable game, and here are the winners and losers from that matchup.
While I didn’t think that the Steelers had a great opportunity to beat the Dolphins, the team certainly kept things close. Even after an early advantage to Miami, Pittsburgh stormed back and was within a touchdown for the remainder of the game. They couldn’t get the job done though, and they now sit last in the AFC North.
While a lot of fans were riding high after a win over Tampa Bay, this team still had a lot of the same issues that persisted beforehand. They were once again on display this week, and even though the game stayed close, a loss is still a loss. With all of that said, here are the Steelers winners and losers from their loss to the Dolphins.
Steelers winners:
Pat Freiermuth
The Steelers general receiving core hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations bestowed on them in the preseason, but Pat Freiermuth has been steady when on the field. He is the proverbial safety valve for this offense. While the offense can and should get more aggressive with him over the middle of the field, he is still a great target for a young quarterback to have.
Terrell Edmunds
Everyone will pile on about his missed interception (which did go right through his hands), but otherwise, Terrell Edmunds played a clean game. He was a force against the run, held his own in coverage, and was playing all over the defense for most of the game. He is quietly having an extremely strong season right now.
George Pickens
Every week it is another incredible reception from George Pickens. The rookie has great hands and incredible body control which was on display on his touchdown reception. His route running is still raw, but if he can sharpen those skills quickly, he has superstar potential. He is the best receiving option on this team right now and it isn’t very close.
Steelers losers:
Matt Canada
This offense is consistent every week. If that was resulting in high-scoring games and big yardage outputs, that would be a good thing, but this offense is sluggish and predictable. The focus is on quick outs and avoiding the middle of the field. It was another ugly showing from a coordinator that needs to be fired sooner than later.
Defensive ball skills
Talk about a game-changer here. While Tua Tagovailoa had a decent day statistically, he wasn’t that sharp throwing passes. Luckily for him, the Steelers defense dropped four easy interceptions. Had the defense been able to rake in half of those picks, this game likely would have been a win. Instead, Miami caught a lucky break because the Steelers defensive backs couldn’t catch.
Kenny Pickett
This was far and away Kenny Pickett’s worst game as a professional. He has a lot of positive traits, but he forces throws and can stare down receivers far too often. No, he isn’t a bust, but he has a lot of work to do before he is a decent starter in this league. Sunday night was proof of that, as his poor decisions ultimately ended the game for the team.
It was a hard game for the Steelers as they fell short in what was a very winnable game. At this point, the season seems unlikely to go anywhere based on the issues this team struggles with every week. The road certainly doesn’t get any easier next week against the Eagles.